What Is a Covenant?
The word “covenant” comes from Latin and means “a coming together to make a contract.” Think
about contracts you know—marriage, buying a house—where two parties agree on promises, responsibilities, and benefits. In the Bible, God made covenants with His people—first the old covenant, then the new. But was the old covenant faulty? Did God make a mistake?
Hebrews 8:6–8 tells us that God didn’t make a faulty covenant. Instead, He made a better covenant with better promises because the people did not remain faithful to the first one. It wasn’t God who broke the covenant; it was the people who failed to keep their promise.
The Old Covenant: Promise and Brokenness
In Exodus 19, God called Moses to deliver a message to the Israelites: if they obeyed His voice and
kept His covenant, they would be His special treasure, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. The people agreed, saying, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” The covenant was sealed with blood, a powerful symbol of commitment.
But just six weeks later, the people broke their promise. In Exodus 32, they worshiped a golden calf and indulged in revelry and mockery. Moses, seeing this, broke the stone tablets—the covenant was broken. The fault was theirs, not God’s. This story is a mirror for us. How often do we promise God one thing and then fall short?
Our Struggles with Covenant Keeping
Let’s be honest—staying faithful to God’s covenant is a challenge. Like the Israelites, we say, “I will do all that you say,” but our actions often tell a different story. We make promises to God, yet we break them. The struggle is real, but the good news is that God understands our frailty and does not abandon us.
God’s Promise to Abraham: A Covenant of Assurance
Turn your heart to Genesis 15, where God promises Abraham the land of Canaan. Abraham asks,
“How shall I know that I shall inherit this land?” God instructs Abraham to prepare animals, which are then divided, creating two piles. In ancient times, walking between these divided pieces was a solemn act of covenant-making, symbolizing the seriousness of the agreement.
As Abraham waits in deep darkness, a smoking furnace and a burning lamp pass between the pieces —this is God Himself, making a covenant with Abraham’s descendants. This moment assures us that God is the promise keeper. The land, the blessings, the relationship—these are guaranteed by His faithfulness, not our perfection.
Jesus: The Surety of Our Covenant
Here’s the beautiful truth: Jesus walked between those pieces on our behalf. When we break our
promises, it is not we who suffer the consequences, but Jesus who took our place. He bore the punishment we deserved to keep the covenant intact.
Hebrews 13:20–21 reminds us that Jesus, through His blood, is the mediator of the everlasting covenant. He died the death that was ours so we could live the life that was His. Because of Jesus, we can be made perfect and complete, strengthened by His grace to keep our promises to God.
Living in the Light of the Everlasting Covenant
We live in a dark and confusing world, where it’s easy to lose our way. But the covenant God made with us is a beacon of hope. Though we struggle, Jesus offers us victory over sin and the promise of eternal life. Our covenant-keeping is not about our strength, but about His power working in us. As we approach communion and foot washing, let’s reflect humbly on what Jesus has done. Remember the words of Ellen White: “Jesus was treated as we deserve, so we could be treated as He deserves.” What a Savior! What a Friend!
Conclusion: Embracing the Covenant with Joy
Our promises to God may falter, but His covenant never fails. He is the covenant-keeping God who
came to earth to secure our relationship with Him. When we accept Jesus as our personal Savior, we receive the Holy Spirit to help us live faithfully.
So, as you journey through life’s challenges, remember this: God’s covenant is sealed with His blood, guaranteed by His love, and empowered by His grace. Let your life be a reflection of this covenant— one of commitment, faith, and joy in the Savior who never breaks His promises.