“And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good…” – Jeremiah 32:40 (NKJV)
Covenants are one of the most important themes in the Bible. Starting from the Book of Genesis (the creation), God enters into one formal partnership (i.e., a covenant) one after another with various humans to rescue His world. To tell the story of God redeeming humanity through Jesus Christ is to tell the whole story of God’s covenantal relationship with humans. Each agreement or covenant outlines the clauses or obligations each party is expected to honour, and a “seal” is attached. What is noteworthy is that Yahweh (God) has placed His seal on all covenants made with mankind.
The Adamic Covenant established a covenant between God and Adam (and Eve) in the Garden of Eden. There, Adam was given dominion over every living thing (Genesis 1:27-28) and commanded to refrain from eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil – Genesis 2:16-17. As long as Adam obeyed the covenant requirements, he would live (eternal life), but if he disobeyed, he would die.
Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They ate the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Their eyes were opened. They saw that they were naked. They hid from God – Genesis 3:7-10. But you may want to ask the question, why didn’t God stop them before they ate the fruit? The answer? God made man a free moral agent. That means that man was allowed to make his own decision. But we should always remember that every decision or choice we make has good or bad consequences.
God’s seal on the Adamic Covenant was two-fold:
- The shedding of the blood of an animal culminates with the death of Jesus Christ at Calvary.
- The promise that He “will put enmity between you (serpent) and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head (serpent), And you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15 – NKJV).
Because of Adam’s disobedience, sin entered the world, and death reigns. But praise be to God, that as sin reigns in death, even so, grace now reigns through the righteousness of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Despite Adam’s failure, God kept His part of the Agreement (covenant), which today, we as beneficiaries can receive, i.e., the gift of eternal life – Romans 6:22-23. He made an everlasting covenant and sealed it for you and me.
Read: Proverbs 15:3; Romans 5:12-21
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 25:1-7; Mark 6:30-56; Exodus 31; Exodus 32; Exodus 33:1-6
