- The Six Covenants -

Reflection

The covenant stories reflect god's desire to restore humanity through the chosen people of God. He made covenants to ensure humans live by him and strengthen the relationship between god and humanity.

Noahic Covenant

The Call

God asked Noah to build an Ark

God wanted to wash away the violent and corruption in the world, therefore sending a flood to cleanse it. Leaving Noah's family and the chosen animals.

The ark would then carry a pair of every animal and Noah's family.

Noah had faith in god and trusted him that he will protect his people.

The Covenant

God made an unconditional promise that he will never destroy the world again

The Test

It rained 40 days and 40 nights

Symbol

The rainbow

Mosaic Covenant

The Call

Moses lead the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt

The Israelites were running out of food and tried to relocate to Egypt without knowing about the Pharaoh and slavery.

The Covenant

The jews had to obey the 10 commandments and god delivered them from slavery.

It is a conditional covenant.

The Test

The Hebrews wandered in the dessert for 40 years

God led the people of Moses to wander for 40 years to test their faithfulness in him, as well as their ability to follow the 10 commandments.

Symbol

The ten commandments

The ten commandments were inscribed on two stones given by god to Moses, towards the people.

Davidic Covenant

The Call

To build the temple in Jerusalem

David was a musician and shepherd.

The Covenant

David will become a king with a Kingdom and an everlasting dynasty.

God promised to protect and defend the temple of Jerusalem, where the Jewish people use it as a sacred space.

It is said that as long as god lives, the temple will never be destroyed and stands forever.

The Test

David's opportunity to kill King Saul in the Cave.

Symbol

The temple

After David passed, King Solomon (His son) built a temple in Jerusalem for a place to worship god.

Creation (Adam and Eve)

The Call

Adam and Eve were created to live in peace in the perfect world god has created. They were told not to eat the fruit from "the tree of knowledge of good and evil" to test their obedience in god.

They were also asked to care for the Garden of Eden. Emphasizing humanity's role as stewards of creation.

The Covenant

God provided Adam and Eve with life and a perfect home in the Garden of Eden. In contrast, they were to obey god and live in harmony with him.

The Test

The fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

The disobedience of Adam and Eve led to guilt, imperfectness and experience separation from god.

It also lead to pain and suffering for both characters:

Eve: God declared that childbirth would be painful and that there would be relationship flaws with Adam

Adam: The ground would be cursed, he would have to labor for food and face hardship in his work

Symbol

The forbidden fruit

Abrahamic

The Call

God asked Abraham to leave his home and go to Canaan

The Covenant

God promised Abraham as many descendants as the stars, a son and land. Despite the pain of god's command, he followed as told. Once god saw his faithfulness in him, he told Abraham to stop and gifted him a lamb, as a sign of sacrifice and purity.

The Test

God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Issac.

Symbol

Circumcision is both the spiritual and physical symbol of the Abrahamic Covenant.

The circumcision represents a visible sign that Abraham's descendants were set as the chosen people of god.

Every male child was to be circumcised at eight days old.

It is a commitment to live in accordance with god and his will.

New covenant

The Call

The call is to believe Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins.

The Covenant

The promise of forgiveness of sins and restoration of the relationship with God.

The Test

Jesus Christ sacrificed for humanity to be restored.

It is to believe in Jesus as the savior and son of god.

Symbol

The cross

It represents Jesus' sacrificial death, as the symbol of forgiveness, redemption, and victory over sin and death.