Two weeks ago, we examined the verbal covenant that God extended to each successive generation of mankind, from Adam to Abraham, which can be summed up as follows: If you do what God says, He will bless you. If you disobey God, He will curse you. Now we are going to examine God's written covenant.

GOD'S LAW - THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Throughout Genesis and all of Biblical history we find God extending His covenant offering to each successive generation of Abraham's decedents; such as Isaac and Jacob. Of course, we know that as part of that covenantal relationship Jacob's name is changed to Israel. His descendants become known as "the Twelve Tribes of Israel, also known as Hebrews.

Following the history of Jacob’s (Israel’s) descendants we next find them in Egyptian bondage because of the sins of Israel's sons. The judgement is delayed about 400 years, all because Joseph (a type of Christ) follows God even though others do not.

Alas, Exodus 1:8 KJV
[8] Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

During this time in Egypt, the children of Israel (Jacob) multiply exceedingly, Pharaoh becomes paranoid and all Israel is taken into bondage (slavery) in Egypt.

Exodus 2:24
And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

Moses is called to deliver God's people out of bondage. In Exodus 20, God's covenant is codified, in The TEN COMMANDMENTS.

Definition: CODIFIED; 1. To organize or arrange systematically, especially in writing, 2. To establish or express in a conventional form or standard formulation, 3. To turn (a common law requirement or practice) into law.

Writing down God’s conditions for His covenant is a HUGE DIFFERENCE! Remember until this time God’s covenant was by verbal agreement, which is still binding, but verbal agreements are subject to hearsay. At least on man’s part it is subject to hearsay. Remember how the serpent twisted God’s Word in the Garden? God’s Word never changes, but men try and twist God’s Word just like Satan did in the garden. In order to be perfectly clear God writes down His terms and conditions in the TEN COMMANDMENTS.

Next in Exodus 24, the people agree to God's written terms & conditions.

Exodus 24:7
And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people:
and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.

In Leviticus 26, we find all the particulars of the covenant. In other words, we find the fine print or conditions of God’s Covenant.

Leviticus 26:3 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
Leviticus 26:4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase,
and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
Leviticus 26:14 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;
Leviticus 26:15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that
ye will not do all my commandments, [but] that ye break my covenant:

Leviticus 26:25
And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

Leviticus 26:32-33 KJV
[32] And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. [33] And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.

In summary, God via Moses and The Ten Commandments is relating that if His people keep His Laws, God will bless them. If His people disobey Him, God will curse them as detailed in Leviticus. Of course, no one is able to keep all the commandments and God's standard is perfection. Therefore, everyone fails! Daniel the Old Testament prophet relates it thusly:

Daniel 9:11 KJV
[11] Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

Paul the New Testament Apostle says it this way: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The Old Testament Law is a foreshadowing of a True and better covenant to come! This new covenant which we call a Testament is better than the old covenant, that was works based (Ten Commandments). The new is better because Christ did what we could not. He fulfilled the law and gave us His righteousness.

Hebrews 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I
took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my
covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

Hebrews 8:10 KJV
[10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the
Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a
God, and they shall be to me a people:

Jeremiah 31
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of
Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

SO HOW DOES ALL THIS RELATE TO JESUS? We will look at that next time.

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