Hebrews 8:8

Hebrews 8:8

A new Covenant with Israel and Judah

t’s probably a bit pointless to speculate about what God expected from Israel when He gave them the first Covenant. Did He really think that they could keep it? Did He unwittingly underestimate the ability of this people to obey His Law? Did they make far more of a mess of it all than He had ever considered possible? I think not! Our Father always had a plan; he knew that men were fallible and that a system of sacrificial offerings was necessary. If not, why did He instigate it so precisely to begin with? As the Apostle Paul says, “So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24. 

All the religions of the world depend on obedience and works, on adulation and on devotion to the gods, these are the only qualities that will appease their hierarchy. Our God accepts all such efforts from His faithful ones, but He shows us that we can never earn His favour, we can never atone for our sins, so His message to the whole world is simple. “I will do it for you. I will make atonement. I will make a way to save the human race, but you must believe in me and trust me by faith. I cannot work with or accept those who reject me and refuse my freely given offer of salvation.” In sacrificing His Son, Jesus, God opened the door to a new Covenant. This was first offered to Israel and Judah. Sadly, they refused God’s offer, they preferred to stay with the old rules and regulations that depended on their efforts. So, the door was opened to all peoples, nations and tongues, the Jewish Jesus was sacrificed for us all. Through Israel and Judah every nation on the earth has been blessed and may have an eternal relationship with their Creator and the One True God. This is the Gospel! This is the Good News that should excite us when we awake every morning. This is the focus of our praise and worship. Jesus Christ has truly done it all. 

The majority of the verses 8-12 here are a quote from Jeremiah 31:3-34 where we are informed that God’s Laws are not impossible demands written on stone or parchment, but inner principles written on our hearts. Our faith is not a long list of “dos” and “don’ts” but it is a relationship that delights in being fellowship with the Father. Hallelujah!

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