Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
covenant in retrospect, looking forward

covenant in retrospect, looking forward

Last updated on: June 28, 2021 at 5:14 pm by Rev. Jared V. Ingle

covenant in retrospect, looking forward 2021-06-28T17:14:19-04:00 Rev. Jared V. Ingle

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Covenant and temple stories are closely related in ancient Near East (aNE) literature. You would have to master several aNE languages to develop a fuller understanding of the societal worth of temples or covenants/treaties

I. Here’s the plan…

This article sets up a series 3 part series, in retrospect. I won’t be looking at the Seers, Early Prophets, Major Prophets, The Twelve, etc.

I’m focusing on another strand of prophecy throughout the Hebrew Bible (i.e. OT), prophecies centered around some great covenants and Temples (and there are other covenants).

A. Caveat | focus on the narrative

I once had the honor of attending a gathering with the President of a local synagogue and another member. They were sharing about their faith to a mixed group of Christian believers and unbelievers. Afterwards, they fielded some questions. One had to do with how they teach and apply the Hebrew Bible.

The Synagogue President said that Christians always try to take the Scripture and apply it devotionally. The Hebrew Bible is not necessarily a book of devotions. Most of the Hebrew Bible is a collection of narratives. He added emphatically, “Let the Story speak for itself!”

So with that point of contact, I hope to provide a little hermeneutical context.

II. Are covenant and temple narratives closely related in the OT and Intertestamental Period?!

A. How would we know? Multiple choice question, and there may be other options

We would have to work with a professor doing some directed research
Or work with a tremendous library system
A few of us could propose a great class with an English tutor
One or all of the above, to gain an understanding of the question at hand
Or a team of could start a ground swell with one or all of the above

B. Please do not expect me to explain the various components of covenant and treaty

This is a narrative, not an exploration of higher dialogues.

Some dialogues I have been invited into and others have opened up because I have kept on asking, seeking, and knocking (transliteration of our Lord’s Word in Matthew 7 & Luke 11).

I will share three covenants in this piece and their relation to the Last Days. Look for more on covenant and temple in future articles.

III. protoevangelium

And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3.15, NLT)

I won’t spend a lot of time on the Creation covenant/s because they are commonly taught.

I will point out this verse, part of the Scripture known as the protoevangelium.

The prophecy is that the serpent (Satan), “will strike His heel” (Jesus Christ the “offspring”). This shows the temporary effect of Christ’s death.

However, prophetically Jesus, “will strike your head,” pointing to the ultimate punishment and death of Satan.

Striking the heel is a temporary wound. Whereas the blow to the head is a death blow to be fulfilled in the Last Days.

This is a common Christian interpretation, whether one believes in Theistic evolution or not. The literary metaphor is often considered clear.

IV. Noahic Covenant

There are plenty of prophecies within this covenant that will remain until the Last Days: the rainbow, cursed earth changed to seasons, eating cooked meat, etc. Noah’s family is also told to be fruitful and multiply, to replenish the Earth, as the first couple had been instructed (Genesis 8-9).

A. What is the right side up rainbow with all the colors?

You do a little research. The rainbow is a sign to remind us a flood will never cover and destroy the whole Earth again.

B. Do I detect bar-b-que?

We are reconstituted as humans to eat meat without blood (i.e. cooked). People may already be eating meat before this point in history, but perhaps they are also eating it raw at times. Personally, I believe that we are no longer vegetarians in Genesis 3 because God sacrifices animals in the covenant with Adam and Eve. Then He uses their skins to make clothes for the first couple.

C. Farmer’s Almanac or the Paris Agreement, or whatever?

I don’t know.

Nonetheless, the curse of the ground after the Garden of Eden (protoevangelium passage) is changed to seasons that we can predict and use to cultivate the earth, grow crops, etc.

maripositas-mission-necisito-dinero

D. Are there other aspects of the Noahic Covenant?

Yes, indeed there are! In fact, some scholars believe that the ancient laws of civilizations globally have similarities because of this covenant. The impact cannot be overstated.

E. What about God’s image?

Mankind is once again confirmed as something greater than all the animals. We are made in the image of God. I know people can refer Theologically to the imago Dei, and you have to discern where they are coming from. However, within the Bible, there is a line that cannot be crossed. We are made in God’s image.

“And I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person’s life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die. If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image. (Genesis 9.5-6)

The imago Dei is stated and confirmed in the Creation account. However, in the Noahic Covenant there is an addition… something we might call capital punishment.

Part of the problem before the flood is that the people are not only living wild lives, they’re violent beyond control (from Cain’s time to Noah’s). Arguably, there are some righteous leaders as well, but if one reads the times… they seem to become worse.

F. Is it ever God’s WILL to murder?

I capitalize God’s WILL only as a play on words for those who choose only to focus on the Protestant Reformation.

Wait, you can’t choose.

So why ask the question?

Moving forward… there are times when perhaps by the hand of Providence, God raises up nations for war; to bring justice and ultimately peace back to regions of the world. However, God never sanctions murder, the digression into intentional brutality that Noah becomes a witness to in the times he faces.

Humans are not brute beasts. The imago Dei is to be preserved and prized, even revered, because we mysteriously reflect our Creator.

Sure, we are meant to carry the imago Dei, but we all may have a marred image. This is not an uncommon concept. In fact, the marred image could be on a parallel track with original guilt or original sin. God’s image can be regenerated in us through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Nevertheless, the imago Dei is to be protected forever!

