"The Powerful Old Covenant (Part 2)"
Author: Dr. Neal Gray
Passage: Genesis 22:1-19, KJV
Purpose: You may not realize the wonderful truth that we live in covenant with the Almighty King of Kings. God’s covenant with Abraham applies to us, and Christ’s fulfillment of the New Covenant certainly applies to us. Christian, live more fully in the covenant promises with God.
INTRODUCTION
Opening
In an earlier sermon, (see "The Powerful Old Covenant, Part 1," from Genesis chapter 15), I stated that the tenth step in the covenant-making ceremony was very important.
You might have thought, perhaps, that steps one through nine provided sufficiently to make a covenant. I mean, those steps were quite thorough and they were irrevocably binding upon both parties.
But step number ten needed to happen, even though it took place some time after the first nine steps. In one sense, step ten...
* Provided the necessary ingredient, and,
* Plus it demonstrated absolute seriousness to the covenant.
Scripture
Our Scripture is the first section of Genesis chapter 22, vv. 1-19. And before we complete our reading, YOU WILL KNOW WHAT STEP TEN IS.
EXCHANGE OF THE OLDEST MALE CHILD
Step 10: Exchange of Oldest Boys
The final step is THE EXCHANGE OF THE OLDEST MALE CHILD. Tradition stated that in order to "seat" the agreement--i.e., to prove that the covenant was for real--THE PARTNERS WOULD EXCHANGE OLDEST SONS. Wow!
The sons would actually move into the home of the covenant partner to be raised. It was a painful event, but one that would prove the covenant was for real.
In the most painful test of his lifetime, Abraham lived out this last step of the covenant partnership. Genesis 22:1-2 tells us:
And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt [i.e., test] Abraham, and said unto him, "Abraham!"
And he said, "Behold, here I am."
And He said, "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." (Genesis 22:1-2)
==> I might have replied back to God. "God," I would have said, "are You sure about this?" But Abraham didn’t balk and Abraham didn’t talk back. HE KNEW WHAT GOD KNEW, i.e., that EXCHANGING SONS WAS PART OF THE COVENANT-MAKING CEREMONY.
The Sacrifice of Isaac
If Abraham was going to receive what God promised him, he had to give his son to God. So Abraham headed up the mountain, with the unaware and innocent Isaac at his side.
Eventually the young man asked his father where they would get the animal they were to sacrifice. "Yahweh-Jireh," Abraham answered. "God will provide," (cf. vv. 7-8).
The moment of truth arrived. He bound Isaac, his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. Abraham then raised the knife.
==> Hebrews 11:17-19 tells us that in his heart Abraham had already sacrificed Isaac, knowing "that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead."
Genesis 22:4 notes that "on the THIRD DAY Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off." In other words, in Abraham’s heart Isaac had already been dead, figuratively speaking, for three days. GOD "RESURRECTED HIM," AGAIN FIGURATIVELY, ON THE THIRD DAY. "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son," (Hebrews 11:17).
HOW COULD ABRAHAM, THE FATHER OF ISAAC DO THIS? Scripture gives us a glimpse into Abraham’s thinking. Isaac was his only son. Yet Abraham knew that God had promised him that his descendants would come through the line of Isaac and outnumber the stars in heaven.
Hebrews 11:19 continues: He considered "that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead."
==> Abraham’s confidence in the covenant-keeping God was so great that he believed God would give Isaac back to him through resurrection. In effect, God, when He stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, was saying:
"Abraham, I’ve seen your heart. It’s as if you’ve already sacrificed him. You know that I would have to resurrect him since he’s the ’promise child.’ And your confidence in Me is so great, you really believe I’ll do exactly that, so let’s save both of us some time. You don’t need to go any further in this ceremony Stop now. Lay down the knife. You’ve already passed the test."
==> Because Abraham was faithful in God’s promises, and did not withhold his son, Isaac; then God was sure of Abraham’s commitment to the covenant! As a result, God declares his eternal blessings upon Abraham and his descendants!
