Many have been confused as to whether or not there are 2 covenants or 7 covenants. There is a study called The Everlasting Covenant, which explains that there is one covenant that God is trying to restore to man throughout history. Father is trying to restore the covenant He had with mankind before the fall. There is an idea called dispensation, which gives many the misunderstanding that there was an old covenant and then after the cross, there is a new covenant. We will be exploring scripture to see, what exactly the old and new covenants are. Let’s begin looking at the book of Galatians.
Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Paul here is revealing to us the understanding of the only 2 covenants that exist, The Old and New covenants. The verses above are extremely important to understand. First point that is clear is that Abraham experienced both covenants. The verses say that both of Abraham’s sons are two covenants. One son was by the bondwoman who is described as of the flesh and the other son is by the free woman who is by promise or by Faith.
The definition of the word covenant in Hebrew is Bereeth which means compact, confederacy meaning union or alliance. The interesting thing is that it’s said that there was a union with the freewoman which is connected with the promises of God and the bondwoman the works or strength of man. These show that one covenant is based on faith and the other is based on the flesh.
Did Father make a covenant with Abraham and Hagar?
The answer is no, There was only one covenant made and that was with Abraham and Sarah.
Gen 15:2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
Gen 15:3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
Gen 15:4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
Gen 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Abraham could not have children; the Father promised him that He will give Abraham not only a child but children that are as much as the stars. Abraham accepted this covenant and it was counted Him as righteousness. What happened next reveals to us how Hagar was added in the situation. As we analyze the situation with Abraham and Sarah, it will show us what occurred with the covenant that was made with them by God.
Gen 16:1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Gen 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
We see here that Sarai lost faith that Father will give them a child and not only that but she said Father was actually restraining her from having a child. As she lost faith then she said that they can try to obtain this promised child themselves by giving her hand maid to Abraham. As they continued to speak negatively about the Fathers ability to keep His promises, they were convinced that they needed to assist God in accomplishing Gods promise. This act broke the agreement or covenant between Abram and God, and now they were in a covenant with themselves without God. This made the covenant God gave them old or void, because it was broken by Abram. Watch what Father does in the following chapter.
Gen 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Gen 17:2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
Father of heaven repeats His covenant offer to Abram, because it was not kept correctly. Abram bowed down and listened to the covenant again this time Father gave details in order for Him to understand the covenant more.
Gen 17:3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
Gen 17:4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Gen 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
Gen 17:6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
Gen 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
There are a few things to point out in these verses. Father repeats that He will make Abraham fruitful and multiply. This is God restoring the covenant He just broke with Hagar. God even changed His name so He can always remember the promise. He also gave Abraham a physical reminder of the covenant to point out that the flesh must be cut off to enter this covenant.
Gen 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
Gen 17:11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
We see that God gave them this token of removing flesh because they walked in the flesh when they made a decision to bring Hagar in to accomplish the covenant. This fleshly act broke the covenant that was made, which is why God is restoring the covenant and giving Abraham reminders of the covenant so He wont make the same mistake again. Remember what Paul said in Galatians.
Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after THE FLESH; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Sarai was also restored in the covenant, and taught her that through her will many be born.
Gen 17:15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
Gen 17:16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
Gen 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
So it’s quite clear, that the everlasting covenant is what God promised and the Old covenant is the covenant broken by Abraham trying to accomplish God promises themselves by their own strength. This experience has been perpetuated by many in scripture. Paul also mentions that this same attempt which broke the everlasting covenant was also done by those at Mount Sinai.
Gal 4:25 For this Agar(Hagar) is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Paul is showing us that the old covenant is an experience of trying to accomplish Gods promises by Mans strength alone. This verse mentions Abraham’s day as well as Moses day. We will be analyzing what occurred during Moses day that would be comparable to Abraham’s situation with Hagar.
Exo 24:6 And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
Exo 24:7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.
Exo 24:8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.
So as Father gave them the Law and covenant in (Exodus 20-24), the people, after hearing the words read to them, said all that God said they will do. The question is, was it in their hearts to obey or was that just words. Interesting what Moses says
Deu_29:4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
Deu_30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
This is called the circumcision of Christ made without hands.
