We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today. כֹּרֵ֣ת בְּרִית֒ make a covenant, made a covenant. It is used 18 times in the Old Testament. The first time our phrase is used in the Bible is a good example of what it means. Abimelech’s men took one of Abraham’s wells so here is how Abraham settles the dispute. Genesis 21:27-32 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, וַיִּכְרְת֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם בְּרִֽית and the two men made a covenant ... He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.” ... וַיִּכְרְת֥וּ בְרִ֖ית So they made a covenant at Beersheba. It is interesting that instead of being aggressive Abraham finds a peaceful solution by clarifying their relationship using an agreement, contract which is what the word covenant means. Here is another good example. Genesis 31:44-45, 48-50 Come now, נִכְרְתָ֥ה בְרִ֖ית let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me.” … “The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another's sight.” If find it interesting that God evoked as the witness between the two parties so that when they are away from each other they are relying on each other’s relationship with God to keep them faithful to carry out what they promised they would do. Our phrase is used of God making a covenant with people. Jeremiah 34:12-13 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I myself כָּרַ֤תִּֽי בְרִית֙ made a covenant with your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt.’ This is how our phrase is used in our chapter today. Exodus 34:10-16 And he said, “Behold, I am כֹּרֵ֣ת בְּרִית֒ making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you. Observe what I command you this day ... Take care, lest תִּכְרֹ֤ת בְּרִית֙ you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst. You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), lest you תִּכְרֹ֥ת בְּרִ֖יתmake a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice, and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods. Did you see how God points to his jealousy for them as a reason why they should only make and follow agreements with him and no one else. Because the nations would turn them away from the true God. This would be the worst thing they could do. God’s jealousy is a protective for those he loves. God doesn’t want any harm to come to them because he loves them. Jesus said this very pointedly about whose word should have the most weight in our lives. Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. This may seem harsh to us because we often forget just how dangerous sin is. And notice Jesus’ words right after he gives us this warning in the next two verses. Matthew 10:29-30 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. I’ll close with this Psalm that shows praise to the God who makes covenants with his people especially the one that predicted Christ coming from David’s family. Psalm 89:1-4 You have said, “I have כָּרַ֣תִּֽי בְ֭רִית made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’”