Our Parallel Sacrifice
I’ve thought alot about Abraham’s precious sacrifice. Abraham knew that God had promised that Isaac would be the son would be the beginning of a great nation. And yet, Abraham so trusted God that he was willing to obey God, even to the point of sacrificing Isaac’s life.
Do you and I have a modern parallel? That is, has God promised us something incredibly great? and has God also tested us to sacrifice the means to achieving that greatness?
Well, yes! God has promised us eternal life, with Him, in splendor sometime in the not-too-distant future.
And yes! God has asked us to sacrifice this life for Him! You parents know that He asks us to let our children go, too.
The question to ponder today is this: are you willing to sacrifice life, knowing that life is God’s great gift?
Of course, God has not asked us to kill ourselves. No! But He has asked us to put Him first. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." Not, seek large bank accounts, high-profile jobs, worldly stuff, et cetera.
==> Your sacrifice is to put God first! It is a precious sacrifice. Do you trust God? Hmmm?
God Gave His Son
Back to the Abraham story. Ultimately this exchange of the oldest male child would be PARALLELED IN THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS, which INAUGURATED THE NEW COVENANT. God said, in effect, "Abraham, because you gave up your only child, now I will give up My only child."
==> THIS IS THE POWERFUL, REVOLUTIONARY TRUTH OF THE COVENANT. Isaac likely carried the wood for the sacrifice of his own body up the hill named Mount Moriah. LIKEWISE JESUS CARRIED THE WOOD--a Cross--for the sacrifice of His own body up the hill of Calvary to a place known as Golgotha, the "place of the skull."
And just like Isaac, who was "dead" for three days in Abraham’s heart (Genesis 22:4), Jesus, too, was in the tomb for three days--and then came the Resurrection!
==> When Abraham offered Isaac, God was satisfied. "The covenant has been tested," God in essence said. "It will stand. NOW THE COVENANT IS FIRM."
POSSESSING THE GATES
Introduction
God continued to elaborate on Abraham’s obedience. "Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies," He said (22:17b).
Significance of the Gates
What is the significance of possessing the gates? Well, gates are where a city is controlled.
In Bible times the elders of the city would sit by the gates, determining who entered and who left, and...
* They controlled all commerce.
* They controlled all political life.
* The gatekeepers controlled the city.
God promises Abraham that his descendants would possess the gates-- even of their enemies.
The Gates of Hades Shall Not Overpower
So what do the "gates" have to do with anything in our time? In the 16th chapter of Matthew we read,
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" (Matthew 16:13)
In more contemporary language, "What’s being reported in the Jerusalem Times? Who do they say I am in the Jordan Post?"
And they replied with what they had heard, namely...
* Some say John the Baptist, because You baptize
* Elijah, because You perform miracles
* Jeremiah, because You weep over the city, or,
* One of the prophets.
Jesus persisted. "But who do you say that I am?"
And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
==> It became very quiet. No one had ever stated this before! Peter was always the first to speak. And tragically, he often said something stupid. But not this time. PETER WAS RIGHT ON!
Jesus quickly responded to Peter, "You’re right Simon. And My Father in heaven showed this to you."
And I say also unto thee, "That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and THE GATES of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)
ON THIS ROCK! The Greek word is "petra." ROCK. Upon the rock of this revelation--that Jesus is the Son of the living God--Jesus will build His Church.
==> What’s more, "the gates [there’s that word again] of hell shall not prevail against it [i.e., the Church]." IN FACT, YOU WILL GO IN AND RIP THE GATES RIGHT OFF THE HINGES. In other words, THE CHURCH HAS AUTHORITY-- COVENANT AUTHORITY!
When God says that on the rock of this revelation (i.e., the reality of who Jesus Christ is) He is going to build His Church and that you are going to rip the gates of hell right off the hinges, what does He mean? He means that...
* We have the keys
* We control not only our city but the enemies’ city as well
* We can put a stop to what the enemy is doing
* When we pray, speak, or declare God’s will (not our own), God "backs us up," so to speak, because it’s His authority we’re exercising.
