Don Veitch

Dear friends,

The readings for today include a selection from Genesis which recounts the covenant between Abram and God. Actually, my Jerusalem Bible names this God as El Shaddai (God of the Mountains, God of the Wilderness, Deus Omnipotens).

So I mused on this reading--and came to wonder what this covenant might look like in Twenty-first Century America business style (with apologies to all who actually are familiar with that -- my language-arts-teacher background didn’t prepare me for this).

My story-teller mind sees this as an agreement between an imposing God character -- a rather intimidating (maybe, stern) being -- and a gentle, aged character --maybe soft-spoken and mild-mannered. These two come together to forge the first of the seven covenants in the Bible. Surely a momentous and memorable occasion. (Probably should be covered by all the news outlets network and cable -- as well as every other news agency -- especially, print news.) (There might have been a box of quills to be used in the signing and distributed to favored guests.) But I digress.

So, first, what it is not:
This covenant is not simply a promise – an oath or affirmation by either of the parties.

This is not an unconditional covenant: such as God will never again destroy the earth.

It IS very much a conditional covenant – an “if that, then this” (quid pro quo) situation. (I would submit the “pro quo” relates and applies directly to “us” – as Abram’s descendants.) It seems to be very much understood by both parties to be binding and reciprocal. As long as the two parties keep or meet certain conditions (if), (then) there will be other conditions met. ( If not; then, not). There is some slight negotiation about whether Isaac and his issue as well as Ishmael (Abraham’s future and current sons) will all be included in the covenant. Also, there is some discussion about whether Sarai (Abraham’s wife) -- a 100-year-old woman -- will be a viable person to have said promised “issue.” But the covenant is agreed to.

So, what are the details of this (binding) contract?

Some preliminaries: God (call Him the Party of the First Part) – begins the proceedings with a description of the parties involved.
The Party of the First Part: God Almighty, El Shaddai (God of the Wilderness; God of Might, Almighty God), and
The Party of the Second Part: 99-year-old Abram representing himself and all of his descendants.
Time frame:
Nothing less than all of perpetuity
Preconditions: Abram will agree to keep this covenant with God and:
To Live in God’s presence
To Be “perfect” (Wow! I can see the journalists and pundits scribbling away!)
OK. On to the Covenant Terms: In response to Abram changing his name to Abraham (and meeting the above preconditions – Abram doesn’t seem to quibble with these)
God will make Abraham prolific – fathering “many nations.” (Issue, to include kings)
God pledges to maintain the covenant for the foreseeable future and beyond – generation after generation for perpetuity.
God pledges to be Abraham’s God and the God of all his descendants
God pledges to provide Canaan -- the land where Abraham and his people are now as immigrants – to Abraham’s tribe of immigrants to have and to hold for all perpetuity
Abraham must agree to keep this covenant with God – him and all his descendants – forever.
Two minor codicils:
Sarai must also change her name (to Sarah). This seems to be agreed to without discussion.
And (oh yes) Abraham and all males must have the foreskin of their penises removed (circumcision) as a sign of this covenant in perpetuity. (Wait! What? Hmmm.)
Note: I’m thinking that Abram may have been a lot more focused on “owning” all of Canaan than this proposed circumcision. Just sayin’.

However, journalists and pundits scribble even more furiously. Flash cameras record the moment.

So, it would seem the negotiations are over; the Covenant is agreed to; God and Abraham metaphorically spit on their palms, shake hands and seal the deal.
The quills are distributed.
Photo ops abound. The press is dismissed.
I may have mixed in some fantasy with reality here.

After a short time, a mass circumcision takes place. Isaac is born a year later.

Ok. So, I had a bit of fun with this. Obviously, I took some (many) liberties with strict scripture. Perhaps you’re thinking, “Too much celebrating on New Year’s Eve.”

What does it mean for us? For me?
The big takeaway for me was not that God made promises and that these promises are for everlasting. Our God is a great God; his promises are for all time. Not a surprise.

(God’s part of the “bargain” is secure.)

The “human” part of it?? Let’s see.

For those of us who live “in perpetuity,” God is still our God. Although I cannot trace my lineage to Abraham, I’ll still suggest that he is (maybe) a distant ancestor of mine.
Because of that, there are expectations – agreed to by Abraham. What would it hurt to look at what we might resolve to . . . today?

We ARE expected to be in relationship with God. We ARE expected to be in relationship with Him as God Almighty. The expectations include living our lives – being (or at least striving to be) “perfect.” This is a notable and maybe a daunting expectation; I have to think of it as something I can aspire to rather than achieve.

We perhaps are expected to at least introduce our “issue” to a relationship with God.

We are expected to (maybe just in some way symbolic) wear a “sign” (or, BE a sign) of our relationship with God—people should be able to tell that we enjoy a covenant with this great and wonderful God. This should be achievable with a little work, I think. Can I hear an “Amen”?

So how about a New Year’s resolution? (I know; I hate resolutions, too.)

How about to live as though and to be a sign that -- we are in covenant with God. That he is our God and so we live, striving to be people of the Kingdom of God. (Thank you, Father Abraham.)

As we live through the Christmas season, following our celebration of Christ’s birth, it is a good time, I think, to take stock of where we are in “our” covenant relationship, to consider where we ought to be. And to consider how we might get closer to where we might be. God, for His part, maintains His part of the covenant. Perhaps a resolution that could be lived with is suitable for us at this time?? Join me?? Can I hear an “Amen”?

Happy New Year.
Don Veitch