How many covenants?

How many covenants? Well, I confess, it was a poorly worded question or series of questions.

There are several different covenants mentioned in the scriptures. The first was made with Noah and his seed after him. God said in Genesis 9:15 "and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. " It is then understood that this covenant would last forever. It was not with a specific group of people but with all his seed and all animals. This of course refers to God's promise not to destroy all living creatures with water again. The rainbow is the token of this covenant.

The scriptures then tell us of a covenant God made with Abram in Genesis 15:18 to give them the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates. This was but one of a series of covenants made with Abraham.

We then learn of what is called in scriptures "the first covenant" (Hebrews 8:7). It was given to Moses and the children of Israel on the day God led them out of the land of Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:2ff). This covenant was given to a specific people and their descendants exclusive of all others. As you may remember there were some 600,000 men who came out of Egypt as well as women and children.

It is obvious that this was not the first covenant that God made with man. It was however the first covenant made with a nation! It was the first covenant that established a nation. Therefore it can truthfully be called the "first covenant".

From the New Testament we learn that there were two covenants which God made with man. The first was at Mt. Sinai and with the children of Israel as we have just learned. The second was made with any who would follow Jesus after his death. (Hebrews 8-9).

Which is to govern our lives today? The second of course! It became binding at the death of the maker on the cross. We must understand that the second applies today and not the first. The second is different than the first. It has different terms and conditions, different pattern of worship and different rewards. We mustn't try to mix the two!

What do you think?