Page 18 - Advanced OT Survey Revised

“Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the
earth. The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on
every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your
hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I
now give you everything. But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.”

(Gen 9:1-4, all quotations unless otherwise are taken from the NIV) God preserved Noah and his family
and the rest of the saved animals as a seed for the new creation. However, even though God re-created
the earth, man was still corrupt. Noah’s covenant was also a cosmic covenant because it applied to all
humanity and all the earth. (Gen 9:8-16). And as per custom, the covenant had to be sealed. Thus, God
sealed His oath with the sign of his bow in the clouds.

Theological Significance
The Ark which Noah made is a typology of Christ’s saving grace even in a chaotic world like Noah’s day.
The story of Noah is also a good example of God’s view of sin. He is a loving and patient God, but he is
also a just God who does not let sin go unpunished. Our Lord Jesus in the New Testament compared the
story of Noah, “For the coming of the son of man will be just like the days of Noah.” Jesus was referring
to the corruption of humanity.

ABRAHAMIC COVENANT
The Abrahamic covenant in literature is also known as the
“covenant of grant” or “royal grant.” The covenant is called this
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because God was going to bless Abraham for his faithfulness in
following God. This covenant was not between a suzerain and
vassal but a, “covenant sworn by two individuals involving a gift of
land, bestowed upon a servant who had distinguished himself by
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loyal service to his sovereign.” God promised Abraham land, as an inheritance, and an offspring who
were going to be as many as the stars in the sky. Thus, God changed his name from Abram to
“Abraham” which means father of nations, because through him all the nations of the earth will be
blessed. (Gen17:1-4) Apart from changing his name God also asked Abraham and his household and his
descendants after him to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant. God also promised to establish a
covenant with Abraham’s descendants throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant and to
be God to him and his descendants. A ratification ceremony was performed, and God sealed His oath
with a promise of His own blood. (Gen 15:17-18). The uniqueness of the Abrahamic covenant is that it is
one extended family permanently welcomed into a covenant relationship.

Theological Significance
Abraham’s faith is very cardinal to everyone, even to us the New Testament believers because in
Galatians 3:1-9, his faith is recommended as something that we need to have. The New Testament also
makes circumcision equivalent to baptism. Circumcision was a mark of those belonging to Yahweh, thus
faith in Christ is a sign of belonging to Jesus. The Abrahamic Covenant sets the tone for faith as God’s
redemptive solution for sinful mankind because through Abraham’s faith he was declared righteous.
(Gen 15:6). Thus, Abraham is the father of everyone who believes in both Jew and Gentile.

MOSAIC COVENANT
The mosaic covenant is a good example of a suzerain/ vassal treaty. God made this covenant with the
children of Israel immediately after delivering them from Egypt as a newly born nation. God was also
fulfilling his covenant with Abraham. As alluded to earlier, God was not asking the Israelites to obey Him

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