Covenant 1

Comunicación y Gerencia

God’s covenant with the Hebrew People

Covenant

• An agreement between parties• A contract• A commitment• Old Covenant• New Covenant

Hebrew Scriptures

• Torah• The Law• The Prophets• History of the People• Songs to praise God• Hebrew Literature

Torah

• Structure or pattern for life• First five books of the bible• Genesis narratives• Books of the law:

– Exodus– Leviticus– Numbers– Deuteronomy

Genesis

• Narratives around the campfire: – Prehistory of Israel– Oral tradition

• Creation Stories– Creation is good– God blesses human life– Woman and Man created in God’s image (GN 1:27)– Stewards of creation– Humanity has a tendency to sin

Abraham and Sarah

• First to recognize one God• Enters into covenant with God

• Leaves Ur• Travels to the promised land• Abraham’s call Gn 12

• God makes promises to Abraham• Covenant Gn 15:17• Covenant of circumcision Gn 17• Visited by God’s messengers promising Isaac Gn 18• Abraham becomes the father of Judaism, Christianity,

and Islam

Narratives

• Isaac and Rebeka• Jacob and Essau• Jacob and Rachel• The 12 tribes of Israel• Joseph in Egypt

Exodus

ExodusCirca 1200 BCE

• Slavery in Egypt 400 years

• Moses raised in Pharaoh's court

• Murders Egyptian to defend slave

• Goes on the run• Encounters the

burning bush

• Challenge to Pharaoh

• Passover of the Lord

• Slaves flee through the Red Sea

• Journey in the desert

• 10 Commandments

Foundational

• Event of Exodus gives birth the Israelite people• Red Sea is a new birth• Nation of Israel is born at the moment they

emerge from the Red Sea• Journey in the desert

– Religious life is lived in community– Prone to murmuring

• Covenant -– Binds God to Israel– The law expresses Israel’s bond to God Israel

Law

• Is just• Gives structure to community• Protects widows and orphans• Provides for the poor• Distributes wealth proportionally

Kings and Prophets

• Israel wanted a King, God wanted only the law but acquiesced

• Kings• Saul• David• Solomon

• Prophets:• Isaiah• Jeremiah• Ezekiel

Wisdom and Worship• Wisdom• Proverbs• Job • Ecclesiastes• Song of Songs• Sirach• Psalms

Your Covenant

• Like Abraham and Moses, what is your call from God?

• What has your spiritual journey been like? Have you been called forth in faith, spoken to God in the burning bush, traveled through the desert, or left home to begin a new path?

• How has God been revealed to you? Like the burning Bush, have you ever suddenly become aware of God’s presence? How so?