Most people tend to like rules. We know where we stand. Sometimes rules inhibit us – like when we know the road is clear but they’ve either forgotten to take down the Road Works 40kph sign or they’ve finished for the day. But you know that you could face a serious fine if you disobey so you reluctantly abide. But other times we find rules comforting because we know where we stand. Sometimes we complain about the same rules when they are applied to us but expect others to abide by them. A classic example would be at a sporting event. You complain when your team is penalized for a rule infringement but the same situation for the opposition is demanded or you get angry when it’s not applied.
Rules are there for a purpose to protect and guide us. One of the first things that God did for Israel when he released them from slavery in Egypt and set them on a journey to their new land was to give them a set of rules – the 10 Commandments. God places himself under what WE might call laws – for example to not flood the world ever again. But the word the Bible uses is Covenant. A covenant is not a commandment but a promise. And where a promise to do something can be seen as a legally binding statement, it actually isn’t. God is not legally bound but acts through promise.
If I promise to do something for you and I don’t do it then I’m not legally bound. To be legally bound it would need to be a contract that becomes enforceable. So, if I’m engaging a builder to build a house for me I enter into a contract with them. They don’t promise to build me a house but contractually agree to do so with penalties if it is not met.
In our reading from St Paul, he talks about the difference between a contract (Law) and a covenant (promise) which God made with Abraham – and subsequently with us. Paul says – the promise that Abraham would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith – a promise. What’s the difference? The difference is obligation. God actually works with us not by obligation but by love. And that is much more powerful because God’s love is not constricted as it would be if it was law. A law has strict boundaries (eg, .049 or .05 – is there a difference in the person’s soberness yet legally I haven’t broken the law at .049)
Paul uses the example of the birth of Abraham and Sarah’s child. The law sets boundaries and conditions. But in grace God goes beyond boundaries – beyond understanding. As Paul says – the peace of God that goes beyond all understanding.
And so Paul says about God and Abraham: Abraham did not weaken even though he was about a hundred years old, or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. Laws of nature say that Abraham is beyond child bearing age and his wife is barren, which is why she laughed at the prospect. Abraham was fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. So, even though the law of biology or physics or whatever was governing Abraham and his wife with their age and barrenness – God was able to supersede by his promise. God promised and so it was. And that’s the relationship that God has with you – a relationship of promise.
God loves you so much that he sent his one and only Son so that you can believe without a shadow of doubt that you will not perish but have eternal life. Even though Romans 6 says “the wages of sin is death” – the promise of God is the gift of eternal life.. And this speaks to our relationship with God. Is your relationship a relationship based on Promise?
It can be challenging because God doesn’t play by the rules because when your battle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms – Well the reality is that they don’t play by the rules. So when Jesus began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again, Peter didn’t understand the promise – after 3 days rise again. He did understand the rules – death is death. And Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him – that’s not how the game is played. You can’t die – you’ve promised you are the Messiah. Much like the disciples going to Emmaus – we had hoped – but he died. And that’s when Jesus rebukes, not Peter, but the powers of darkness that had put that thought into his mind: He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.
So again we see this distinction between law and promise – law and Gospel – human things and the divine things. Which is why Paul urges us in Colossians 3 (which in case you haven’t figured it out is one of my favourite verses) – set your minds on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God – not on earthly things. Focus your minds on the promise not on the law. It’s not easy because our mindset is automatically focused on earthly things. And that’s why for Abram and Sarai they needed a complete change including a change of name:
And Jesus knows this is not an easy path to follow: If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. But the path Jesus asks us to walk he has walked before us and he will walk with us – “I am with you always till the end of the age” And so we are reminded in the Book of Hebrews – For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. So, like Abraham and Sarah, don’t lose heart – God has not and will never forget you.It took till Abraham was 100 before he would see the promise fulfilled. He struggled and thought God had forgotten him having a child, Ishmael, with Hagar. But he discovered that God is a God of his word and will fulfil what he has promised.
As Paul also discovered about God’s love for his children Israel even though they abandoned God, God would never abandon them: He says in Romans 11: As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.
So may you be strengthened in your faith knowing that God will never leave you or abandon you for that is his solemn promise to you. And God’s promises are irrevocable
