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Covenants in the old testament
Essay on the term Covenant
Covenants in the old testament
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In this essay we will briefly discuss how past history has defined a covenant and what covenant Abraham had with God. There are questions on why God chose a person such as Abraham due to his known demeanor, we will learn how Abraham decided to lead his life to fulfill the covenant and chooses to live a renewed way of life. A covenant has been defined as an agreement by two groups of people, one more powerful than the other, and the inferior group held accountable until the agreement or bond has been fulfilled or satisfied by the lesser of the two. The lesser of the two also agrees to remain loyal to the powerful or dominant and by the same token the powerful has the obligation to provide protection. In Abrahams late age God came to him with a covenant making him fertile and is to become the father and ancestor of many nations and which will bear many kings from generation to generation. The covenant included the circumcision of every man and child that was 8 days and older which gave everyone including God sign of acceptance of the covenant and those who did not accept the circumcision will be considered as not in agreement and will be cut from the covenant. God needed a figurehead and a strong willed person to lead his chosen people of Israel. Abraham was a strong authoritative figure in his family and had the qualities of a leader and teacher of good character. Abraham set the tone in the household and never let his children take control of any situation that demanded his attention. God was seeking for a man who would embrace the responsibilities of what God willed and would be faithful to the end. “From Me, behold, I make my covenant with you, you shall be the father of Many nations…And I will make you exceedingly fr... ... middle of paper ... ... is in our nature that these arguments will never end and never agree upon one commonality. As time passes people, prophets and believers in each specific faith or religion will continue to translate their own version and understanding of thousands upon thousands of written literature and history further from the truth. Works Cited Khan, A., (1992 Oct), Judaism, Christianity and Islam: A Common Tradition, Retrieved from http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000129.html Genesis 17 (Jan 2006) – Gods Covenant of circumcision with Abrahams Descendants, Retrieved from: http://www.gentiles-and-circumcision.info/genesis-17-abrahams-descendents-circumcised.html Place of Abraham in Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Faith, Sacrifice, Commitment and Patience, Retrieved from http://www.whyislam.org/comparative-religion-2/place-of-abraham-in-islam-christianity-judaism/
Nathaniel Abraham was eleven years old when he committed the act of murder. Under a 1997 Michigan law a child of any age may be tried as an adult for severe crimes. Abraham was the first juvenile to be tried under this statute. Accused in the murder of Ronnie Lee Greene Jr., Abraham faced first degree murder charges. Now, at the age of fourteen, Nathaniel has been sentenced to a juvenile facility until the age of twenty-one. Oakland County Probate Judge Eugene Moore hopes that rehabilitation will put an end to Nathaniel’s criminal activity. Nathaniel, a black youth from the slums of Pontiac, Michigan, grew up with out a father, or a strong family unit. He, in turn, never learned the responsibility of his actions; he was not privy to an upbringing that reinforced positive ideals. Crime & Criminology describes, in depth, the relation between family and criminal activity in youths. Page 126 (chapter four) sited two relevant facts; 1) Blacks have much higher rates of illegitimacy and female headed house holds. 2) Blacks have a much higher rate of crime than their white counterparts. In Nathaniel’s case, it can be said that his lack of a positive role model, or father figure lead to his involvement in criminal activities. His mother, Gloria, was struggling to raise three children by herself. Nathaniel’s father had left when he was born, leaving her with no one to depend on. The family moved in with an older couple who offered to help them. With limited supervision Nathaniel was a constant source of aggravation for his mother. Police reported that Nathaniel was suspected in over 22 local crimes, ranging from assault to armed robbery. He, in fact, had been arrested five days before Greene’s murder on the charge of robbery. All this by the age of eleven. In families where there is no male role model a child is far more likely to become involved in crime. The data that exists suggests a direct correlation between youths raised without a father and criminal activity.
In Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, President Lincoln addresses a divided nation. Both the Union and the Confederacy are bitter to each other towards the end of the war. However, Lincoln calls both the north and the south to set aside their issues that divided them in order to heal their broken nation. Lincoln uses a slew of rhetorical methods in his speech such as tone, diction, and syntax to further assist him in achieving his purpose of uniting the nation.
