THE GOD OF THE COVENANT

 

This painting brought tears to my eyes when I saw it. The Saviour’s apparent power in it is breathtaking. The scene depicts the parting of the Red Sea with Moses on one side and the Saviour on the other. It is titled “I was there” by Danny Hahlbohm.

Besides the Saviour’s power, I see something else in this picture. I see the strength of will of a God who will move heaven and earth for His covenant people Israel. This is a God who has throughout history led them in mercy through the valley of shadow of death and has preserved them to be a favoured people.

Who are these favoured people? They are the Twelve Tribes of Israel, their posterity, and the adopted believing Gentiles who have accepted Christ through baptism. They are God’s people, a ‘peculiar people’ (Exodus 19:5), meaning ‘valued treasure’, ‘made or selected by God’. (Russell M. Nelson, “Children of the Covenant”, Ensign May 1995, 34)

And this is why they are peculiar:  “…….the house of Israel is composed of spirits from pre-existence who there developed a talent for spirituality, and who are therefore entitled to the blessings of heaven in this life on a preferential basis” (McConkie, “Mortal Messiah 3, p 11).”

Not only are these people favoured but they are also important. The House of Israel is the guardian of the Abrahamic covenant. This is the covenant between Jehovah and Abraham through which the House of Israel carries its priesthood blessings to the inhabitants of the world. This is the covenant that the Saviour has foresworn He will never, ever break or forget. It will stand forever (Deuternonomy 4:31; Leviticus 26:44,46; Isaiah 49:15,16; 2 Kings 13:23).

And this is the power of commitment and this is the strength of His love for His chosen people:

·        Thou art my chosen servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified (Isaiah 49:3; Abraham 2:11)

·        I will write my law into your hearts and I will be your God and you shall be my people and your sins I will remember no more (Hebrews 8:10, 12)

·        I will take you to me for a people and I will be to you a God (Exodus 6:7; Jeremiah 10:4)

·        I have redeemed thee, thou art mine, I will be with thee, I am the holy one of Israel, I will sacrifice others for thee (Isaiah 43:1-7)

·        Thou art the everlasting bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7-8; 21:2,9)

·        I have chosen thee to be a special people unto me, above all people that are upon the face of the earth (Deuteronomy 7:6)

·        O Israel thou art ‘the apple of His eye’: Deuteronomy 32:9,10; Zechariah 2:8; Psalm 17:8

In today’s day of ‘inclusion’, it would appear unthinkable that God would love and consider His children on preferential basis. However, because of their righteousness, collectively and not individually, and as descendants of righteous Abraham, The House of Israel was ‘chosen’ to be favoured of God. After all, He attests to the fact that there has to be a reward for being good: “….he that is righteous is favored of God” (1 Nephi 17:35).

Thy love for Thy people is beyond compare,

Thy mercy affixed forever more.

Thy power delivers us and

Thy loving kindness gathers us;

We are restored by Thy merciful might,

We are Israel, children of light.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: I Was There by Danny Hahlbohm)