I Will Make A New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34)

 

I Will Make A New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34)

God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah saying He would make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. There’s the old covenant and the new covenant, but in truth, there is only one covenant. Why? Because there is only one God, and all people are saved according to His covenant.

A covenant is something established between God and people. More specifically, it’s a promise made between God and those who believe. Anyone can enter into God’s covenant through faith.

God first gave His covenant to Adam unilaterally. In Genesis 3:15, He promised that the offspring of the woman—Christ Jesus—would crush the head of the serpent. This covenant was God’s promise to judge Satan and to save fallen humanity through the coming Messiah.

Later, God made a covenant of faith with Abraham. This was a promise that righteousness would come through faith alone (Genesis 15:6). God also established a covenant with the Israelites at Mount Sinai through Moses. This covenant promised blessing if they obeyed God’s commands and curses if they did not.

The Abrahamic covenant and the Mt. Sinai covenant are not in conflict. In fact, the later covenant helps us understand how the earlier one is fulfilled. Faith means total dependence on God—it means dying to self. The purpose of the Sinai covenant was to teach that no one can attain God's holiness by their own efforts. Righteousness comes only through faith—complete reliance on God.

Through Jeremiah, God declared He would make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah—that is, with His people. This new covenant was already embedded in the original promise. God’s covenant is always aimed at saving sinners through forgiveness. And only the blood of Jesus Christ has the power to forgive sins.

So within God's covenant, there is a hidden purpose: salvation through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. The sacrifices of animals were merely shadows and symbols pointing to Christ. That is the heart of the new covenant.

The Days are Coming

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,’ declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 31:31–32)

God is faithful. He always fulfills His promises—just as He fulfilled His covenant with Adam, Noah, Abraham, and the patriarchs. God made a promise to Abraham, and four hundred years later, He carried his descendants into the promised land as if on eagles’ wings.

But the promises of God carry a double meaning: they are both historically fulfilled and prophetically pointing forward.

After entering Canaan, the Israelites began to drift. After the death of Joshua, they fell into idolatry and turned away from the Lord. This is recorded in Judges and throughout the prophetic books.

Covenants can be broken when one side fails to keep it. At Mount Sinai, God entered into a covenant with His people like a husband joining with his bride. But Israel was unfaithful—they broke the covenant by turning to idols. That’s why a new covenant was needed—a covenant renewal.

Jeremiah recorded this promise from God:

“‘At that time,’ declares the Lord,
‘I will be the God of all the families of Israel,
and they will be my people.’” (Jeremiah 31:1)

Here, “all the families of Israel” refers to those who believe—especially those who will be redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, including the patriarchs, the twelve disciples, the apostle Paul, and all faithful believers.

The new covenant is not like the one made through Moses at Sinai. Israel broke that covenant because they were unfaithful to their husband, the Lord. The Sinai covenant was based on obedience to God’s commands—blessings for obedience, curses for disobedience. But no one can perfectly keep God's law, so all fall under its curse.

After Adam sinned, God clothed him with garments of skin. According to the law given through Moses, the central act of worship involved the sacrifice of animals. The shedding of blood was necessary for the forgiveness of sins.

But that system had limits. Animal sacrifices couldn’t cleanse the conscience, so they had to be repeated over and over.

“This is an illustration for the present time,
indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered
were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.
They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—
external regulations applying until the time of the new order.” (Hebrews 9:9–10)

Today, we no longer offer animal sacrifices in church. Instead, we worship, observe special days, give offerings, and evangelize. But just as the sacrifices under Moses couldn’t purify the conscience, neither can church activities unless we understand the reason behind them.

Sacrifices and worship are signs that we belong to God. Because we belong to Him, we draw near to Him to receive forgiveness, restoration, strength, glory, and hope.

God didn’t wait for our sacrifices or good works before saving us. He saved us while we were still enslaved to sin. Only after that did He give us His laws and commands. This shows that salvation comes not by works, but by grace. So how can we claim to be saved by works? We can’t. We are saved by grace—and we live in that grace.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

The new covenant is not founded on the blood of animals, but on the blood of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. His blood alone provides perfect forgiveness.

“But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,
he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands,
that is to say, is not a part of this creation.
He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;
but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood,
thus obtaining eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:11–12)

Animal sacrifices, even under Moses, made the worshiper outwardly clean so they could approach God. But the blood of Christ has power to cleanse completely.