The Mosaic Covenant from exodus is a promise made between God and the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai. To begin with, the pattern of the covenant is very similar to other ancient covenants of that time because it is between God and his people. In the textbook, it explains how the Hebrews have struggled with the pharaoh around 1250 B.C.E. Moses, who was a prince that grew up in the household of the pharaoh, ran away. After returning he led the Hebrew slaves at the bottom of Mount Sinai. God spoke to the Hebrews who he freed them and explained the Ten Commandments. In addition, a quote form the readings “ I am the lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” (Judaism, pg. 397) This quote is the first commandment stating that he,
As one studies the Bible, he will quickly recognize a direct correlation of the Old Testament and New Testament. Although the books contained therein were written with a division of hundreds of years between them, there is a beautiful connection between them. One cannot deny the relationship between the Old Testament and New Testament, and it is impossible for him to comprehend fully the teachings of either Testament without a proper understanding of the other. Each aspect of the Old Testament must be viewed in light of the teachings of the New Testament, and the New Testament must be studied with the teachings of the Old Testament in mind. Likewise, the various covenants that are contained within the Scriptures must be studied simultaneously. The material of the Abrahamic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant, and the New Covenant must be learned in relation to each other in order for one to gain a proper appreciation for the basis and fulfillment of each. “The covenants contained in the Scriptures are of primary importance to the interpreter of the Word and to the student of Eschatology. God’s eschatological program is determined and prescribed by these covenants and one’s eschatological system is determined and limited by the interpretation of them.” Not only did the covenants affect the events of the New Testament, but they also affect much of what takes place today. “In its essence, this New Covenant is the fulfillment of two Old Testament covenants, that with Abraham and that with David. In the Abrahamic Covenant lay the breadth, the blessing for all peoples (Genesis 12:3); in the Davidic Covenant was the height, the royal throne of Messiah (I Chronicles 17:11-14).” The three covenants are linked, and on...
Surveying the Old Testament reveals the theme of God’s faithfulness to his people. In light of this understanding, the restoration of the Israelites prophesized in the Old Testament is essentially the fulfillment of every covenant with God. This perspective relates to the work of Christ and encourages any follower of God to trust in his faithfulness.
As a symbol of the covenant promise to multiply Abram’s descendants into a great nation, God changed Abram’s name to Abraham. Abraham was born in the city of Ur, now called Iraq. Abraham and his family traveled 500 miles to Haran and stayed there until his father’s death. Then Abraham moved 400 miles south to Canaan where he lived for the rest of his days; he did this because he was called by God to do so. Some important people in Abraham’s life were his father, Terah (the son of Shem
Samuel, a prophet anointed to speak of God’s word to the nation, represents one way of governing. God works through the prophet’s words to remind the people of Israel to be faithful to the terms of the Covenant. A second ...
...s as ridiculous as having a 1300 year old argument by people from the same religion about who their prophet favored for second in command. Most contemporary religions have more in common than they would ever be willing to admit.
Throughout the Bible the theme of covenant is intertwined within all the books and stories that are read, from Genesis to Revelation. Covenants were at work behind the scenes throughout the history of the Bible and are still at work today. “The traditional Christian theology
Abrahams covenant with God was that Abraham will be a father of a multitude of nations. God says he will be Abraham’s descendants only God and he will give them the land of Canaan. This covenant with God has many ties to Genesis 1-11 in many important ways. Abraham’s descendants had a significant role in the plan of God for human redemption. The fulfillment of this covenant can only be achieved through the divine power of God. Events in prior biblical stories frame the story behind why God chose to make a promise to Abraham. Circumstances exist or develop which threaten the fulfillment of the covenant.
God as an intangible entity is best understood through his interact with his creation. He gives society a glimpse into his nature through his relationships to his people and his wrath against his enemies. Taking a closer look into relationships he has had with people in the past, it’s clear that part of God’s character is to promise and deliver. God routinely entered into covenants with his people as the Torah shows us promises made then promises fulfilled. One such relationship that displayed this aspect of God’s character was God’s relationship to Joseph; son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham. Joseph came from a long line of “promised men.” The original covenant in this family line was made to Abraham for land and progeny. It was later seen that God fulfilled his covenant with Abraham through his two sons who were dispersed to possess lands outside of Abraham’s space. God continues in the fulfillment of covenant to Abraham through Ishmael and Isaac, and later through Isaac with the arrival of Jacob, then finally and most certainly fulfilled in Joseph’s generation as Jacob had twelve sons. God promised that Abraham’s line would become many nations; in fact the men of Joseph’s generation became the twelve tribes of Israel. But what makes Joseph’s story special were the unlikely circumstances that proceeded Joseph’s ascension to a position of authority in the world ruling Egyptian empire. In this essay I will discuss how the author of Joseph’s story portrays God as a being proving his power to Joseph and Joseph’s brothers.
Flanders, Henry J, Robert W. Crapps, and David A. Smith. People of the Covenant: An Introduction to the Hebrew Bible. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.
... Abraham’s call because his descendants were destined to receive God’s divine purpose. However, Isaac, the child of faith in God’s promise, was to be the progenitor of the spiritual birthright: “for in Isaac shall thy seed be called” (Genesis 21:12, KJV). The New Testament contrasts Ishmael to Isaac, “But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.” (Galatians 4:23, KJV) The principle of faith in God’s promise as the means of election is established in Abraham’s progeny as it was introduced by his response to God’s call. The reliance of anything other than God Almighty for the fulfilment of the promise is eradicated in Abraham’s test of faith concerning the sacrifice of Isaac. Faith in God Almighty is the only means for Israel’s existence and election in history to fulfill its divine destiny and divine purpose.
Sandra L. Richter says that the Covenant is a theme that flows through out the entire Bible and the covenant beginning with Abraham is an “everlasting covenant” not just between the divine God and Abraham, but also of all Abraham’s offspring.