Covenant (Part 1)

God is always communicating with His people. Throughout history, God speaks. And many times He uses people as His means of speaking to the world (notable exceptions include pillars of cloud and fire, burning bushes, random donkeys, etc.).

The Israelites, who had entered into a sacred covenant relationship with God on Mount Sinai, have, over and over again, broken covenant with God. They were called out of their oppression and bondage in slavery and brought out into a life of freedom by God in order to be a reflection upon the earth of this "God who Delivers". Their covenant with God is the means by which God will reveal who He is to the entire world. Israel, by remembering who this God is and what He has done for them by delivering them from an oppressive, evil nation, is supposed to become the antithesis of Egypt: they are to become a nation who shows compassion upon the poor, brings liberation to the oppressed, and treats everyone with justice and righteousness.

But they fail.

Over and over again.

As Israel settles into the Promised Land--a land where they are free from bondage--they begin to enslave the people who live in that land. And as the nation grows, so does Israel's likeness to Egypt, until, by the time of King Solomon, slave labor is used to build the very temple in which this liberating God is to be worshiped. Ironic, huh?

As Israel's wealth grows and its kingdom expands, so does its military strength. King Solomon builds military outposts and imports horses and chariots from Egypt in order to protect...

The oppressed?

The poor?

The outcasts?

No. He strengthens Israel's military in order to protect the vast amounts of wealth and power that he has accumulated, and to continue propagating the oppression of the less fortunate. The covenant seems to be all but forgotten.

But some people in Israel do not follow the status quo. They have not forgotten the covenant they had made with God on Sinai. These dissenters--prophets, they are called--step up and allow their voices to be heard. 

They speak for God.

For the covenant.

For those being enslaved.

They have not forgotten Moses' warnings about what will happen to Israel if she breaks covenant with God. They have not forgotten the deliverance that brought them out of slavery in the first place. And, speaking as God's mouthpiece, they protest the evils that Israel is propagating. Israel has become complacent. Israel has taken advantage of their freedom. And if they do not honor the covenant that they have made with God, they may very well end up back where they started. 

In the Egypt of slavery and bondage.

Are their voices heard?

Does Israel listen to God?

Does Israel honor the covenant she made with him?

Are the slaves freed and oppression ended and military might diminished?

As the story goes, a new empire rises up, taking Israel captive, killing many and taking many others as slaves. Their entitlement to the special position as "the people of God" only goes so far. They are back where they started.

The oppressed have become the oppressors, who become the oppressed again.

Stay tuned for part 2, coming soon.