Teaching And Research By: M. E. Arbaugh

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 Better than the Blood of
Bulls and Goats

FROM BEFORE THE GARDEN TO THE DESERT

COVENANT WITH MOSES FOR THE NATION
LESSON  FOUR  
 

We have taken a look at the following covenants:

Eden.............age of innocence
Adam............age of conscience
Noah.............age of human government
Abraham.......age of Promise

Now we come to Moses, the age of the Law. What is the law? There has been a lot of confusion concerning the dispensation of the law. People often read the letters "L A W" and their minds associate it with the Ten Commandments.  In recent years, this has most likely come about because of the movie called the Ten Commandments; but the problem was with us many years before Cecil B. De Mille released his box office block buster.

The word law is used in the Bible about 500 times, (I say about because it is possible that while counting, I overlooked one or two). In most cases the word law is used to refer to a part of the word, or to the scriptures as a whole.

Psalms 19:7-11 is an exaltation of the word of God. David wrote this Psalm and in it he used many terms to describe the word of God. Lets read and notice all the different descriptions.

"The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the (whole) person; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure and bright, enlightening the eyes; The (reverent) fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The ordinances of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings from the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned (reminded, illuminated and instructed) in keeping them is great reward."

This is the amplified version, but you will not have a problem in King James seeing that all of these words including the word law, refer to the scriptures as a whole.

In most of the 500 (about) times that the word "Law" is used, it is not in reference to the Ten Commandments. When we read or hear the word law, we must determine by context what is being referred to.

There are four choices.

1. The scriptures as a whole.
2. The books of Moses. Which are the first five books of the Bible.
3. The whole body of ceremonial, civil, and moral laws. I've heard          there are 615 of them, this time, I did not count.
4. The tables of the law which are called the Ten Commandments.

During the time Jesus walked on the earth in a physical body, the Jews had the Old Testament which they divided into three parts.

1. The books of Moses, also called the Law, The Torah and The Pentateuch.
2. The Psalms, the Hebrews also included in this section, The Books of Wisdom. Proverbs, Job, Solomon and Ecclesiastes.
3. The Prophets.

Jesus referred to the whole of the Old Testament when He said, "I came not to destroy the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them." Matthew 5:17.......and He did. Everything that was written about Him in the Law and the Prophets was fulfilled.

When Moses went up on the mountain, He came down with one Law, WHICH WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS.

1. The moral law, called the Ten Commandments. This was never intended to be a means of salvation, but was to show man that he had no ability in himself to save himself.
2. The Ordinances, which dealt with worship and holy days and included exact direction for the making of the tabernacle, sacrifices and offerings.
3. The Civil Law, called the judgment, dealt with social conduct of the people and government of the nation. This section includes the dietary and sanitation laws which were given to protect their health.

The moral law (also called the Ten Commandments) is the area of the word most people think of when they hear or read the word "law". In Romans 7:12, this moral law of God's is called good, holy and just. If we would be saved by our own efforts, all we have to do is obey it all of the time. No slips, no small sins. The "Law" has no mercy. No matter how sincere we are, no matter how hard we try, there are no "E's" passed out for effort. Galatians 3:10 says, "cursed is everyone that continues not in ALL THINGS which are written in the book of the law to do them."

The law is a law of equal opportunity. There is no discrimination between persons under the law. Everyone gets treated the same. The law says, the one who commits sin will die, and the wages of sin is death. Please note the word sin does not have an s on it, we are not talking plural, we are talking singular. One sin, tiny or otherwise, is enough to finish us off if we are trying to work our way to heaven.

THE LAW DEMANDS PERFECTION. "For who ever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point is guilty of all." James 2:10 There is absolutely no way to keep the law in the natural.

What we know of the Apostle Paul indicates that he was a man who exercised great control over his body. Of himself he said, that he had more reason to trust in the flesh than any man. In effect he said, I've always honored God, kept the Sabbath, never cursed, honored parents, stayed clear of idols, never murdered or committed sexual sins......I am good, I am blameless. Philippians 3:4-6

Apparently he started at commandment number one and checked himself out. Number one? yes, I've done that. Number two? yes, I've done that, and so on until he came to number ten.

