Memorable Moments Hebrews
Genesis 9:1-7 (God’s Promise)
Genesis 9:8-17 ESV
Genesis 12:1-3 ESV
Exodus 19:3 ESV
Exodus 20:1-17 ESV
2 Samuel 7:8-11 ESV
Luke 22:20 ESV
I Corinthians 11:25 ESV
Hebrews 13:10-12 ESV
It’s clear from scripture that covenants are important to God. The expectation was that a deep and lasting connection would grow and build on the love between God and His children.
God established a covenant with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and with the New Covenant Jesus gave us (https://bibleproject.com/articles/covenants-the-backbone-bible/).
In Genesis 9:1-7 God told Noah to fill the earth (be fruitful and multiply), man would rule over animals, man was not to shed blood of another human because life is sacred, there would be no more floods, and the rainbow would be a sign that God would not flood the earth again.
In Genesis 9:8-17 we find, “Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
God also made a covenant with Abram. In Genesis 12:1-3, “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Abram was given specific instructions. Go to a land I will show you. I will bless you, and make you a great nation, I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. God promised that all the families on earth would be blessed.
God made a covenant with Moses. In Exodus 19:3 God promised Moses, “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; “and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
In Genesis 20:1-17 God gave Moses Ten Commandments. “And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.:“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”
God knew His children needed guidance.
God also made a covenant with David. In 2 Samuel 7:8-11 we learn God told the Prophet Nathan, “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.”
Rest. Notice one of the promises God made was rest from their enemies.
God knew they were weary.
And so, God sent His son. Luke 22:20 tells us, “And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
Jesus…the new covenant. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 11:25, “In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
The author of Hebrews wrote a beautiful correlation in Hebrews 13:10-12 reminding us: “We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.”
Jesus suffered on a hill outside the city. He suffered with common criminals. He suffered for you, for me, and for all who would come.
He paid the price.
Spiritual Practice: The Covenant
Make it personal between you and Jesus. He died for you. He loves you. He wants to spend time with you. Sit in silence with Jesus and wait for the Spirit to move.
In God, Deborah
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