Building a Covenant Family Part 1
There are many building projects mentioned in the Bible. Some were divinely initiated, such as Noah’s Ark and the Tabernacle, while others were initiated by humans, such as the Tower of Babel. Like in ancient times, there are many reasons for beginning a building project. One of those specific reasons is to build a home in which to dwell, fellowship, rest, and relax. In this article, we will explore with the help of our “Wonderful Counselor” and endeavor to understand the scripture’s teaching about God’s house and the redemptive building project that transforms God’s dwelling place into a covenant family or household.
First Construction Site
Would it surprise you to know that the very first construction site in the Bible is found in Genesis chapter 1!? Verse one says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Every building project must have a good set of blueprints to guide the builders in the construction. We see in Genesis 1:1 that God is constructing a house to dwell and rest, for the purpose of fellowship with His image bearers. The remainder of the chapter is God following His blueprint as He builds His permanent palace home alluded to in Isaiah 66:1-2.
“This is what the LORD says: Heaven is My throne and the earth is the footstool for My feet. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, So all these things came into being,” declares the LORD. But I will look to this one, At one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My word.”
Every construction site is characterized by supplies and pallets of materials needed to make the house what the builder wants. However, if you read carefully the blueprint of God’s construction site, you will not see materials with rows of pallets lying around waiting to be nailed, hammered, and drilled into place. These materials are mysteriously missing at the construction site of God's magnificent cosmic palace home. This is what is termed in theological language as “ex nihilo” which means “out of nothing”. Herein lies the awesome wonder and power of Almighty God. As the Master builder and Architect, Hebrews 11:10, YHWH God does not need any materials. He designed and built His magnificent home from nothing.
After completing His cosmic mansion in chapter two He consecrates a day of rest for fellowship and a special day in which those He created in His image will meet and worship Him, Genesis 2:1-4, Exodus 20:8-11;”…And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made…” It is like when you have completely moved into a new home and everything is where it is supposed to be, you celebrate by having family and friends come over to fellowship and enjoy the new house.
Covenant Household
In your mind, consider what distinguishes a house from a household. A house is a structure that has multiple uses. Among these uses are rest, shelter, safety, and meeting with friends and family. These are just a few reasons why someone might build a house. What transforms that structure into a household is the family which resides inside.
It is appropriate here to introduce the concept of covenant family or the specific household which God set aside for Himself throughout history. What is significant to note early on is that in the first two chapters, God not only builds Himself a cosmic palace in which to dwell, but transforms that majestic dwelling into a household, i.e., a place of meeting or “tent of meeting”, by creating the first covenant family, Genesis 1:26-29. The whole purpose of creating the universe from the start is not only to build a place in which to dwell, but also a household for meeting to worship and fellowship, which is the purpose of consecrating the Lord’s day. It is the foreshadow of dwelling and living with and being in fellowship with our God forever. It will not be a one day in six, but every day with our Creator! What a tremendously wonderful thought.
Coming back to God’s building project, we see in vs. 2 that initially the construction site is chaotic and does not look anything like a palace. The Greek translation of the Hebrew uses the word, “ἀκατασκεύαστος” and means, “not constructed or built”. This is characteristic of every construction site at the beginning of the project. When you drive by the site, it looks chaotic, and nothing is where it is supposed to be. You may wonder, “What is that going to be?”
However, in vs. 2, we are introduced to a key principle in the Holy Word, “...and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.” The Hebrew word for Spirit is “ruach” and means “breathe or wind.” It is the word used in chapter 2:7, “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” When the Holy Spirit is breathed into man or “hovers,” what is lifeless comes to life. See also, Ezekiel 37:1-14. In Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones, the Spirit is breathed into the dead bones through the prophetic word, and they are brought to life. The presence of the spirit is also what transfigures God’s house into a household (more on this work of the Spirit later in this article).
The rest of chapter one is God, the great Architect, building and completing the construction of His cosmic domicile.
Day one - He turns the lights on.
Day two - He puts in the plumbing
Days three and four - He puts in the sources of food
Days five and six - He makes household domesticated pets. (He will bring these animals to Adam on day six to name. See also Job 41 for the concept of all God’s created animals as His pets.)
Looking now a little closer at the most important day of God's construction, day six. On day six, God creates a family, or that which makes the cosmic palace a household, Genesis 1:26-29! It is also here that God tells them the rules that will govern this covenant household. These rules or commands include:
1.) Be fruitful and multiply (Grow and expand the Covenant family. Genesis 1:28),
2.) subdue and rule the animals in the house(Genesis 1:28)
3.) guard and keep the garden of God (Genesis 2:15) and,
4.) Do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If they transgress the 4th rule and the penalty is death, Genesis 2:17!
Since God the creator was building this magnificent house and household, why are we not living in God’s presence and meeting with Him continually now? What has delayed God’s building project? Join us for Part 2, when we answer these questions.