Romans 7:7-14 "What shall we say then? Is the law evil? God forbid. No, I would not have known sin, except for the law: I would not have recognized lust, except the law had said, You shall not covet. But sin worked in me all manner of desires. If there were no laws to break, there would be no sin. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

"Nevertheless, if it had not been for the Law, I would not have recognized sin or have known its meaning. For instance I would not have known about covetousness (lust). Would not have been conscious of sin or of guilt, if the Law had not repeatedly said, you shall not covet and have an evil desire (for one thing and another). But sin, finding opportunity in THE COMMANDMENT (to express itself) got a hold on me and aroused and stimulated all kinds of forbidden desires (lust, covetousness). For with out the law sin is dead...THE SENSE of it is inactive and a lifeless thing. Once I was alive but quite apart from and unconscious of the law. But when THE COMMANDMENT came, sin lived again, and I died.....was sentenced by the law to death."  Romans 7:7-14 amplified

It was number ten that got him. In Romans 7:7-14 we find Paul mentioning several   times   THE   COMMANDMENT.    It was  THE COMMANDMENT that gave Paul a new view of sin.

THE COMMANDMENT reveals that sin is not only an action, it is also an attitude. THE COMMANDMENT reveals that sin is first a matter of the heart and mind before it becomes an act of the body.

Paul, who thought of himself as a Pharisee of the Pharisees now concludes that no flesh has ever been justified by the law.

Romans 3:23  "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His (God's) sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

What then, was the purpose of the law? It was added, later on, after the promise, to disclose and expose to men their guilt because of their transgressions. It makes men conscious of the sinfulness of sin. The law was intended to be in effect until THE SEED (Jesus) should come.

Paul asks, what purpose does the Law serve? and then answers the question by saying it was added because of the need to make men more conscious of the sinfulness of sin. Added does not mean an amendment. It means in addition to or also given. What was it in addition to? It was in addition to the promise made to Abraham. Galatians 3:15-17

This is going to shock some of you. ABRAHAM WAS UNDER GRACE, AND SO WERE ALL OF HIS DESCENDANTS. The covenant that God made with Abraham was unconditional and everlasting. Genesis 17:7 Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Joseph's brothers were ALL under grace.

The children of Israel were under grace while they were slaves in Egypt. STOP AND THINK A MOMENT ABOUT THAT, AND APPLY IT TO BELIEVERS WHO ARE ALSO UNDER GRACE. Many believers are not aware of their covenant rights, and so, are in bondage to the enemy. They are led into captivity because they lack knowledge concerning God's word. When we are aware something belongs to us, we do not let someone take it away from us without a fight. God's covenant of grace declares we have been freed from sin, sickness and poverty. Until that truth becomes real to us, we will live like slaves even though we are under the grace of God. The children of Israel were delivered from Egypt by grace, they crossed the Red Sea by grace and then when they reached Mount Sinai, God ADDED THE LAW.  To understand why, we must take a look at what happened on the way to the mountain. When Israel reached the mountain, they had been out of Egypt for three months, during that time they had been very rebellious. After they had been delivered from slavery and from having their babies thrown into the river they accused Moses, Aaron and God of bringing them into the wilderness to kill them. Just three short days after singing the horse and the rider are thrown into the sea, they doubted, questioned and murmured. This water tastes bitter, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DRINK? PANIC!!!

Did God say, "you ungrateful wretches, how is it that you do not trust me after all that I've done for you?" ........and then destroy them with fire from heaven. No, He responded with grace and sweetened the water.

So they camped by the sweet water for awhile, then the cloud moved on and they came to the desert. Very probably they LOOKED out across the desert and it did not LOOK like the fertile farm land they left back by the Nile. NO FOOD IN SIGHT!!!! PANIC!!!! WHAT ARE WE GOING TO EAT? Again they accuse God of trying to kill them. This time by starving them.

Did God respond with,  you ungrateful wretches, why is it that you do not trust me, after all I've done for you......and then destroy them by sending fire from heaven? No, He responded with grace and sent manna from heaven.

Again the cloud moves and they move further out into the desert. Now, the cloud stops at a place where there is no water in SIGHT.  By this time, we naturally assume they have learned God is the supply of all their needs and they are not moved by what they see. Right?.......No, Wrong! Again they accuse God of bringing them out into the wilderness to kill them.

Less than three months from the Red Sea they have accused God of having some sort of evil plan to kill them, not once, but three times. Why didn't God punish them? It was because of His promise to Abraham which was a covenant of grace. Again God responded with grace and gave them water, this time from a rock. Exodus chapters 15-19

What was wrong with these people? Why didn't they recognize God's mercy had spared them? Why did they think they deserved better treatment than they were getting? It was because they didn't even recognize they had sinned. They couldn't turn to Romans 14:23 and read, whatsoever is not of faith, is sin.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE SINNED?

