Why Should God's Kingdom Come Now?-- Part 2 ("Abraham & Covenant")

After Adam and before Abram, later Abraham, in terms of His operational relationship with man, God was on the “outside” looking in.  That happened as a result of Adam’s prostituting the authority (total authority over the whole earth) God had given him, by turning it over to Satan. (See Part 1 of this series.)

God chose to “get back in to the loop” with man through “Covenant”, enabling active communion and fellowship with man and ultimately recapturing the authority man had given away. This means  a relationship is established, guaranteeing rights and privileges to both parties, established in blood—on Abram’s side it meant circumcision, is unbreakable and eternal.  A further expression of this covenant was the gift of land (Canaan) that would belong to Abraham and his descendants forever.

Immediately there were lineage issues that had to be straightened out.  God promised Abraham  he would have a son by Sarah, a wife of extended age.  This promise was given 25 years before the accomplished fact.  Not trusting God with this matter, Abraham and Sarah sought to expedite God’s purposes by inserting Hagar, Sarah’s handmaiden into the equation, enabling Abraham to father a son by her, Ishmael. God would have none of it.  Sarah must be the one to bear a son—and she did, Isaac.

 Isaac, born to Sarah when she was 100 years old “jump-started” the faith-walk for Abraham.  Later when Isaac was about 30 years of age, God required he be sacrificed by Abraham.  After it had already been established that only through Isaac would the stream of Covenant flow, this seemed an impossible request.  Still, Abraham did not hesitate, knowing if it be required of him to sacrifice his only son, God would have to resurrect him—this is confirmed by Genesis 22:5.  Following this scene in which God provided a “lamb” in Isaac’s stead for sacrifice, God spoke of powerful blessings to flow from Abraham because of this act of faithfulness.  Also, a principle was being established that one day would call for Abraham’s covenant partner to sacrifice His only Son.

From Abraham to Isaac, through Isaac to his son, Jacob, it was critical to God lineage issues be kept straight.  This guided the flow of Covenant.  Then through Jacob’s son, Joseph, the way was opened for all Jacob’s family to go to Egypt. Over the next 430 years they flourished and became a nation Moses  delivered and led into the Wilderness.  Though disobedience and unbelief was the cause of their lingering in the Wilderness for 40 years, it was a time of training and learning about God.

Under Moses’ instruction and with the demonstration of the Tabernacle, the House of the Lord, the Children of Israel began to learn the nature and character of God.  Everything about the Tabernacle, from its construction to the way sacrifices were administered, revealed the holiness of God. 

This was Covenant at work—with its clear purpose ultimately to restore a personal, viable and working relationship between God and man.  Early on in their stay in the Wilderness all of the people agreed to the principles of Covenant initiated with Abraham.  This made them a “set apart”, “sanctified” or “holy” people; unlike any other peoples on earth.  With this came tremendous privilege and responsibility.

 Prior to laying down his mantle of leadership, Moses reminded the people of these privileges and responsibilities in “Deuteronomy” Chpt. 28.  The first part of the chapter dealt with all the blessings that would flow from obedience to Covenant responsibility; while the latter part of the chapter detailed all the things that would happen if they were disobedient to the terms of this Covenant--some were very, very harsh.  In years following they experienced both.