The Covenant (Abraham)
Covenant - A binding promise between God and people
BACKGROUND INFO
Abram and his wife Sarai were too old to have a baby but they wanted one
Abram was promised a son by Sarai by God, they had a son, Isaac
time passes
God asks Abram to go to Mount Moriah and sacrifice Isaac
Abram goes to the top of Mount Moriah and prepares to kill Isaac
Right before he kills him an angel appears and says that it was just a test of faith
Abram then makes the covenant with God and becomes Abraham
God promised that he will provide a promised land (land of Canaan) for the Jews
quotes: (Genesis 17)
“Go to the land I will show you”
“To your descendents here I give this land”
“You will be the father of many nations”
“Your name will be Abraham” - (Abraham means father of many)
“I will make you very fruitful”
Abraham promised that all male children will be circumcised at 8 days old and to leave his current land and to live a life dedicated to God
quotes:
“every male among you who is 8 days old must be circumcised”
“Any uncircumcised male … has broken my covenant”
“I give all the land that you see to you and your offspring forever” - Genesis 13:15
“you will be my people, I will be your God”
Importance of the Covenant with Abraham
Links God to Jewish people
Beginning of Jewish rite of circumcision
Idea of the promised land (Israel)
Idea of being God’s ‘chosen people’
Influence of the Covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15 & 17)
Sacrifice:
Abraham kills animals, offering them to God as a sign of trust and obedience. Blood was seen as a symbol of life.
Offering sacrifices is no longer a part of Jewish worship today. It came to an end when the Temple at Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in the year 70.
Circumcision:
Circumcision means removing the foreskin of the male. It’s a permanent and intimate sign of the close/personal covenant relationship with God. It’s also become a sign of Jewish identity as ‘God’s chosen people’.
The ceremony of Brit Milah (ritual of initiation) is carried out on male babies when they are 8 days old.
Mohel = religious leader who is medically qualified – carry out the circumcision.
Sandek = an older male relative who carries the baby on his lap during the ceremony.
Jews today might…
Move closer to Israel
Support groups or charities that help Jews resettle in Israel
Spend time on Kibbutz in Israel
Keep the mitzvot
Brit Milah
be monotheistic