If you are a JEW, you know because of the law which was given to them. "For they are ISRAELITES and to them belongs God's presence. With them were the special covenants made, TO THEM WAS THE LAW GIVEN..." Romans 9:4

If you are a GENTILE, you know because you have instincts that are a law unto themselves.

"When GENTILES who have not (the divine) law, do instinctively what the law requires, THEY ARE A LAW TO THEMSELVES, since they do not have the law." "They show that the essential requirements of the law are written in their hearts and are operating there; with which their conscience (sense of right and wrong) also bears witness; and their (moral) decisions....their arguments of reason, their condemning or approving thoughts...will accuse or perhaps defend and excuse them." Romans 2:14-15 amplified

If you are a BELIEVER, you know because the word is your guide line and if you step over the line, you sense the Holy Spirit is grieved.

"Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgment or to claim or count anything as coming from us; but OUR POWER AND ABILITY AND SUFFICIENCY ARE FROM GOD." 2 Corinthians 3:5 amplified

Before the law was given, sin was in the world. Sin and death entered the world through Adam. BEFORE THE LAW, SIN WAS STILL SIN, but until the law came, sin was not a transgression of the law.

Romans 5:12-13 amp. "Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, (no one being able to stop it or to escape its power) because all men sinned." "To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged to men's account where there is no law (to transgress)."

EXAMPLE: Sin was always morally wrong, but not always legally wrong. People in the United States used to buy slaves and abuse them, IT WAS LEGAL. To subject others to slavery and abuse has always been morally wrong but many of the people who did these things did not recognize they were wrong.

Everybody was doing it, and it WAS LEGAL. Then came the law concerning slavery. The law did not change the nature of slavery, it WAS ALWAYS WRONG, but after the law came it was both immoral and illegal. Now, because of the law that abolished slavery in this land, people got the message and slavery became an issue of the past.

The law defines sin for us. The law doesn't cause sin or change sin. It just tells us what sin is. Without the law we would not recognize sin.       Romans 7:7

With this background information, let us now consider the offering of the law. OFFERING?.....YOU MEAN THERE WAS A CHOICE!!!!

Exodus 19:1-8 "In the third month after the Israelites left the land of Egypt, the same day, they came into the wilderness of Sinai. When they had departed from Rephidim and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped there before the mountain. And Moses went up to God, and The Lord called to him out of the mountain, say this to the house of Jacob and tell the Israelites; You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, IF you will OBEY My voice in truth and KEEP My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples: for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation (consecrated, set apart to the worship of God.) These are the words you shall speak to the Israelites. So Moses called for the elders of the people, and told them all these words which the Lord commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, ALL THAT THE LORD HAS SPOKEN WE WILL DO."

In this message that God gives to Moses, to give to Israel, He first reminds them of His grace which is unconditional. Then He reminds them of what He did to the Egyptians in order to secure their release. He tells them, "I bore you on eagles wings, and then He introduces a new thing....IF, OBEY AND KEEP. And they, with their perfect record of failure for the last three months said, "All that the Lord says, we will do."

You and I might suppose that when the Lord suggested giving the law and making their blessing conditional on the keeping of it, that they would have cried out...Oh!! No!! Moses, tell Him we want to remain under grace. But they didn't. NO siree, that's not what these freed slaves did. In blind confidence of self they said, "All that the Lord says, we will do."  So God responded to their SELF confidence by giving them a law that would reveal to them the true nature of sin. He gave them the perfect requirements for earning the blessing of God. They chose the conditional blessing based on IF, OBEY, AND KEEP instead of grace.

That same choice is still available today. You may think you can do it. You may say to yourself, I'll live this good life and God will be pleased. The Bible speaks of those who would try to earn their way into the Kingdom of God. It says, "there is a way that seems right to man, but the end thereof is death." Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. The only entrance into eternal life in the presence of God, is faith in Him. Don't make the same mistake the Israelites did, choose Jesus instead of works. Then out of gratitude for what He has done for you, serve Him.