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
This shows us that Messiah is fulfilling the same removal of flesh from His people as He offered in the covenant to Abraham.
Just as Abraham, God desired them at Sinai to remove the flesh or self from their hearts and serve Father with their heart. Father was trying to teach them how they ought to serve God but he knew their hearts.
Deu 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
The Israelites spoke with their mouths that they will obey God and keep His word but their actions show that they desired to accomplish what God promised with their own strength. Let’s look at the example. Father told pharaoh to let Israel go to have a Feast and serve God.
Exo_5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast (Exodus 23v14-18) unto me in the wilderness.
Instead of obeying Fathers instruction which in turn would have resulted in blessings, they tried to attempt to serve God with their own strength.
Exo 32:4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Exo 32:5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.
Exo 32:6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
Not only did they make their own feast like many do today, but they also named the golden images they made, LORD which is YHWH. They named these false gods after the one true God which many also are doing in many religious institutions.
I want to take this time to also clear up some misunderstandings in the book of Hebrews pertaining to the covenants. First thing we must understand is that the covenant was delivered to Israel and it was the Gospel.
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
We see that Israel when at Mount Sinai was not mixed with faith and therefore they did not accept the covenant nor the Gospel. Many make it seem as if God made a mistake giving them Laws or that He changed His agreement requirements. Father has always and only requires those to worship Him out of trust and Faith in His word. Abram and Sarai did not trust God which is why they broke the covenant and involved Hagar. This example is seen when Israel did not have Faith and made a golden image and celebrated pagan feasts. Let’s look at some more proof.
Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (Jeremiah 31v33)
There was never anything wrong with the Fathers words to the people. Many explain scripture as if God made a mistake or told them to attempt to keep laws they were unable to keep. The scripture in verse 8 above says that the fault was in the people and not with the covenant offered to them. Verse 9 says the covenant He made with Israel at Sinai was void and He was not going to have a people with a void covenant anymore. In verse 9 He says that the people DID NOT continue in His covenant and though He had mercy on them for many years, He regarded them not as His people.
Hebrews 8v9 “because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.”
Heb 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Now many say that the covenant God made at Sinai was not good. This verse would be saying that God made bad promises and now He will make better ones. This idea is false, the scripture shows that the peoples promise to keep the covenant and the laws of God were the faulty promises. God’s promises that He made with them and rejected by them will be made with people who will not reject them and let God do His will in and through them.
The reason for the symbols given at Sinai was not to signify a different covenant from Abraham, but to teach them more about the Gospel. All those types were and are the gospel message to His people. Many things were fulfilled by Messiah Himself but they still need our attention as we study things such as the Sanctuary, Sacrificial system and the Levitical priesthood. We see that in Galatians 4v 24-25 which says:
Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25 For this Agar(Hagar) is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
So we see that Abrams fleshly situation with Hagar is said by Paul to be the same as Israel’s fleshly situation with the golden images at Sinai. Which covenant would this be? It would be the old (Broken) covenant experience. Further down in time, Paul says that even the current state of Jerusalem is the same as Sinai and Hagar and that they are in bondage or in sin. Why would Paul say that Jerusalem was fleshly? Did they not have God as their king? Let’s hear what the majority of Jerusalem professed.
Joh_19:15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
Jerusalem collectively rejected the Son of God and accepted the authority and leadership of Caesar. There is a very important principle which is:
Heb_11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Faith is imperative to enter into a covenant relationship with Father and His Son; this is what God is looking for in a people. Without faith you cannot be apart of His people. It is Faith that allows us entry into this everlasting covenant. Unfortunately what did messiah say when He came as a man.
Mat 8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Mat 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
The Messiah was speaking to a roman centurion and that soldier demonstrated faith that caused Messiah to express that this type of Faith was not in Israel. So Paul was absolutely correct in saying,
“Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.”
The old covenant is a broken covenant and the new covenant is restored everlasting covenant. There are many times that use of the word “new” does not indicate something that never existed. Let’s look at a few examples.
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Messiah said to love one another was a new commandment. We also see that Leviticus mentions the same.
