You've heard about making a deal with the devil. Well, how about making a deal with God? Plenty of figures in Genesis know all about that—Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all enter into a covenant with God. They have to do certain things, like circumcise the masses or walk according to God's ways, and in return God gives them all kinds of SWAG: land, offspring, and divine protection. Don't get too excited. It's easier said than done.
Questions About Covenants
- What's similar and what's different about the various contracts that God makes with each individual in Genesis? Are there any covenants that seem unique?
- Which characters try to haggle with God? Are they successful?
- Does God ever fail to hold up the divine end of the deal?
- How can we compare the various contracts that humans make with each other in Genesis to God's contracts with humans?