Moses was called to the mountain and stayed there forty days. Have you ever wondered why it took forty days? God could have given all of the law in a much shorter time, all could have been accomplished in a matter of a few hours. I think it took forty days because God wanted Israel to see they were NOT capable of doing all He said; and He knew their limit was less than forty days. Sure enough, before the tablets got down the mountain, the law had already been broken. Exodus 24:12,15,18 and Exodus 31:18

While Moses was with God, the Israelites gathered up the gold trinkets in the camp, made a golden calf and began to worship before it. When Moses returned to camp, in righteous anger he broke the tables of the law in order to dramatize what the people had done. Exodus 32:1-17

The law which Moses was to deliver to the people, made it very clear that death was the immediate result for sin. But God, in His mercy, had anticipated their failure and had already provided a substitute for them. At the same time God gave the law which cursed and condemned, He also gave the plan for redemption from that curse. God's answer to the judgment of the law, was the ordinances.

The tabernacle, the furniture, the feast days, the pattern of worship, all pointed toward the fulfillment of the moral law. That fulfillment was Christ. The purpose of the law was to show the need of a savior. The law uncovered the problem. The answer to the problem was revealed in the plan for the tabernacle, the furniture and the sacrifices. The death of bulls, goats and lambs on the altar, the shedding of blood for the remission of sin, all pointed to the coming of THE LAMB OF GOD who would shed His blood once and for all for the sin of the world.  Hebrews 9:11-12

After the sorry situation at the camp site was straightened out, the Lord speaks to Moses and tells him to "make two more tablets of stone and I will write again the same words that were on the first two." Exodus 34:1-2. This was the second giving of the law. This time the law was to be hidden in the ark of the covenant. Israel had broken the law, the law demanded the penalty of death. So God in His mercy put a covering over the law. He called it the mercy seat. Once a year the high priest was to take the blood of animals and sprinkle it on the mercy seat. The blood represented the life of the innocent animal and took the place of the guilty nation in death. The blood of bulls and goats averted the judgment that was due because of broken law. For God had already said, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you."

WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THIS HOLY, PERFECT LAW, THAT WOULD MAKE IT NECESSARY TO COVER IT WITH BLOOD?

The law could not free people from sin because no one could keep it. The law called their attention to sin, condemned the sinner and then demanded payment, so they went to the temple with their sacrifices. The sacrifices covered their sin but did not cleanse the people. Hebrews 10:1-4

Under the old system, men put great emphasis on outward works, they majored on APPEARING to be holy. They outwardly obeyed the first nine commandments, and kept secret the fact that they DESIRED to break some or all of them. Desiring to break any of the first nine, was the breaking of number ten THE COMMANDMENT "Thou shalt not covet." Jesus said, "the people were like whited graves, all clean on the outside but inside filled with dead men's bones." Matthew 23:27

God is a God of order. He has a schedule of events and when the time had fully come, He sent forth His Son to purchase freedom and atone for those who were subject to the law. Galatians 4:4-5. Jesus would, by means of His sinless blood, purify not only the outward man but also the inward man. Hebrews 9:12-14.

THE BIG QUESTION, AS A BELIEVER AM I UNDER THE LAW?

The answer to that question is a positive, ....it depends...no...and yes. It depends on what you mean when you ask that question.

If you mean must I obey the word of God as a whole, then the answer is YES, YES, YES. Your life should be filled with the word of God. Your mind, your mouth and your actions should be filled with the correct, precise knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2.

If you mean the Ten Commandments when you ask, "Am I under the law?", then the answer is no and yes. No, because the word says the believer is delivered from the law Romans 7:6 free from the law Romans 8:2 dead to the law Galatians 2:19 redeemed from the law Galatians 3:13,4:5,5:18. Then Romans 10:4 tells us Christ is the end of the law. This is not an extensive list, there are many more scriptures but this should give you the understanding that you as a believer are not under the law. It is not possible to earn salvation by keeping the law, before you are saved or after you are saved. Salvation is believing in Jesus, plus nothing.

Does this mean the believer can live like the devil and it will make no difference at all? NO, NO, NO. We are free from the law of commandments but we are not lawless. As a believer, we are now under the law of life and love.

'THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS HAS FREED ME FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH."  Romans 8:2

This law of the spirit of life, which is in me, will bring forth (from the born again spirit) the fruit of a righteous life. THIS IS WHERE THE YES COMES IN. I don't strive to keep the commandments in order to EARN His approval, instead, my love for Him is declared by my life which is filled with His love.

Romans 13:8-10 amplified,  "Keep out of debt and owe no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor....who practices loving others...has fulfilled the law (relating to one's fellowmen) meeting all its requirements. The commandments, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet (have an evil desire) and any other commandment are summed up in the single command, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to one's neighbor...love never hurts anybody. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the law."            