“The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer
sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean
sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ,
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God,
cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,
so that we may serve the living God!
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant,
that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—
now that he has died as a ransom to set them free
from the sins committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 9:13–15)

I Will Put My Law In Their Minds And Write It On Their Hearts

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:33–34)

The new covenant isn’t something engraved on stone—it’s something written on the heart. God already spoke of this through Moses.

“No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” (Deuteronomy 30:14)

The reason God gave this word through Moses was to show them that no one could perfectly follow the law by their actions alone. God was teaching them this from the beginning:

“Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.
It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’
Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’” (Deuteronomy 30:11–13)

Trying to go up to heaven or cross the sea represents striving to keep the law by human effort and dedication—which is, in reality, impossible. But God’s word is near, in your mouth and in your heart. This becomes possible through the Holy Spirit given to those who believe.

Through the blood of Christ, our broken relationship with God is restored. We are brought back to His image and likeness, and now we can stand before the throne of grace without fear.

The new covenant is sealed with the blood of Jesus Christ. Through His blood, we are restored as God’s children, and our union with Him is made complete again. God becomes the God of those redeemed by Christ’s blood, and they become His beloved people.

So now, because of Christ’s sacrifice, we belong fully to God—we are His treasured possession.

God fulfilled the promise He gave through Moses:

“Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’
These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:5–6)

The blood of Christ has the power to stop the wrath of God. Those who trust in that blood meet the full requirement of the law—not through their works, but through faith expressed in obedience.

Another amazing truth is this: those who are redeemed by Christ’s blood no longer need to be told, “Know the Lord.”

Why? Because everyone—from the least to the greatest—knows Him. God sees the blood of Christ and forgives their sins. He remembers them no more.

Those born again through Jesus’ blood have the Holy Spirit living inside them. Because the Holy Spirit knows God, He teaches us directly and even prays for us with groans that words cannot express.

John said this in his letter:

“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you,
and you do not need anyone to teach you.
But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.” (1 John 2:27)

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and those who follow Him are His sheep. The shepherd guides, protects, and leads the sheep to green pastures. Sheep cannot survive without the shepherd. And Jesus, the Good Shepherd, laid down His life for His sheep.

So we follow, trust, and obey this Good Shepherd.

Most importantly, God sends His Holy Spirit to those who believe, and the Spirit dwells with them forever. Even when we don’t know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit within us intercedes with wordless groans.

Amen!

June 1, 2025
Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2025, David Lee Ministries ©2025 – All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

 

The Covenant at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1–25)

 

The Covenant at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1–25)

God is the God of covenant. Anyone can become part of His covenant people—but not everyone is automatically part of it. You have to walk in obedience to the covenant. God’s Word is revealed progressively. At first, it may seem dim, but over time, it becomes more vivid and obvious.

God first gave His covenant right after humanity fell into sin (Genesis 3:15). It was His initiative, a promise of salvation. If people ignore that promise and go their own way, judgment follows (Genesis 6). But if they believe His promise and follow Him, they receive the blessings and fruits of heaven (Genesis 15).

After rescuing His people by grace, God gave them His holy commands and laws (Exodus 19). His law is perfect—it reflects His holy nature. Once we are saved by faith, living out that faith through obedience is the natural next step. It’s how we begin to reflect God's character. That’s why God gave His laws—to lead us to holy living.

If You Obey Me Fully and Keep My Covenant…

On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:1–6)

Three months after leaving Egypt, the Israelites came to the Desert of Sinai and camped in front of the mountain. Moses went up the mountain to meet with God. The Lord called to him and said, "Tell the people of Israel things to remember: You yourselves saw what I did in Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. The purpose of salvation: Now if you fully obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my treasured possession out of all the nations. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."

Before this covenant, the Israelites had been slaves in Egypt. But now they were no longer Pharaoh’s property. They belonged to God and were to live by His laws and commands.

This covenant came with a condition: they had to listen to God's commands and obey them. That’s why we call it a conditional covenant.

But what does it really mean to "obey His laws and commands"? It doesn’t mean you must perfectly follow every letter of the law. Because if someone thinks they can keep the law perfectly, then they would have to obey it all, all the time. Otherwise, they fall under a curse.

“All who rely on the works of the law are under a curse... ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’” (Galatians 3:10)

Paul asked the Galatians:

“Does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?” (Galatians 3:5)

Just like Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6, Galatians 3:6), salvation comes by faith, not by trying to earn it through works.

