Deuteronomy 8:1 (NKJV) Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers.
When we speak of God as a God of covenant, we are reminded that He is faithful to His Word and never changes His mind about His promises. Israel’s story shows us that while sin and disobedience can delay God’s blessings, His desire has always been for His people to live, multiply, and possess the land He had promised them. In the same way, through Christ, believers are invited into the abundant life that flows from God’s covenant faithfulness.
Many of us have the wrong perception that God is always angry or eager to punish us when we fumble and fall. However, if we look at the story of Israel, we see that God wanted them to possess the land that He had promised their forefathers, to have life, live, and multiply after themselves. What had caused them to wander in the desert for forty years was the sin of Israel, their rebelliousness and stiff-neckedness. Because God is holy, just, and righteous, He must judge the sins of humanity, including the people of Israel. We need to know that the people of Israel were operating under two covenants, namely the Mosaic and Abrahamic Covenants.
A blood covenant is the closest, most enduring, solemn, and sacred of all contracts, and it cannot be broken. When we enter a blood covenant with someone, we promise to give the other party our life, love, and protection forever. It is a binding, unbreakable agreement based on blood, resulting in the absolute union of two parties in which all assets, talents, and liabilities are shared.
The Abrahamic Covenant is unconditional because the Messiah would come through this covenant, making it fail-proof. It is through this covenant that all the nations of the earth will be blessed. On the other hand, the Mosaic Covenant is conditional and subject to the obedience of the people of Israel in order for the blessings to flow. Disobeying the Mosaic Covenant would remove God’s protection and leave His people vulnerable to their enemies. God had to let this happen because He is just, righteous, and holy. Therefore, He reminded the Israelites time and again to carefully observe His commands so that things would go well with them, such as victory over their enemies and possessing the land.
We, the Gentiles, are the beneficiaries of the Abrahamic Covenant. Jesus fulfilled the law for us and took upon Himself all the curses of the law when He hung on the cross for us. He was made sin for us so that we can have His righteousness and enjoy the abundant life now. Therefore, there is a parallel between the Israelites possessing and living in the promised land and us living the abundant life after accepting Christ. God is a God of covenant, and He will watch over His part to fulfil it in our lives. He will honour His covenant with us just as He honoured His covenant with the people of Israel.
Sermon Series: Stay Humble in His Presence
神那永不破裂的约——从以色列到我们
申命记 8:1 “我今日所吩咐的一切诫命，你们要谨守遵行，好叫你们存活，人数增多，且进去得耶和华向你们列祖起誓应许的那地。
当我们谈到神是立约的神时，就被提醒祂信实守约，绝不改变祂的心意。以色列的历史告诉我们，虽然罪与悖逆会延迟神的祝福，但神的心意始终不变——祂渴望祂的子民能够存活、繁衍增多，并得着祂所应许之地。同样地，借着基督，信徒也被邀请进入那因神信实守约而流出的丰盛生命中。
许多人对神有一个错误的印象——以为神总是愤怒，或随时准备惩罚我们当我们跌倒的时候。然而，当我们回顾以色列的故事时，会发现神的心意是要他们进入祂应许给他们列祖的土地，使他们能得生命、活下去，并繁衍子孙。导致他们在旷野漂流四十年的原因，是因为以色列人的罪——他们的悖逆与顽梗。由于神是圣洁、公义和正直的神，祂必须审判人类的罪，包括祂自己的子民以色列。我们需要明白，以色列人同时处在两个约之下，就是摩西之约和亚伯拉罕之约。
“血约”是所有约中最亲密、最持久、最庄严、最神圣的契约，绝不可被破坏。当我们与人立血约时，就是承诺将自己的生命、爱与保护永远给予对方。这是基于血脉的不可违背的契约，使双方在生命中完全联合，共享所有的资产、才能与责任。
亚伯拉罕之约是无条件的，因为弥赛亚将通过这约而来，使这约成为永不失败的约。正是借着这约，地上的万国都要得福。另一方面，摩西之约是有条件的——以色列人必须顺服神的命令，祝福才会临到他们。若违背这约，就会失去神的保护，使他们容易被仇敌攻击。神之所以容许这些事情发生，是因为祂是公义、正直与圣洁的。神一次又一次地提醒以色列人，要谨慎遵守祂的诫命，好使他们凡事亨通，包括战胜仇敌、进入并得地为业。
而我们——外邦人——是亚伯拉罕之约的受益者。耶稣已经为我们成全了律法，并在十字架上为我们承担了律法的一切咒诅。祂为我们成为罪，使我们可以得着祂的义，并享受如今丰盛的生命。因此，以色列人得地为业并在其中居住，与我们在接受基督后进入并活出丰盛生命之间，有着清晰的平行关系。神是守约的神，祂必看顾祂的约，在我们生命中成就祂的应许。正如祂信守与以色列民的约，祂也必信守与我们的约。
讲章系列：在神的同在里保持谦卑