Paul said, "For I through the law am dead to the law, THAT I MIGHT LIVE UNTO GOD." Galatians 2:19. Life takes the place of death, love takes the place of the law. Where there is perfect love, you do not need the law.

Several times a year I attend church related seminars, because of his work schedule, my husband is not always free to go with me. Lets imagine that I am about to leave home for a week long seminar. Just before I leave, I place a large sign in the kitchen. I choose a place where I am sure the sign will be seen and hard to ignore. Probably on the door of the refrigerator. As I am leaving, I say to my husband, I have listed some rules on this sign. You are to live by these rules while I am away.

Rule #1 Thou shalt entertain no other wife besides me.
Rule #2 Thou shalt not love anyone else more than me.
Rule #3 Thou shalt not speak jokingly about me, or use my name          lightly.  
Rule #4 Thou shalt work six days, no playing hooky while I am away.
Rule #5 Thou shalt spend free time in the evening doing home chores.
Rule #6 Thou shalt not choose to watch the football game instead of   going  to Bible study.
Rule #7 Thou shalt honor thy in-laws.
Rule #8 Thou shalt not murder, dogs, cats, bird, fish, and plants by  failure to feed and water them.
Rule #9 Thou shalt speak the truth, to those who inquire of me, telling   them you miss me a lot.
Rule #10 Thou shalt not covet the neighbors wife, even if she is young and skinny.

Having gone over the list of rules in order to make certain my husband understands them, I now warn him that failure to follow these rules will incur my wrath.

If this is the sort of thing that goes on at your house, you need help. Let me tell you, this sort of thing is NOT needful in our home. We do not need to lay down laws in our home. Why not?... because we love each other. We are under the law of love. We do for each other because we love each other, not because we have to.

When I am ready to leave, I get a hug and a kiss and I am on my way without a single worry about the conduct of my husband. We live in a home ruled by love and love is the fulfilling of the law.

Believers don't live UNDER the commandments, but they do LIVE the commandments. The life of God in the believer will manifest itself in love. The power of love is much greater than the power of the law. The law demands holiness, the love of God produces holiness. If we love God, we will not have any other gods, we will not worship idols or take His name in vain. If we love God, we will not behave in a manner that will be offensive to Him. If we love God, we will be kind to others because all people are important to Him. Are we doing these things because we have to? No, we are doing them because we want to. We love Him, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Well, perhaps we need the Ten Commandments as a guide for holy living. That seems like a reasonable statement, but it is not a correct one. When we believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit overshadows us and a holy thing is born in us. The Spirit of the Lord Jesus comes to dwell in us. When temptation knocks at our door, we don't dash for the Bible and read the Ten Commandments to determine right from wrong. WE ASK THE LORD, HE IS THE ONE WHO HAS THE WORDS OF LIFE.

Titus 2:11-12  "For the grace of God, His unmerited favor and blessing, has come forward (appeared) FOR THE DELIVERANCE FROM SIN and the eternal salvation for all mankind. It (the grace of God) has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (ir-religion) and worldly (passionate) desire, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled) upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world."

It is the grace of God that teaches us to live for Him. The proof of our deliverance from the law is in our living for God. Christ living in us, does what the law was unable to do.

WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE LAW? The law told us we needed to clean up our act, but didn't give us the power to do it. Love, God's love, working in us brings the cleansing power.

 SUMMARY

We summarize here so we will mot loose track of what we have covered.

The New Testament tells us we have a better covenant, in order for us to understand that we have a better covenant, we must have an understanding of the old one. God's word, teaches line upon line, precept upon precept. The Hebrew word for covenant is Berith which means to cut until blood flows. The Greek word for covenant is Diatheke which means the disposition of property, as in last will and testament. Diatheke is an arrangement made by one person with power, which the other person may accept or reject but cannot alter or change. The English word for covenant is contract or agreement, a legal document which can be upheld in a court of law in case of failure on the part of one or both parties involved. For us, the New Covenant actually incorporates all of these definitions.

There are fifteen major covenants that are recorded in the Bible, it is essential that we have a good understanding of seven of them.

The seven that are dealt with in this study are highlighted.

