What is the meaning of the union-covenant God made with Abraham? Of course, when answering this question, we usually immediately...
What is the meaning of the union-covenant God made with Abraham? Of course, when answering this question, we usually immediately remember the promises God gave Abraham about the future of his tribe, which was to grow, become a people, and create its own state in the land through which Abraham had to wander. But is that the main thing? When Abraham meets God, he hears astonishing words: I am my covenant with you, God says to Abraham. Not the promised land, not the Torah, not the commandments, but God Himself becomes the pledge of the covenant that has been made.
And this is not surprising, because everything else depends on Him and is determined by Him. A covenant is, above all, a relationship, and no promises can guarantee relationships, even promises fulfilled to the end. Receiving the land and creating a state do not ensure closeness with God; they can be a consequence, but not a cause. Even the Torah, the commandments that centuries later would be given to the people through Moses, guarantee nothing by themselves. After all, the Torah too can be emptied out, reduced to formalism and legalism that brings no one closer to God and does not foster a living relationship with Him. Only God Himself can guarantee that the union-covenant between Him and His people will remain unshakable.
Of course, much also depends here on the people themselves, since a covenant involves at least two parties. But if anyone can repair what appears beyond repair, restore relationships that seem irretrievably destroyed, it is only the One who initiated the union-covenant. And in this is hope. Hope for the Kingdom, for the Messiah, and for salvation.
