The Promise of Blessing

From the dawn of creation to the present day, God has been making and keeping promises to humanity. These divine covenants form the backbone of our faith, weaving a tapestry of hope, redemption, and eternal love. Today, let's embark on a journey through time, exploring the profound connections between God's covenant with Abraham and the ultimate fulfillment of His promises in Jesus Christ.

The story begins in the book of Genesis, with a man named Abram (later renamed Abraham). God called Abram out of his homeland, promising to bless him and make him the father of many nations. This divine encounter set the stage for a series of covenants that would shape the course of human history.

In Genesis 15, we find a pivotal moment in this unfolding drama. God appears to Abram in a vision, declaring, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." These words of comfort and promise must have resonated deeply with Abram, who had left everything familiar behind to follow God's call.

However, Abram's response reveals the very human struggle of faith amidst uncertainty. He questions God, pointing out that he remains childless, with no heir to carry on his legacy. It's a poignant reminder that even those whom God chooses can wrestle with doubt and confusion.

God's response to Abram's concerns is nothing short of miraculous. He instructs Abram to prepare a covenant ceremony, one that would have been familiar in ancient Near Eastern culture. Animals are split in two, their parts arranged to form a path. Typically, both parties of a covenant would walk between the pieces, symbolically agreeing that if they broke the covenant, they should be cut in two like the animals.

But here's where the story takes an unexpected turn. As night falls and a deep sleep overtakes Abram, it is God alone who passes between the pieces in the form of a smoking oven and a burning torch. This powerful imagery signifies that the fulfillment of this covenant rests entirely on God's faithfulness, not on human effort or worthiness.

This scene foreshadows a greater covenant to come – one that would be sealed not with the blood of animals, but with the precious blood of God's own Son.

Fast forward through the pages of Scripture, and we see God's presence manifested time and again in similar ways. At Mount Sinai, as the Ten Commandments are given, the mountain is consumed with smoke and fire. During the Israelites' desert wanderings, God leads them by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. These visible representations of God's presence remind us that He is both awesome in holiness and intimately involved in the lives of His people.

But the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant promises comes in the person of Jesus Christ. In the upper room, on the night before His crucifixion, Jesus takes bread and wine, declaring them to be symbols of His body and blood – the new covenant. Just as God walked alone between the pieces of the covenant with Abraham, Jesus alone would bear the full weight of this new covenant on the cross.

The parallels are striking. As darkness fell over the land during the crucifixion, we're reminded of the "horror and great darkness" that fell upon Abram. The temple veil, torn in two from top to bottom, echoes the split animals of the Abrahamic covenant. But this time, it's not just a symbol – it's the very body of God's Son, broken for us.

And just as God's presence was manifested in smoke and fire throughout the Old Testament, so too does Jesus embody the fullness of God's glory. As John's gospel tells us, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

The resurrection of Jesus stands as the ultimate sign of this new covenant. Just as the rainbow was a sign of God's promise to Noah, and circumcision a sign of the covenant with Abraham, the empty tomb proclaims that God's promises are true and that death itself has been defeated.

What does all this mean for us today? It means that we, like Abraham, are called to believe. To trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem to contradict them. To rest in the assurance that our salvation is not dependent on our own efforts, but on the finished work of Christ.

The apostle Paul, reflecting on Abraham's faith, writes in Romans 4:20-22, "Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.'"

As we partake in communion, we're not just going through religious motions. We're participating in a covenant meal that connects us to this grand narrative of God's faithfulness. The bread and the cup remind us that we are part of a story much bigger than ourselves – a story of a God who keeps His promises, who goes to unimaginable lengths to redeem His people.

Let us, then, approach God's presence with both awe and confidence. Awe at His holiness and majesty, seen in the smoking fire and torn veil. Confidence in His love and grace, demonstrated through the broken body and shed blood of Christ.

May we, like Abraham, believe God and have it credited to us as righteousness. May we trust in the new covenant sealed by Jesus' blood, knowing that our sins are forgiven and we have been brought near to God. And may we live as people of the covenant, bearing witness to God's faithfulness in a world desperate for hope and meaning.

For from generation to generation, God's covenant stands. His promises endure. His love never fails. And in Christ, we are invited to be part of this eternal story of redemption and grace.