The Israelites weren’t saved from Egypt because they obeyed the law. They were saved because of the promise God gave to Abraham. God first gave them grace, then gave them the law to live by.

Why? Because sin is lawlessness. Before salvation, they were slaves to sin. But now, they had become God's people—no longer lawless, but under His guidance. Living by God’s law is the blessed life of those who stay under His grace.

James said:

“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)

Faith becomes complete when it's lived out. Abraham was made righteous by faith and that faith was shown to be real when he offered Isaac (James 2:21–22).

But how can anyone actually live this out? No one can keep the law perfectly in their own strength no matter how great determination and commitment are. That’s why we need to die to ourselves. If we could obey the law by ourselves, then Jesus wouldn’t have had to die on the cross. Recognizing this is the key to understanding the law. God gave us His commands to show us that we can’t be righteous on our own. We need His grace—every step of the way.

So, just like we were saved by grace, we continue to live in grace—that's how we truly walk in obedience.

The Lord Comes in a Dense Cloud

So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord. The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said. (Exodus 19:7–9)

The thick cloud symbolized God’s powerful presence. Throughout their journey, He stayed with them as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This visible presence is known in Hebrew as Shekinah, meaning “dwelling” or “presence.”

God had already appeared to Moses in the burning bush. But because God is holy, He doesn’t reveal Himself directly to sinful people. Instead, He spoke through Moses with voice only.

This had three purposes:

1. To establish Moses as the mediator—someone to stand between the people and God.
2. To prevent the people from trying to create physical images of God, since no one has ever seen His form.
3. To show that God desires relationship through His Word. That’s why we have the Bible—to hear from Him and talk with Him.

The People Prepare for God’s Presence

Then God told Moses: "Go to the people and have them consecrate themselves today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and get ready for the third day, because on that day I will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Put limits around the mountain and tell them not to touch it. Anyone who touches the mountain must be put to death." (Exodus 19:10–13)

This was serious. Even animals couldn’t touch the mountain or they’d die. It showed just how holy and unapproachable God is because of sin.

What does this mean spiritually? By nature, we are children of wrath—we cannot approach a holy God on our own. So He commanded the people to purify themselves and respect the boundaries. The same is true today: God hasn’t changed. He’s still holy, and no one can stand before Him apart from His grace.

So why aren’t we consumed by His holiness now? Because of His mercy.

When God came down on Sinai, He showed His people who He truly is. God is not to be taken lightly. He is powerful and awesome. He deserves our honor, glory, strength, reverence, and praise forevermore.

Moses Consecrates the People

After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.” On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. (Exodus 19:14-19)

Moses came down from Mount Sinai and told the people what God had said. Then he had them consecrate themselves—he told them to wash their clothes. This wasn't just about being physically clean. It pointed to something deeper: being spiritually clean, like being washed by the blood of Jesus and putting on the robe of God’s righteousness. No matter how honorable or successful we are, we can’t make ourselves holy on our own.

Moses also gave them a specific instruction: “Get ready for the third day. Don’t go near a woman.” That might sound odd today, but it symbolized something bigger—God was coming down to meet His people, like a groom preparing to meet his bride. And just like a bride prepares herself for the wedding day, the church—those who believe in Christ—is being prepared as His pure bride.

This image echoes what we see in Revelation 19:7–8:

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)

God’s salvation isn’t just about escaping judgment—it’s about restoring the love relationship between God and people. From the beginning, humans were created in God’s image to live in union with Him, not independently. Just like a husband and wife become one, we were meant to be united with God.

"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)

The third day is especially important. It points to Jesus rising from the dead. The broken relationship between God and humanity is restored because Jesus died and rose again. When we believe in Him, our old selves die with Christ, and we rise to new life in Him. That’s what it means to be His pure bride.

On the morning of the third day, there was thunder and lightning, thick clouds covering the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled with fear. Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered in smoke, because God had come down on it in fire. The smoke rose like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.

Why did God come down like that—with thunder, fire, and trembling? Because this is who He is—holy, powerful, and worthy of awe. The writer of Hebrews puts it like this:

Hebrews 12:18–21:

"You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them… The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, 'I am trembling with fear.'"

But God is not only holy and awesome—He’s also gracious and full of mercy. That’s why He sent His Son. Through Jesus, we no longer approach God in fear, but with confidence and love. We are no longer slaves to fear, but children of grace.

