Numbers 23:19-20

English Standard Version (ESV)

19 God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
20 Behold, I received a command to bless:
he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.

What is a covenant?

Is it not a most solemn promise? Is it also not witnessed so that the truth can be confirmed?

I have given my word. And I cannot revoke it.

 

Of what value is a covenant without truth?

God is not a man that he would lie. (Numbers 23:19) Satan is a liar… and Satan influences man (and woman too, of course… see earlier mention of the temptation of Eve). We now know good and we also know evil and we must choose every day whether to tell ‘the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help us God.’ (Sound familiar?) Law and covenant require truth.

When God makes a covenant we can count on it, because God IS truth.

However when two men, or a man and a woman, (or even two women or many individuals) make ANY covenant or promise, even with witnesses… even signed in the sight of an earthly judge; the validity of the covenant REQUIRES not only truth, but also faithful continued truth to the word of ALL parties to the covenant (solemn agreement).

And one more thing (before we return to scripture): A covenant is permanent. A solemn promise before GOD is based on the truth of the words of those who make it, until it is broken by any party. And let’s not forget that our God and Judge (who will open books and separate unrepentant liars from the sheep) is also witness to EVERY VOW.

Genesis 6

5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord…

18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

Noah worshiped the Lord (both before the flood and after God saved them).

Remember, both Cain and Abel had worshiped the Lord; but God accepted the sacrifice of Abel, while cautioning Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” – Gensis 4:6-7

Do you recall the oft’ repeated answer of Cain to God after he murdered his brother?

He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”

Cain did not answer God with the whole truth. Like his sinful parents before him (and also like you and me), Cain spoke as if he could hide his sin from God.

This sin of failing in the truth continues throughout the generations. God hates lies, and murders, and unfaithfulness, and GOD HATES ALL SIN (though He loves the confession of the repentant sinner).

Surely we can no more hide our breaking of our covenant from the witness of God than Adam and Eve could hide themselves in Eden.

God knows ALL truth.

Genesis 4:10-11 And the Lord said, “What have you done?

The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

Genesis 9:9 “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you…

Who has broken the covenants?

Will you hear truth? “God is not a man that he would lie.”

To be continued…