The word ‘covenant ‘, a term of profound significance in the Bible, appears over 300 times. Its implications and depth often go unnoticed in our studies. Let’s delve into this crucial concept together.

The Bible’s first mention of the word ‘covenant’ is a divine promise. God pledged to protect and provide for Noah and his family during the worldwide flood.

The term ‘covenant’ in the Bible signifies a pact, a compact, or a treaty between two parties. It’s an agreement, a pledge of faithfulness and commitment.

It is a technical term that refers to imposing an obligation on another.

The covenant called for cutting and passing between divided parts of victims as a symbol. It included a meal, eating together, or a banquet.

The covenant was a binding oath of promise, as in marriage.

In Bible terms, it refers to a contractual arrangement between God and a person or people. It required a binding action from one or both parties. Often, the binding was on the person with the higher status, and to sum it up, a covenant was a sacred agreement or bond between God and His people or individuals. It is a binding relationship that involves deep commitment and faithfulness and has lasting consequences.

God’s covenant with Noah is a testament to His enduring faithfulness. He vowed never to destroy the earth in a flood again, and the rainbow serves as a perpetual sign of this unbreakable promise.

Notice the following in the verses.

So two parties form covenants, exchange tokens, remember them, and make promises to each other.

This passage does not use the word covenant, but portrays it. God says He will do certain things. He will make of Abraham a great nation. God will bless Abraham, make his name great, and make him a blessing to the world. He promises to respond to any good or ill-treatment “in kind” that Abraham receives. In other words if you bless Abraham you will be blessed. If you curse him you will be cursed.

When Lot and Abraham separate, God reminds Abraham of His promise. Lot may have chosen what he thought was the best land, but God promised Abraham all the land he could see. He promised it to Abraham and all his descendants. God also promised Abraham that he would give him many descendants and children. He does not use the word covenant, but is faithful to His promise and reminds Abraham that what He, God, had said was going to happen.

This time, the word covenant is used. God will accept no one as Abraham’s heir but the one He is going to give Abraham, not a servant. His seed will be innumerable.

You notice that Abraham believed God. He trusted God. God then counted that as righteousness. God called Abraham righteous, as He does believers in the New Testament. What is to notice, especially here, is that there was a ceremony with the covenant, the promise. There was the cutting, the dividing, and the breaking of a sacrifice.

Notice that in him, we become the very righteousness of God. In him; he makes us what we ought to be, approved and acceptable, and in a right relationship with God. That was done by the breaking or cutting of a body, a sacrifice, that of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The word covenant appears multiple times here. It is a covenant between God and Abraham and his descendants. God is going to do great things. Abraham will be the father of many nations; he will be fruitful.

God promises that his covenant is till the end of time, everlasting. God promises Abraham a land that will belong to him and his people for all of time.

The token of their covenant would be the circumcision of the Jewish men.

God made promises and expected Abraham and his descendants to respond.

So, the covenant with Abraham was a unique promise to Abram, later named Abraham. God showed grace and brought His excellent work to the world through one person and his family.

Abraham left his gods and home. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation and have many descendants, his family would be powerful, and God would give him a particular land.

This covenant was a unique, unbreakable agreement or promise. Abraham was to be a blessing to the entire world.

Circumcision would be the token symbol of the covenant.

I know this sounds like a lot of deep thinking and study, but I promise you I want to introduce you to the fact that we are people of a covenant from God. The covenant is such a beautiful, binding relationship with God.

So stay tuned; it may be easier to understand and more enjoyable.