Prayer is powerful when we’ve aligned ourselves with His exciting will, His "game plan." Listen to the powerful truth expressed in the Bible:
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)
The Principle of Oneness in Covenant
It’s that principle of ONENESS WITH GOD IN COVENANT again. Because we participate in the "powerful old covenant" that God made with Abraham-- because we are in fact Abraham’s descendants; and because we participate in the "powerful new covenant" in Christ Jesus--because we are His followers--then...
* God’s identity becomes your identity
* God’s strength becomes your strength
* God’s weapons become your weapons
* Your enemies would become God’s enemies
* God’s pronouncements of blessings and curses apply, and,
* God’s name becomes your shield, "in Jesus’ name."
Because of your acceptance of God’s covenant, YOU HAVE EVERY DIVINE RIGHT TO LIVE YOUR LIFE IN HIS COVENANT PROMISES!
==> What I’m saying to you, beloved, is that your faith, trust, and acceptance of Christ Jesus as Lord, BRINGS TO YOU AN INCREDIBLE NEW LIFE. Your life is in Christ now. He is your everything, because you have entered into His new covenant with Him!
CONCLUSION
Parity Treaty vs. Suzerain Treaty
One last thing to grasp. Jesus is yours, and you are His. Your life is much more wonderful than you have imagined! God has given you incredible promises. Let me explain one more thing to you. In biblical times there were two kinds of treaties: A PARITY TREATY AND SUZERAIN TREATY.
If you and a friend enter into a covenant, it is called A PARITY TREATY, because you are nearly equal. When they come to each other, they say, "We exchange all our assets, all our strengths." It’s a lot like a partnership.
But if a king, who owned everything, entered into a treaty WITH A PEASANT, WHO HAD NOTHING, it was called A SUZERAIN TREATY. When they come to each other, they say, "We exchange all our assets, all our strengths."
The peasant says, "I don’t have anything."
The king answers, "I know--I have everything, and you have nothing."
"What am I going to give you, then?"
"The one thing you have," the king says.
"What’s that?"
==> In love, the King, our Lord Jesus, has said: "You! Your love, your loyalty, and your commitment. That’s all you have to give. That’s what I want."
What God Is Asking from Us
The covenant between God and us is not a parity covenant--IT IS A SUZERAIN COVENANT, between THE KING who has everything, and us, who have nothing except our lives to give.
"I’m going to give you everything I have," God says. "It’s yours: heaven’s resources are at your disposal right now."
"I don’t have anything to give, God," we respond.
"I know--I’ve always known."
"All I have is me."
"That’s what I want," God affirms.
"All I have is my love and my loyalty," we insist.
"That’s exactly what I’m asking for."
And that’s what He’s asking from me--and from you.
==> PRAYER: O God, help us to understand how to walk in covenant. In Jesus’ name.
Credits
Adapted from information found in a very good little book titled, "The Covenant," by James L. Garlow.
AMEN.
-----------------------------------------------
| Copyright 2002
| Practical Holiness Ministry (r)
| "BRINGING PRACTICAL IDEAS TO
| THE CHRISTIAN LIFE." (tm)
|
| You may reprint or publish or hopefully preach
| this material as long as it is not-for-profit,
| except that it may profit one’s soul,
| (see Mark 8:36).
|
| Dr. Neal Gray is the Senior Pastor of the
| Baltimore Parkville Church of the Nazarene.
| 8510 Fowler Ave -- Baltimore, Maryland 21234
|
| You can reach Dr. Gray by e-mail at:
| mailto:drngray@earthlink.net
|
| Also, please visit the church’s website:
| http://www.ForMinistry.com/21234BPCOTN
|
| LEARNING. MENTORING. SERVING. (tm)
| 2 Pet. 3:18 - 2 Tim. 2:2 - Matt. 20:26-28
|
| All Scripture is the King James Version.
| Used with God’s blessed permission.
-----------------------------------------------
------------- FREE SUBSCRIPTION ---------------
| Receive our Sermon Messages each week at your
| e-mail address! Send a brief e-mail message to:
|
| mailto:practicalholiness@earthlink.net
|
| Simply indicate that you wish to receive the
| sermon messages. You will receive only the
| sermon messages--nothing else, ever. And your
| name is not given to anyone. Godspeed to you.
-----------------------------------------------
