Dryness (On Reserve) Essay Example

Covenants were and are still an important part of the relationship that God shares with his people. It was important for God to give out rules, which are to be observed by people if they want to enjoy his blessings. This was also a sign that God was in the business of fulfilling what he had promised and hence motivated the people to serve him. One of the very first covenants we encounter in the bible is between Noah and God. Even though a specific person was used as a point of contact for God, the covenant was not just applicable to the individual but to his entire generation and later to all the nations. In all the covenants that God made, there was always a sign, either done by the people or shown by God himself. For instance, in the covenant between God and the generation of Noah, he used a rainbow, while in the covenant of Abraham he used circumcision.
There could be quite a contradiction observing the covenants that God made with his people and the nature we are told about God. This has become a point of contention where theologians feel that it is not true that God loves unconditionally. Observing the book of Deuteronomy, we realise how tough God was when it came to ensuring that the Israelites obeyed him. There were conditions to be observed if they wanted to be blessed and on the contrary, they would be cursed if they did not observe them. However, such conditions do not disqualify the nature of God’s love, which are unconditional. The fact is, even though he imposed such rules, he would always relent when the people wronged and asked for forgiveness.
One sure thing about God was that he loves his people so much that he would do anything to ensure that they did not stray. It should be noted that God imposed such tough measures after the Israelites had sinned against him. His anger had burned in him and even poured his wrath upon him. He knew that the only way he will make the Israelites obedient to him was to make sure they knew what was right and wrong in his sight. A familiarity level that the Israelites had reached made them take for granted the favour that God showed them. It is normal, even for Christians to be familiar with the love and the favour that the Lord pours on them that they see no need to pray. It is usually at such point that he shakes some foundations in their lives just to remind them that they should give glory and worship to him alone.
The purpose of the covenants was to remind the generation that were not alive when they were being made that there is a place where God took them. During such covenants, God reminded the Israelites of the wonders and the miracles he performed to them when they were in captivity. This also came up with the idea of recording the terms of the covenant just to remind the people that unless they keep up with the pace, then they will not be partakers of the blessings. In many occasions, covenants were reached at when the Israelites had strayed from God and were now suffering at the hands of the strangers. This was in God’s plan with the realisation that after such defeat, they will come back to their senses and remember the God that fought for them.