The relationship between God and His people is seen clearly in the story of the Hebrews found in the Old Testament. When God called Abraham out of Ur and into the land we call Palestine, He was laying the foundation for a people He could call His own. By the time God raised up Moses to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt into the land once again, the people were called His. God says, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt” (Exodus 3:7) before sending Moses back into Egypt to become His voice to Pharaoh. For centuries the Hebrews, as God’s chosen people, inhabited the land (albeit with several abrupt exiles because of their disobedience to God). In those days God’s people were bound by a Law, which we call Torah. Torah is better translated “Instructions” or “The Way” and it was the foundation of Hebrew and Jewish life. When a non-Jew, that is someone who was not born Jewish, wanted to follow the God of the Israel, he would be circumcised according to the Law and begin adhering to it.
When Jesus came, he changed the face of the Law. He said he came to fulfill it, not to abolish it. It was Jesus who began a spiritual revolution. Through Jesus, believers have found the grace of God, and are now free from sin. They no longer have to offer sacrifices through priests because Jesus was the eternal sacrifice. Just as this sacrifice has made us clean to be adopted as children of God, so this sacrifice has opened up God’s nation to those who are not bound by the Law. Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me” (John 14:6). The way of Jesus fulfills the way of Torah, and in doing so changes everything. He allows all who are willing to hear his gospel to find salvation in him.
Look at the story of Abraham again. God made a covenant with Abraham (at the time he still went by the name Abram). He promised that He would give Abraham the land that I mentioned earlier- the land we now call Israel or Palestine. As was the custom for making a covenant in the Ancient Near East, a cow, goat, ram, and several birds were brought forth. Abram cut all of them in half, except for the birds, and set them apart from each other (with a path down the middle). Usually, both parties would walk between the animals as an oath, essentially saying, “May this blood be on my head if I do not fulfill my part of the covenant.” In this case, only God passes between the animals. This is a covenant God made with Abraham, without any strings attached.
When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:13-19a, NIV).
As seen recorded in the Old Testament, God was faithful in His covenant. He did give the land to His people. He did watch after His people. He is a good Father to His people, and makes good on His promise to His people. It is this relationship with God that is available to all who believe and choose to follow Christ.
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