Tag: covenant

Posted in Advent devotions

Running towards God

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Cesar Cid on Unsplash

What a nightmare! Jacob pretends to be his brother Esau so his father will give him the blessing of the first born son. Esau is steamed, plotting to kill his brother. Mom tells Jacob to run away to his uncle’s house.

What a dream! With nothing but a rock for a pillow, Jacob goes to sleep under the stars. In his dream, he sees a ladder stretching up to heaven, crowded with angels going up and down. At the top of the ladder, he sees the Lord, who connects the covenant promise of a Savior to Jacob and his offspring (Genesis 28:13,14).

When he wakes up, Jacob says, “The Lord is here!” He thought he was running away. But he was actually running towards the plans and promises of God.

There are plenty of things in life we’d like to run away from. Who wants to be around angry people, dangerous places, past mistakes, and hurtful words?

But in stead of running away, let’s think of it as running towards our Lord. After all, God’s always a step ahead of us with protection, provision, and powerful promises. (How’s that for alliteration?)

Jacob gets an ornament on the Jesse Tree, heir of God’s promise of a Savior.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

It’s a deal

Posted on by William Douthwaite

Photo by Sebastian Herrmann on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 24.

When I install or update software on my phone or computer, I have to agree to terms and conditions. I have to admit, I never read them. I scroll to the bottom and check the agree box. I don’t have time for all that.

I’ve only met one person who told me they always read every end user license agreement. He’s never refused to agree to the terms and conditions. But he knows what they say.

Starting with the commandments in Exodus 20, Moses brings a boatload of laws down from the mountain. There are rules about everything from personal injury to property rights. There are regulations for financial matters, farming, and feasts.

In response, “The people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!’” (Exodus 24:3).

Really? Don’t you want to sleep on it before you make this kind of commitment? Do you want to talk it over with your family? Do you want to have your lawyer look it over, just for good measure?

You and I know the people will not do all the Lord has spoken. Not even close. God knows it, too. They couldn’t even handle one rule in the garden.

But this isn’t just list of rules and regulations. God cares about his people. So he brings order to their life together just as he brought order to the universe at creation. He says he’ll be their God. They agree to be his people.

Yes, they have a lot to learn. Of course they will make mistakes. Lots of forgiveness will be needed. And all that is included in the words the Lord has spoken.

Just like I need a lot of forgiveness. Because I make a lot of mistakes. And I have a lot to learn. Just like he says in his word.

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

A sure thing

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Abhishek Singh on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 15.

When I bought a house, I signed a mountain of documents assuring the mortgage lender that I was who I said I was, knew what I was buying, and understood how much I would be paying each month for the next thirty years. It was intimidating to say the least.

But that’s nothing compared to what Abram has to endure as God confirms the covenant.

So God says to Abram, “You will have as many descendants as there are stars in the sky” Abram believes. So far so good.

The God says, “I brought you here so you can possess this land, too.”

But this time Abram asks, “Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?” (Genesis 15:5-8)

If you only knew what you were asking, Abram! God instructs him to round up a cow, a goat, a ram, a dove, and a pigeon. Abram has to slice the big animals in two, and then he has to chase away circling vultures from the carcasses. When Abram falls asleep, he has a nightmare about God himself, appearing in the darkness as a smoking oven and a flaming torch, moves between the butchered animals to say in ancient covenant language, “I guarantee it.” Anyone else might have added, “I swear to God.” But I guess that doesn’t work when God is the one who is speaking.

Everything comes with a guarantee, right? At least for the first thirty days after a purchase. When I bought a cheap toaster, the Walmart cashier asked if I wanted the extended warrantee. It cost nearly as much as the toaster. No thanks.

So it’s only natural to ask God for some kind of assurance. That is, until you get to know him. When you look back in scripture and in your own life and see what God has done, you learn that faithfulness is one of his character traits. You can trust him. Plus, it’s not as messy.

Posted in Devotions, Lent

2020 Lent devotions #10 – Half and half

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by RoAll on pixabay

And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said,”All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” (Ex 24:6-8)

The last time we refinanced our mortgage, I digitally signed all but few of the required documents. Not too many years ago, a contract signed by both parties would have been business as usual. Before that, many deals were made with a handshake. At the time of Moses, though, the covenant or contract between God and the people was signed, sealed and delivered with blood.

The blood of oxen was thrown both upon the altar (that was God’s side of the agreement) and on the people (their side). The body of the contract was simple: “I am the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:2). Every aspect of their lives would be shaped by his presence, power, protection and provision. God had brought his people out of a life immersed in pagan religion, injustice, violence and slavery into a new life defined by his holiness, justice, reconciliation and mercy.

Many years later, many would see blood on the crucified Son of God. It would also be on those responsible for his death. In fact, they insisted, “His blood be on us!” (Matthew 27:25). His blood would also be on those who took his body, wrapped it in linen, and put it in the tomb. All that blood would mean just one thing: a new relationship or covenant with God, sealed by his own blood, the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Everyone knows that if you get blood on your clothes, you want to rinse out the stain with cold water as soon as possible. It’s just the opposite with the blood of the covenant. We want our sin to be covered by his blood. It’s the only thing that can remove the stain of our sin.

Thank you, Lord, for a new deal – a new covenant – signed and sealed by your blood. Amen.