Covenant Keeper

In Deuteronomy 7, Moses spoke to the people about God’s instructions for the promised land. God would clear out the inhabitants before them, so they could possess the lands. They should make no covenants with them, show no mercy to them, but to wipe them out completely. They were not to intermarry, nor to give their sons or daughters to be their wives or husbands. This was because they would turn their hearts away from God, and this would make him angry. “But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire” (Deuteronomy 7:5). God set apart his people as chosen and holy to inherit his covenant.

He didn’t choose Israel because they were greater in number than other nations. “but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 7:8). This covenant was premised on the condition that his people keep his commandments. Once this condition was met, God’s blessings would remain with his people up to a thousand generations. He would repay all those who hate him and his people, by destroying them and repaying their evil works. For his children who keep his commandments, He promised to bless, multiply, bless your children, bless everything that you own and bless everything that you do.

“And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you knew, will he inflict on you, but he will lay them on all who hate you” (Deuteronomy 7:15). Israel were commanded not to fear the inhabitants of the nations, but to remember what God did to Pharaoh. He would send plagues among them until they were completely destroyed. “The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you” (Deuteronomy 7:22). The people were also instructed to burn their images and gods. They were not to covet their gold and silver, nor take it for themselves, lest it become a snare.

God kept his promises to his people and in the book of Joshua, we saw how he fought the battles for the . All the inhabitants were driven out of the land and the people dwelt in their land in safety. “And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands” (Joshua 21:44). Before Joshua died, he renewed God’s covenant with his people. This was to ensure that they would remember what God had promised and to also remember the commandments. As long as the people obeyed the commandments, the covenant would stand, but their disobedience would be a breach of covenant.

A.P.-Y.

Published
March 14, 2023