A Covenant Enemy

As we saw earlier there is an exchange of enemies in covenant. The purpose is for protection and security. The covenant-making and keeping had many advantages but it was never undertaken lightly, especially between city governments, tribes or later, nations. The curse of broken covenant was too severe. We can understand Abraham's hesitation when God approached him with covenant language, the precursor of a covenant ceremony. What is more difficult to see and understand is the length of time involved in cutting the Abrahamic Covenant. Many years lapsed between the "walking among the pieces" part of the ceremony and the final response of Abraham offering Isaac, but this time allowed Abraham to walk in a relationship with God that increased the release of all other responsibilities that could justify Abraham's failure to give God the response of covenant. His obedience to ignore everything but to answer God's covenant request was the final permission God was seeking to allow Him to send Jesus to this realm. Abraham's total obedience and faith cut off Satan's opportunity to prevent this final step. This gives understanding of how important is our response to God in resisting the enemy. Abraham had learned much in his walking with God in covenant. The lack of knowledge and understanding of covenant today, gives rise to religious response to God's Word of Covenant. We speak of "Old Testament" and "New Testament" but do not understand they are the covenants of God with His people and we are responsible for giving covenant response to that Word. The response is always to the person giving the required response and is not up for personal interpretation. Abraham's response in taking Isaac to a certain mountain shows us this. He did not excuse, justify or explain his action. He just obeyed. Satan did not have a chance to deny God. God's enemy had become Abraham's enemy and Abraham responded to God. Do you see what this means to us?

We must rid ourselves of the "religious" response to God's Word and respond to God's Word in spirit and truth. A pure worship of our omniscient, holy, omnipotent Jehovah, Who ministers to us in completion, denies the enemy his effort to hinder God from accomplishing His will on earth. Satan became the enemy of God when he chose to resist God's purpose to make man in His image. Lucifer had everything--wisdom, power, and opportunity for he ruled from earth, but he became jealous of God's purpose to make another creature in the image of God. He saw it written in the stars and so determined to exalt himself above the stars. (Isaiah 14:12-13) He uses religion to accomplish this. The religions of the ancients, roman and greek gods and other myths have changed the names of the stars and so dictated a different purpose. The greed for money, power, and knowledge have become a religion for Satan's use. Man's interpretation of Scripture and man's desire for control have perverted the message taught, so that even the desire for God is chained by ritual and regulations that seem to justify.

Jesus told His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to teach and guide them into all Truth. Jesus is The Truth, Way and Life to Whom the Holy Spirit guides us, teaching, correcting, and revealing the way of Truth.
Listen to Paul's admonitions: "Let no one deceive you with empty words.." "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.." Agree with God's purpose for you to be in His image, follow Jesus and let the Spirit guide you. Above all, let praise and thanksgiving in all things be your response.

Philippians 4:8-9 (NASB) 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Fight the good fight of faith.