Lev_19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
This commandment Messiah was giving was not a new commandment but He was refreshing their minds of this commandment that was given in the passed. The same misunderstanding many have when seeing the word new also occurs when seeing the word old. Let’s see what old at times actually means.
Jer_6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Old does not mean something that is past and not valid in every case. This is one example in which old means ancient or original. We are told to actually live as the old ways dictates.
1Jn_2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
1Jn 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
1Jn 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
These verses should help us understand the following verse.
2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old (Ancient) testament (Covenant); which vail is done away in Christ.
2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Co 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
We see many uses this verse to show that the Old Testament is null and void, but the verse is actually saying that the scriptures which are read CURRENTLY are not being understood correctly until Messiah enters the heart. The term old testament in this verse should read Ancient Covenant or contract. If this covenant or contract is null and void why would they need to read it as they receive the Messiah in their hearts?
The Covenant Father is restoring is the everlasting covenant. When it is broken, it becomes old or decaying not old as in ancient. As Father refreshes this covenant with you the decaying state begins to vanish away leaving us in a refreshed restored covenant with the Father.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
The word new here actually means freshness or to refresh the root word means to regenerate. The verse does not refer to the covenants as old and new. It says the new makes the FIRST into an old decaying thing ready to vanish away.
Abram broke His covenant with God by involving Hagar, the FIRST time God gave it to him and like wise with Israel at Sinai. Exodus 20 to 24 was the covenant and it was the first time Father gave it to them and they broke it and had to consecrate themselves in order to restore their relationship with Father and receive a fresh. Jerusalem rejected Messiahs offer of the Gospel of the kingdom and even though He offered this opportunity first, they rejected it. Praise God for His Mercy. In the book of Acts we see that many even after rejecting the offer Messiah made First has accepted the Gospel and was restored and refreshed into a covenant with Messiah and the one true God.
How many times have we rejected and have broken the Covenant Father offered us first? How many times has He reached out and took the initiative and we rejected it. Right now I am telling you that we have an opportunity to allow Father and His Son to restore and refresh us in His everlasting covenant and make our broken state into an old memory. Take time and study what Father is trying to restore and look over another study called “The everlasting Covenant”. I believe it will clear up our view of the relationship Father wants to have with us. Let us not hinder Him in restoring us back to the original covenant He made with man.
Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Paul here is revealing to us the understanding of the only 2 covenants that exist, The Old and New covenants. The verses above are extremely important to understand. First point that is clear is that Abraham experienced both covenants. The verses say that both of Abraham’s sons are two covenants. One son was by the bondwoman who is described as of the flesh and the other son is by the free woman who is by promise or by Faith.
The definition of the word covenant in Hebrew is Bereeth which means compact, confederacy meaning union or alliance. The interesting thing is that it’s said that there was a union with the freewoman which is connected with the promises of God and the bondwoman the works or strength of man. These show that one covenant is based on faith and the other is based on the flesh.
Did Father make a covenant with Abraham and Hagar?
The answer is no, There was only one covenant made and that was with Abraham and Sarah.
Gen 15:2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
Gen 15:3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
Gen 15:4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
Gen 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Abraham could not have children; the Father promised him that He will give Abraham not only a child but children that are as much as the stars. Abraham accepted this covenant and it was counted Him as righteousness. What happened next reveals to us how Hagar was added in the situation. As we analyze the situation with Abraham and Sarah, it will show us what occurred with the covenant that was made with them by God.
Gen 16:1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Gen 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
We see here that Sarai lost faith that Father will give them a child and not only that but she said Father was actually restraining her from having a child. As she lost faith then she said that they can try to obtain this promised child themselves by giving her hand maid to Abraham. As they continued to speak negatively about the Fathers ability to keep His promises, they were convinced that they needed to assist God in accomplishing Gods promise. This act broke the agreement or covenant between Abram and God, and now they were in a covenant with themselves without God. This made the covenant God gave them old or void, because it was broken by Abram. Watch what Father does in the following chapter.
Gen 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Gen 17:2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
Father of heaven repeats His covenant offer to Abram, because it was not kept correctly. Abram bowed down and listened to the covenant again this time Father gave details in order for Him to understand the covenant more.