Hebrews 12:22–24 says:

"But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem… to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."

God Calls Moses to the Top of the Mountain

The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.”

Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up Mount Sinai, because you yourself warned us, ‘Put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.’ ”

The Lord replied, “Go down and bring Aaron up with you. But the priests and the people must not force their way through to come up to the Lord, or he will break out against them.”

So Moses went down to the people and told them. (Exodus 19:20-25)

Then the Lord came down to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to come up. Moses obeyed. God said, “Go back down and warn the people not to force their way through to see Me, or many of them will die. Even the priests must consecrate themselves, or I will break out against them.” Moses replied, “But Lord, You told us to put limits around the mountain and set it apart as holy.” God said, “Go down and bring Aaron back up with you. But the priests and the people must not come through the boundaries, or I will break out against them.” So Moses went down and told the people.

This reminds us that no one can approach a holy God without first being made clean. Even the priests, even the leaders—everyone needs God's grace. And spiritually, this means that apart from the blood of Jesus, we have no access to the holy presence of God. Only through Him is the way opened. There is no other path to the presence of God except through His Son. He is holy, yes—but also the God of mercy, who made a way for us. Praise the Lord!

May 25, 2025
Buffalo Livingstone Church ©2025, David Lee Ministries ©2025 – All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotes are from the NIV.

The Covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:1–21)

 

The Covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:1–21)

God is a God of grace. Throughout history, He has made covenants with people like Adam, Noah, and Abraham—not because they deserved it, but because of His grace. It was one-sided, entirely initiated by God. So, there’s nothing for us to boast about. Our role is simply to believe in the Lord with thankfulness and joy.

God’s covenant of grace is ultimately a promise of salvation. True salvation doesn’t happen the way we want—it happens according to God’s will. And His will is to rescue us from sin and death and give us eternal life.

God’s way of salvation is through Jesus Christ. Jesus shed His blood and died on the cross for the sins of the world. Because of His blood, anyone who believes in Him receives the grace of redemption from sin.

Being redeemed in Christ means we’re now able to bear good, spiritual, and righteous fruit (Galatians 5:22–23). Before that, we could only bear sinful fruit (Galatians 5:19–21). God promised Abraham that He would give him the land that could produce such fruit, and He sealed that promise with blood. God sees the fruit we bear and makes His judgment accordingly.

“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:18–20)

God—Our Shield and Great Reward

“After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.’ But Abram said, ‘Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?’
And Abram said, ‘You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.’” (Genesis 15:1–3)

This moment happened after Abram had just won a battle against a coalition of kings and rescued his nephew Lot. Though he was victorious, Lot went back to Sodom, and Abram likely feared retaliation from nearby enemies.

So, God came to Abram in a vision and said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m your shield and your very great reward.” In other words, God was saying, “I’ve got you covered. I’m your protection, and I’m all the reward you need.”

This is also true for every believer in Christ: “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

But Abram still struggled with the fact that he had no heir. He was well past 75 years old, and his wife Sarai was about ten years younger. He brought up the issue to God: without a son, his servant Eliezer would have to be his heir. This was actually a common custom in ancient times—if you didn’t have children, your most trusted servant could become your heir.

Back in Genesis 12:2, God had already made a promise to Abram: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” But with no child, that promise seemed like a distant dream.

Still, God is a promise-keeping God. Jesus said:

“Truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:18)

God’s promises are fulfilled not in our timing, but in His. So, real faith means trusting in God’s promises, even while we wait.

God Counts Abram's Faith as Righteousness

“Then the word of the Lord came to him: ‘This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.’ He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’ Then He said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:4–6)

God made it clear: Eliezer was not the one. Abram’s heir would be his own biological child. Even though Abram’s plan seemed reasonable, God had something better. That’s a good reminder for us: sometimes our solutions feel smarter than God’s, especially when we’re struggling—but His ways are higher.

“’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.
‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” (Isaiah 55:8–9)

God then took Abram outside and told him to look up at the sky. “Count the stars, if you can. That’s how numerous your descendants will be.”

That promise was almost difficult to believe—Abram didn’t even have a single child yet. But Abram believed God. He trusted the One who made the promise, and that faith is what God counted as righteousness.

Faith isn’t about how strong we are—it’s about who we’re trusting. People can break promises, but God, the Creator of the heavens and earth, never fails. He is the only One truly worthy of our full trust.

