Genesis 17:9
God also said to Abraham: "On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages."
As my children grew out of toddling and into the early childhood years, I began to make deals with them. If they cleaned their room, I'd give them a treat. If they did their chores, I'd take them to the movies. I'd make bargains. Most parents do this at some level or another. This barter system goes on throughout life. In the eyes of my young children I am like a god to them. I provide them with everything. I lord over their lives.
Today's reading from Genesis tells the story of God's covenant with Abraham. God, creator of the universe, all knowing, stoops to make a deal with a man that he created. God of all humbles himself to get at the level of man to make a covenant, a deal in a sense, with Abraham. God says, paraphrasing, I'll give you everything, kings will come from you, nations will come from you. You just have to keep my covenant throughout the ages. That's the deal. Can you do this? Abraham being obedient agrees. We know that throughout the ages, his line faltered along the way.
God is a loving God, one who knew we would mess up. He is so loving that we cannot even begin to comprehend that love. He so loved the world that he humbled himself, came in the form of flesh, Jesus Christ, and felt the pain of the nails, all to keep the covenant set centuries earlier. As a parent, I would do anything for my kids. Most of us would. In some cases, that would be painful because we don't want to spoil them, but instead teach and correct. But we still would die for them. Do you keep the covenant and commandments God gave to us? He is our God and we are his people. We are called to keep the commandments and uphold our end of the agreement. That's the deal. Are you doing your part?
