COVENANT

COVENANT

A sacrifice of animals

Five animals were sacrificed:

The first 3 were divided in 2.
* 1 Heifer (3 years old)
* 1 She Goat (3 years old)
* 1 Ram (3 years old)

This made a total of 6 pieces. 3 animals of 3 pieces, (A picture of the godhead) divided to become 6. (A picture of man.)

* 1 Turtle - dove
* 1 Pigeon

Making a total of 5 offerings, signifying atonement.

The Godhead was divided so that Jesus could become man. The offering of Jesus, symbolised by the 6 piece offering, together with the poor man's offering of the turtle-dove and the pigeon (Leviticus 14:21-3) totals 8, which is the number of resurrection life.

Nothing is by chance in God!

Sacrifice of Isaac (Picture of Jesus)

The offering of Isaac, Abraham's promised son and heir.

This is an amazing picture of Jesus and His offering up at Calvary for the sins of the world.

There are at least 5 comparisons.

1. The son carried the father's wood on his back (Verse 6)

2. The total submission of the son to the father. (Verse 9)

3. God provides Himself with a lamb. (Verse 8,13)

4. Three days and 3 nights (Verse 3-4)

5. The sacrifice was an act of worship. (Verse 5)

There is also a picture of the Resurrection here.

For Abraham (and Isaac) would have expected Isaac to be resurrected so that the promise of the being the seed of the nation would be fulfilled.

Circumcision

2. Called by a new name.

At circumcision a child was named. Names at the time, spoke of the person's nature. (See the example of Jesus in Luke 2:21)

God changed Abram and Sarai's names to Abraham and Sarah at the time of the first circumcision.

3. The eighth day.

Circumcision was to be made on the 8th day after a male baby was born.

1. Cutting off the flesh.

New Covenant (Testament) spiritual circumcision is found in both water and Holy Spirit baptism.

Water baptism speaks of a cutting off of the flesh.

Through Holy Spirit baptism God marks the bodily member that brings forth spiritual life, that is, the tongue.

2. Called by a new name.

At baptism, the believer takes on the name of the new nature that has been given - the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. The eighth day.

The number 8 in the Bible means numerically speaking, 'resurrection life'.

This begins at baptism as we 'put off' the old man (Adam) and 'put on' the new man, who is Christ.

After breaking the Abrahamic Covenant, Moses, the one God chose to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, was given a replacement covenant, appropriate to the situation the people were now in.

God's dealings with the people of Israel was a series of ups and downs - ups when the covenants were first given, and downs, as the people walked away from God's ways.

Nothing has changed today. For our human nature takes us away from God so very easily. "Lord forgive us, we pray for moving away from you. Today we commit to following your Word and instructions in your New Covenant."

Ancient Babylonia - The Aramaeans and The Culture

Toward the end of the millennium Babylonia was raided continuously by a group of nomads called the Aramaeans. Gradually the Aramaeans created so much chaos and confusion across the Babylonian plain that Babylonia entered into another dark phase in her history. Their effects were felt for a long time to come.

Though information regarding the period of the second dynasty of Isin is rather scarce, evidence from later Babylonian history indicates that the time of Nebuchadnezzar I was a very important period culturally. There were major religious developments in connection with the god Marduk, and in literature there was a movement to almost canonize the writings that had been passed on from the Old Babylonian and earlier periods.