Of course, Abram ended up having only eight sons total: Isaac through Sarah, Ishmael through Hagar, and six more through Keturah. That’s not exactly “countless stars.” But this promise had a deeper, spiritual meaning.

Anyone who trusts and believes in God—just like Abraham did—is considered part of his spiritual family. And through Abraham’s descendant, Jesus Christ, countless believers have come to salvation.

“The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” (Romans 4:23–24)

Being declared righteous means we’ve passed from death to life. We’ve been rescued from God’s wrath and brought into His grace. The broken relationship caused by sin in Adam has been restored. Now we can enjoy eternal life and the blessings of heaven forever.

And it all starts with one thing: believing in the Lord.

God Leads Abram Out of Ur to Give Him the Land

“Then God said to Abram, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will actually gain possession of it?” So the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat, and a ram—each three years old—along with a dove and a young pigeon.” Abram brought all of these to Him, cut them in two, and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half.” (Genesis 15:7-10)

God told Abram that He had brought him out of Ur to give him this land—Canaan—as his inheritance. But at that point, Abram didn’t even own a single piece of it. In fact, the only land he ever officially owned during his life was a burial cave for his wife Sarah. Still, God promised that the entire land would be his.

This was a hard promise to believe. Yet God wasn’t just talking about physical land. In the spiritual sense, land—especially land that bears fruit—often symbolizes a life of faith that produces spiritual fruit. On the third day of creation, God gathered the waters and let the land appear (Genesis 1:9). That land bore fruit—just like faith can bear fruit in a believer’s life. God blesses those who live by faith with abundance—not just physically but spiritually.

When Abram asked, “How can I know I’ll possess it?”, God responded not with words alone but through a covenant. He told Abram to prepare a sacrifice using animals, which was the way people in the ancient Near East made serious agreements. Abram obeyed, cutting the animals in two and laying the pieces opposite each other, as was the custom—except for the birds, which were left whole.

This wasn’t just any promise; it was a covenant sealed with blood. It showed just how serious and certain God’s promise was. He was saying, "I will absolutely keep this promise."

This points forward to the ultimate covenant. When Adam and Eve sinned, God clothed them with garments of animal skin—already foreshadowing the day Jesus Christ would shed His blood to cover our sins. Every covenant with God has always involved a sacrifice.

God Foretells the Future of Abram's Descendants

As the sun was setting, birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. Then, as the sun went down, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and terrifying darkness came over him. Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, where they will be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great wealth. You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” (Genesis 15:11-16)

As Abram kept watch over the covenant sacrifice, birds tried to swoop down and eat it. He chased them away. Then, as evening fell, a deep sleep came over him, and with it, a heavy darkness and fear—God’s holy presence had come.

God then spoke again, this time revealing a future that would be hard to hear. Abram’s descendants would be foreigners, mistreated for 400 years in a land that wasn’t theirs. But God assured Abram: He would bring them out with great possessions, and eventually, they would return to take possession of the promised land.

Why the delay? Because the sin of the Amorites—those living in Canaan—had not yet reached its full measure. God is patient, giving people time to repent. The Hebrew word used here, shalem, means fullness, completion, or even paid in full. It hints at the time when Jesus Christ would pay in full for the sin of the world. Until then, God’s judgment was held back.

This tells us something vital: Israel wouldn’t receive the land because of their own righteousness, but because of God’s justice against sin. Spiritually, this speaks of our eternal inheritance—the kingdom of heaven—not earned by us, but given by grace through Christ.

God Seals His Covenant with Fire and Promise

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day, the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” (Genesis 15:17-21)

After nightfall, Abram saw something amazing: a smoking firepot and a blazing torch moving between the halves of the animals. This was God's way of confirming His covenant—sealed with fire. Fire represents God's holy presence, and this act was God's way of saying, “I’m bound by this promise. I will do what I said.”

God promised to give Abram's descendants the land stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates, including all the lands of the seven nations living in Canaan. This covenant was not based on anything Abram had done—it was God's unilateral, gracious promise. Abram didn’t walk through the pieces—God alone did.

This shows us that God’s covenant is a gift, not something we can earn. Abram represents all of us—broken, undeserving people who are invited into a relationship with God through grace.

As Paul later wrote in Ephesians 2:8–10:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Praise the Lord! Thanks to God who keeps His promises forever!

May 18, 2015
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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.