  1. The Solaric covenant promised continued seasons for as long  as  the earth endures. Genesis 1:14-18. This covenant was enlarged  upon with Noah, and others.
  2. The Edenic covenant. Genesis 1:26-3:24
  3. The Adamic covenant. Genesis 3:14-19 this was a blood   covenant.
  4. The Cainic covenant. Genesis 4:11-15
  5. The Noahic covenant. Genesis 8:20 -9:29
  6. The Abrahamic covenant. Genesis chapters 12-17
  7. The Hagaric covenant. Genesis 16:7-14
  8. The Sarahic covenant. Genesis 17:15-19 18:9-15
  9. The Healing covenant. Exodus 15:26 23:25
10. The Palestinian covenant. Deuteronomy 27:1 30:20
11. The covenant with Levi. Numbers 25:10-14
12. The covenant of Salt. Leviticus 2:13 Numbers 18:19
13. The Mosaic covenant. Also called the Sinaic covenant        Exodus 20:23 Deuteronomy 31 and almost all of Leviticus
14. The Davidic covenant. 2 Samuel 7:1-17
15. The New Covenant. Hebrews 8:1-6 John 1:17

The time table (or the age) of the Jews began with Abraham and was put on hold at Calvary. The time table (or age) of the church began at Calvary and lasts until the rapture (also called the catching away of the church). At the rapture, the time table for the Jews will begin again and last another seven years. Then shall come Jesus with all His saints to begin a 1000 year rule on the earth.

When God placed Adam in the garden He made a covenant known as the Edenic Covenant, this period of time is called the Age of Innocence. When Adam fell, His mind and understanding of God was darkened, communion was broken because his spirit died. God in His mercy, made another covenant this time it was a blood covenant. This covenant made it possible for Adam to fellowship with God again. It was here that God first promised to send the redeemer. This covenant is referred to as the Adamic Covenant and ushered in the Age of Conscience. Then came the flood and Noah and His family entered into a covenant with God which is called the Noahic Covenant. This period of time is called the Age of Human Government.

Humans left to their own devices do not do well and so we arrive at the tower of Babel and the dispersion of the people. Everywhere the people went, they took with them the blood covenant. So the history of blood covenants began among the nations, all over the world.

Years later, God who is long suffering, full of mercy and obviously plays till He wins, selects a man out of the main stream of life, whose name is Abram.

God prepares a covenant and offers Abram the opportunity to become a part of this covenant by faith. Abram accepts and becomes Abraham, father of the faithful. This covenant is everlasting, and is also called one of strong friendship which means it was a blood covenant.

God now informs His friend Abraham that his natural relatives will be in Egypt for 400 years. At the end of that time, the children of Israel began to cry out to God and God acted upon His Berith with Abraham and brought them out.

After three months in the desert, the Mosaic Covenant (the Berith of Sinai) was established. Please understand, the fact that the nation choose a system of works, did not cancel the covenant God made with Abraham. The law which was 430 years later does not make the PROMISE void. Galatians 3:17. During the time of the Mosaic Covenant, there were individuals who lived by faith. People who accepted and believed the very same things that Abraham did. Just to name a few, there was, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Rahab, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Gideon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, three Hebrew children and David. The word says "that by the help of faith these people subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, came through raging fire and closed the mouths of lions." Hebrews 11:33-34

Each covenant revealed a new aspect of God's plan of redemption for fallen man. Between Sinai and Calvary the people of faith stood out as spokes persons for God. They were like links in a giant chain of events which eventually brought the people of God face to face with the redeemer. Moses the great statesman, prophet and law giver was told to select Joshua as his successor and then was laid to rest by the hand of God. Deuteronomy 3:4 Joshua understood, the same promises that were given to Abraham and Moses, were also for him. Joshua stood before God and heard Him say, "No man shall be able to stand before you, all the days of your life; as I was with Moses so will I be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you." Joshua 1:5.   

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Under the leadership of Joshua, the people entered the land of promise and the land was divided by lot to the tribes. Just before his death Joshua said,

"Behold this day I am going the way of all the earth: and you know in your hearts, that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass, not one thing failed." Joshua 23:14

Everything they needed to accomplish whatever task they undertook was provided and would continue to be provided. Israel was at this time one nation with one King, God. There were twelve tribes and each tribe had leaders that answered to God, THE King.

All the land was not yet acquired, each tribe was to take the portion of land which had been allotted to them. For awhile all went well, but because they did not totally drive out the inhabitants of the land, they soon fell into idolatry.

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Teaching And Research By:  M. E. Arbaugh

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