Gen 17:3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,
Gen 17:4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Gen 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
Gen 17:6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
Gen 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
There are a few things to point out in these verses. Father repeats that He will make Abraham fruitful and multiply. This is God restoring the covenant He just broke with Hagar. God even changed His name so He can always remember the promise. He also gave Abraham a physical reminder of the covenant to point out that the flesh must be cut off to enter this covenant.
Gen 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
Gen 17:11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
We see that God gave them this token of removing flesh because they walked in the flesh when they made a decision to bring Hagar in to accomplish the covenant. This fleshly act broke the covenant that was made, which is why God is restoring the covenant and giving Abraham reminders of the covenant so He wont make the same mistake again. Remember what Paul said in Galatians.
Gal 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after THE FLESH; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Sarai was also restored in the covenant, and taught her that through her will many be born.
Gen 17:15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
Gen 17:16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
Gen 17:19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
So it’s quite clear, that the everlasting covenant is what God promised and the Old covenant is the covenant broken by Abraham trying to accomplish God promises themselves by their own strength. This experience has been perpetuated by many in scripture. Paul also mentions that this same attempt which broke the everlasting covenant was also done by those at Mount Sinai.
Gal 4:25 For this Agar(Hagar) is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Paul is showing us that the old covenant is an experience of trying to accomplish Gods promises by Mans strength alone. This verse mentions Abraham’s day as well as Moses day. We will be analyzing what occurred during Moses day that would be comparable to Abraham’s situation with Hagar.
Exo 24:6 And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
Exo 24:7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.
Exo 24:8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.
So as Father gave them the Law and covenant in (Exodus 20-24), the people, after hearing the words read to them, said all that God said they will do. The question is, was it in their hearts to obey or was that just words. Interesting what Moses says
Deu_29:4 Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
Deu_30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
This is called the circumcision of Christ made without hands.
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
This shows us that Messiah is fulfilling the same removal of flesh from His people as He offered in the covenant to Abraham.
Just as Abraham, God desired them at Sinai to remove the flesh or self from their hearts and serve Father with their heart. Father was trying to teach them how they ought to serve God but he knew their hearts.
Deu 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
The Israelites spoke with their mouths that they will obey God and keep His word but their actions show that they desired to accomplish what God promised with their own strength. Let’s look at the example. Father told pharaoh to let Israel go to have a Feast and serve God.
Exo_5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast (Exodus 23v14-18) unto me in the wilderness.
Instead of obeying Fathers instruction which in turn would have resulted in blessings, they tried to attempt to serve God with their own strength.
Exo 32:4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Exo 32:5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.
Exo 32:6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
Not only did they make their own feast like many do today, but they also named the golden images they made, LORD which is YHWH. They named these false gods after the one true God which many also are doing in many religious institutions.
I want to take this time to also clear up some misunderstandings in the book of Hebrews pertaining to the covenants. First thing we must understand is that the covenant was delivered to Israel and it was the Gospel.
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
We see that Israel when at Mount Sinai was not mixed with faith and therefore they did not accept the covenant nor the Gospel. Many make it seem as if God made a mistake giving them Laws or that He changed His agreement requirements. Father has always and only requires those to worship Him out of trust and Faith in His word. Abram and Sarai did not trust God which is why they broke the covenant and involved Hagar. This example is seen when Israel did not have Faith and made a golden image and celebrated pagan feasts. Let’s look at some more proof.
Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (Jeremiah 31v33)
There was never anything wrong with the Fathers words to the people. Many explain scripture as if God made a mistake or told them to attempt to keep laws they were unable to keep. The scripture in verse 8 above says that the fault was in the people and not with the covenant offered to them. Verse 9 says the covenant He made with Israel at Sinai was void and He was not going to have a people with a void covenant anymore. In verse 9 He says that the people DID NOT continue in His covenant and though He had mercy on them for many years, He regarded them not as His people.
Hebrews 8v9 “because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.”
Heb 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Now many say that the covenant God made at Sinai was not good. This verse would be saying that God made bad promises and now He will make better ones. This idea is false, the scripture shows that the peoples promise to keep the covenant and the laws of God were the faulty promises. God’s promises that He made with them and rejected by them will be made with people who will not reject them and let God do His will in and through them.
