8 For this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘After he has honoured me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you – for WHOEVER TOUCHES YOU TOUCHES THE APPLE OF HIS EYE – Zechariah 2
People still Covenant together and the best known form of Covenant today is the marriage ceremony, which is two people coming together to the exclusion of all others and for life. Covenant is different from a contract, in that it is PERSONAL AND IMPLIES THE GIVING OF ONESELF TO THE OTHER. All Covenants are Binding Agreements, usually for life. We have previously seen that David and Jonathan entered into Covenant, even though Jonathan was Saul’s son and rightful heir.
3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. 1 Samuel 18 and 20:16, 17
The Bible gives us five main Covenants between God Himself and mankind. God has actually given His Word and Covenanted to do certain things which He cannot go back upon. The main one I want to review today is the Covenant with Abraham given in Genesis, thousands of years ago, but remember, ‘a thousand years are like a day in God’s sight, 2 Peter 3:8.
12 The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 ‘I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS YOU,
AND WHOEVER CURSES YOU I WILL CURSE;
AND ALL PEOPLES ON EARTH
WILL BE BLESSED THROUGH YOU.’ Genesis 12
The Promise of God is WITHOUT EXCEPTION – ‘WHOEVER’, and the Blessing was for all humanity. This was and still is God’s plan for reaching all mankind.
(The record of God’s Cutting Covenant with Abraham is given in Genesis 15.)
Why am I writing about the ancient Covenant between God and Abraham at the present time? Israel has recently announced that it is closing its embassy in Dublin, because of the stance taken by the Irish government, against Israel.
‘Israel said it will close its embassy in Dublin over “the extreme anti-Israel policies of the Irish government”.
Its foreign minister Gideon Saar said the Republic of Ireland had crossed “every red line”.’ (BBC News quote)
Ireland has joined with South Africa’s attempt to have the definition of Genocide altered by the International Court of Justice, to include Israel’s actions in Gaza after the unprovoked murder of 1200 of its people by Hamas. Ironic that the world is now trying to pin the tag of ‘Genocide’ on the people whose fellow countrymen were slaughtered in the their own homes. Millions of Jews, perhaps eight million, were also tortured and murdered at the hands of the Nazis during World War 2, in the greatest Genocide ever.
Ireland also recently joined with Spain in recognising Palestine as an independent state.
Derek Prince also quoted a book written by an Irish man called Edward H Flannery, ‘The Anguish of the Jews: Twenty-three centuries of Antisemitism’.
Lord have mercy on Ireland and the United Kingdom in these turbulent times. Send a fresh wind of your Spirit to blow through these islands again.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.