V. Abrahamic Covenant

A. For those who do not know the story…

Abram and Sarai are chosen by God to move from Ur to Canaan, a land promised to them and future generations, the promised land.

Hypothetically, they could be from an aNE people group who are tent-dwellers, but not necessarily gypsies. They move and trade easily with both goods and livestock as merchants/shepherds. The Hurrians travel up and around the Fertile Crescent near to the east of Turkey (Kuwait, up and around, to all points west). They could have the name Hur-rians from ancient Ur (Hur-|Ur; I’m not an expert in ancient Near East etymology by any stretch of the imagination). There’s a possibility they traveled to India, maybe even Greece, where the Philistines could have come from to raid Israel.

If Abram and Sarai are Hurrians, or traveling with them, perhaps Abram’s dad Terah sensed some type of missionary call to take a trip to Turkey. The community they developed there is up near the northern borders of Iraq and Iran.

These merchants/shepherds may be a mercenary/warrior class as well, amassing wealth and horses along their travels. Do you remember the story of a war between kings of all types of territories? King after king is listed in campaigns near the Dead Sea. Some of Abraham’s extended family are captured as POWs (Abram’s name is changed by now, possibly because he is walking in favor).

B. What did Abraham’s clan do?

He only had 318 warriors. They took down the kings who thought they had won, and brought his extended family home. You’re going to find the narrative in Genesis 14, and also one possible name for Abraham’s mercenaries/warriors.

They could be the Hurrians who originate in Ur (Ur or Hur-rians). Scripture refers to them a couple times as the Horites (Genesis 14; Deuteronomy 2 and in the Genesis genealogies). These names for this people group could be related in the times.

The Hurrian religion has some similar ideas about God and creation. In fact, a lot of very, very ancient religions do. All of us can probably thank Noah’s family for that. His covenant is thought to have been established near Turkey as well. So it may be easy to see why Abram and Sarai are open to the voice of God, and able to obey and move quickly.

VI.c Abrahamic Covenant renewed

A. We are now in the third generation (thus the c)

Abraham’s heir is Isaac. Isaac’s heir becomes Jacob. God escorts Jacob away from the clan and eventually changes his name to Yi’srael (transliteration), passing along the full covenant of Abraham to Jacob’s family.

There is far more to the Abrahamic Covenant.c, but let’s look at three key points:

Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” (Genesis 28.14-15)

First of all, the same promise/prophecy is passed along from Abraham to Isaac, and now to Jacob. God will multiply His people until they are innumerable.

Second, all the families of the earth will be blessed. This is a forever promise about the renewal that will come through these people, a new people of God. Families means the greater clan or tribe. Family could also refer to a nation or people group. Through the line of Abraham, which leads to Jesus Christ, all nations can be touched.

Third, God promises to bring Jacob back home, and to fulfill His specific promises to Jacob.

B. These words are not to be taken lightly

Not everyone knows what it’s like to leave your homeland. We can argue about whether or not this detour in Jacob’s life is self-imposed…

Who cares?

As seminarians, there were some of us who learned that this one one of the highly regarded patriarchs by Hasidic Rabbis.

I strongly dislike it when we always read our Western World context back into Scripture.

There’s a greater Abrahamic theme with this Scripture I’ve chosen.

VII. Does everybody know the fulfillment of this narrative when Esau forgives Yi’srael?

How do the Hurrians launch a campaign? They have horses, I imagine something like scimitars, bows and quivers, and who knows what else?

Let’s not assume we know too much about the Hurrians. Do we know enough about the languages of every people group surrounding the people of God?

Where does Esau live, with all of his horsemen?

Mt. Seir
Waynseville
McDonalds
Florida
Ireland
Samoa

What peoples live in Mt. Seir?

The Deuteronomist
The Seers | Job | Balaam | Jethro
Horites/Hurrians or both
Horites/Hurrians or both and Esau’s clan

The greater Abrahamic theme, in my opinion, is not that Esau and Jacob mend their relationship. The theme, congruent with the Abraham’s promise, is that God has a home for Jacob.

In fact, God is drawing Abraham home. He’s not only using Esau, Jacob’s estranged brother to do so. God is using a people group that looks a lot like the Hurrians, the riders with Esau.

Furthermore, restoration and reconciliation, not to mention sanctuary from extended family who can keep one under protection, is another theme to consider.

God has a home for Jacob, and for us all, and He promises to lead us home as part of this covenant that blesses the world.

Sometimes I have a new thought. Sometimes the thought may be simply an addition to other dialogues. When I do have the opportunity, it is nice to be invited into dialogues like that.

Previous Post

June 9, 2021

2nd Temple Judaism, Black Panther, & Ezekiel's Third Temple

Next Post

June 26, 2021 word study culled down from Basil on 1 Cor xiii.5

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Communion Cruz Ingle Crystal Ingle Early Church Engaging Culture Ethics & Society Family Formation History In Dialogue Jared & Crystal Kingdom of God Majority World Church Mateo Ingle Messenger College Mission Narrative Pentecostal Church of God Prayer Shepherding The Sermon The Writings Theology Theology & Psychology Traverse City Uncategorized Vernell Ingle Word Study

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 May 2017 March 2017 March 2014 February 2013 January 2013 October 2012 July 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 August 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the largest Christian denomination in the world?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Lutheran Orthodox Protestant Catholic