A Promise Between Two Parties
Abimelech came to Isaac just like he had come to Abraham and asked to make a covenant between the two of them and their people. He called it an oath and a covenant. He was asking for both of them to make a promise to each other that they would not harm each other. (Genesis 26:28,29)We might call it a peace treaty today. Whatever we call it, it is a two-way promise. Both parties assure each other of their commitment to their agreement. We see these types of promises all the time today.
When we get a loan for a car or a mortgage for a house, we make a two-way promise. We promise to make the payments, while the ones loaning the money pay for the car or house for us up front. A marriage is a covenant promise in which a husband and wife pledge their love and support to each other, no matter what happens to them. When we sign a contract with a business to do a job for us, we agree to pay, and they agree to do the work, as described in the paperwork. Our lives would be very difficult without two-way promises. However, there is one very important factor in this type of promise. We must be faithful to keep our promise. If not, the whole promise breaks down, and people get hurt. This is why we must be people of our word, and do what we say we will do. Also, we need to be careful to only make two-way promises with people of integrity who will keep their word. There are so many people and groups of people who have been hurt badly by broken two-way promises. I pray we will all decide to always keep our agreements with others.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 27-29.
When we get a loan for a car or a mortgage for a house, we make a two-way promise. We promise to make the payments, while the ones loaning the money pay for the car or house for us up front. A marriage is a covenant promise in which a husband and wife pledge their love and support to each other, no matter what happens to them. When we sign a contract with a business to do a job for us, we agree to pay, and they agree to do the work, as described in the paperwork. Our lives would be very difficult without two-way promises. However, there is one very important factor in this type of promise. We must be faithful to keep our promise. If not, the whole promise breaks down, and people get hurt. This is why we must be people of our word, and do what we say we will do. Also, we need to be careful to only make two-way promises with people of integrity who will keep their word. There are so many people and groups of people who have been hurt badly by broken two-way promises. I pray we will all decide to always keep our agreements with others.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 27-29.