The reason for the symbols given at Sinai was not to signify a different covenant from Abraham, but to teach them more about the Gospel. All those types were and are the gospel message to His people. Many things were fulfilled by Messiah Himself but they still need our attention as we study things such as the Sanctuary, Sacrificial system and the Levitical priesthood. We see that in Galatians 4v 24-25 which says:
Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25 For this Agar(Hagar) is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
So we see that Abrams fleshly situation with Hagar is said by Paul to be the same as Israel’s fleshly situation with the golden images at Sinai. Which covenant would this be? It would be the old (Broken) covenant experience. Further down in time, Paul says that even the current state of Jerusalem is the same as Sinai and Hagar and that they are in bondage or in sin. Why would Paul say that Jerusalem was fleshly? Did they not have God as their king? Let’s hear what the majority of Jerusalem professed.
Joh_19:15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
Jerusalem collectively rejected the Son of God and accepted the authority and leadership of Caesar. There is a very important principle which is:
Heb_11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Faith is imperative to enter into a covenant relationship with Father and His Son; this is what God is looking for in a people. Without faith you cannot be apart of His people. It is Faith that allows us entry into this everlasting covenant. Unfortunately what did messiah say when He came as a man.
Mat 8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Mat 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
The Messiah was speaking to a roman centurion and that soldier demonstrated faith that caused Messiah to express that this type of Faith was not in Israel. So Paul was absolutely correct in saying,
“Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.”
The old covenant is a broken covenant and the new covenant is restored everlasting covenant. There are many times that use of the word “new” does not indicate something that never existed. Let’s look at a few examples.
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Messiah said to love one another was a new commandment. We also see that Leviticus mentions the same.
Lev_19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
This commandment Messiah was giving was not a new commandment but He was refreshing their minds of this commandment that was given in the passed. The same misunderstanding many have when seeing the word new also occurs when seeing the word old. Let’s see what old at times actually means.
Jer_6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Old does not mean something that is past and not valid in every case. This is one example in which old means ancient or original. We are told to actually live as the old ways dictates.
1Jn_2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
1Jn 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
1Jn 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
These verses should help us understand the following verse.
2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old (Ancient) testament (Covenant); which vail is done away in Christ.
2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Co 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
We see many uses this verse to show that the Old Testament is null and void, but the verse is actually saying that the scriptures which are read CURRENTLY are not being understood correctly until Messiah enters the heart. The term old testament in this verse should read Ancient Covenant or contract. If this covenant or contract is null and void why would they need to read it as they receive the Messiah in their hearts?
The Covenant Father is restoring is the everlasting covenant. When it is broken, it becomes old or decaying not old as in ancient. As Father refreshes this covenant with you the decaying state begins to vanish away leaving us in a refreshed restored covenant with the Father.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
The word new here actually means freshness or to refresh the root word means to regenerate. The verse does not refer to the covenants as old and new. It says the new makes the FIRST into an old decaying thing ready to vanish away.
Abram broke His covenant with God by involving Hagar, the FIRST time God gave it to him and like wise with Israel at Sinai. Exodus 20 to 24 was the covenant and it was the first time Father gave it to them and they broke it and had to consecrate themselves in order to restore their relationship with Father and receive a fresh. Jerusalem rejected Messiahs offer of the Gospel of the kingdom and even though He offered this opportunity first, they rejected it. Praise God for His Mercy. In the book of Acts we see that many even after rejecting the offer Messiah made First has accepted the Gospel and was restored and refreshed into a covenant with Messiah and the one true God.
How many times have we rejected and have broken the Covenant Father offered us first? How many times has He reached out and took the initiative and we rejected it. Right now I am telling you that we have an opportunity to allow Father and His Son to restore and refresh us in His everlasting covenant and make our broken state into an old memory. Take time and study what Father is trying to restore and look over another study called “The everlasting Covenant”. I believe it will clear up our view of the relationship Father wants to have with us. Let us not hinder Him in restoring us back to the original covenant He made with man.