The Very Conditional Covenant

From the beginning of the Scriptures, the idea of a covenant is central. God establishes a covenant with Israel, of course, but also prior to that with individuals who carry the line.

What’s a covenant? In short, it is a promise — a formal, solemn, and binding agreement between two or more parties.

One may be quick to latch onto the fact that these covenants include what God promises, and some actually miss what he requires of the human covenant partner.

The covenant with Israel has a very striking list of the consequences of covenant faithfulness or violation.

Some covenants appear unilateral/promissory — that is, God promises, no conditions on our part. He’s just going to keep his Word.

But I’m mostly looking at the ones that contain explicit commands, stipulations, blessings, and curses. The Mosaic covenant is the clearest example of a covenant with extensive stated conditions. I have a discussion and then selections of the actual passages below that.

1. God’s Covenant with Noah

The first very obvious statement that God will establish a covenant occurs before the flood, when God says in Genesis 6:18 — “But I will establish my covenant with you…” The fuller covenant comes in Genesis 8:20–22 and Genesis 9:1–17. God’s commitments include preservation of the regular order of creation and the promise never again to destroy all flesh by a flood.