3) The Covenant with Adam and Creation
The Story in the Garden
The concept of a covenant with Adam in the Bible isn't explicitly termed as such within the Genesis text, but theologians and scholars often describe God's interactions with Adam under the framework of a covenantal relationship, commonly referred to as the "Adamic Covenant" or "Covenant of Works."
The covenant with Adam is generally inferred from the narrative in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. God creates Adam, places him in the Garden of Eden, and establishes a relationship with specific commands and expectations.
God's command to Adam included the responsibility to multiply and fill the earth, subdue it, and have dominion over the animals (Genesis 1:28). Additionally, Adam was tasked with tending the garden and was allowed to eat from any tree in the garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:15-17).
The covenant is conditional, based on Adam’s obedience to God's command. The stipulation was clear: Adam (and by extension, Eve, who was created from Adam) could eat from any tree except for one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The consequence of eating from this tree was also clearly stated: "for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die" (Genesis 2:17).
Adam and Eve’s decision to eat from the forbidden tree (Genesis 3) led to the covenant being broken. This act of disobedience, often referred to as the "Fall," had several immediate and long-term consequences, including spiritual and physical death, expulsion from Eden, and curses affecting the serpent, the woman, and the ground.
The Adamic Covenant is crucial for several reasons:
Theological Foundations: It sets the stage for human history’s theological context, highlighting themes of stewardship, obedience, sin, and the consequences of disobedience.
Introduction of Sin: The breaking of this covenant introduces sin into the world, affecting all of creation and all subsequent human generations.
Promise of Redemption: Even in the judgment following the covenant's breach, there is an embedded promise of redemption (Genesis 3:15), often referred to as the "Proto-Evangelium" or "first gospel." This verse prophesies conflict between the offspring of the serpent and the offspring of the woman, ultimately forecasting Christ’s victory over sin and Satan.
A Reference to the Covenant with Adam in Hosea
There is a passage in Hosea that provides an intriguing perspective on the concept of a covenant made with Adam. The passage in Hosea is often cited to support the idea that there was a specific covenantal relationship between God and Adam, which isn't explicitly detailed in the Genesis account but is inferred through God's commands and expectations:
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me. (Hosea 6:4-7, ESV Bible)
Verse 7 explicitly mentions that "like Adam they transgressed the covenant." This is one of the few places in the Bible that explicitly refers to Adam in the context of a covenant, suggesting that Adam’s relationship with God in Eden involved covenantal obligations, which he failed to uphold.
The prophet Hosea is addressing the people of Israel, specifically Ephraim and Judah, criticizing their unfaithfulness and superficial devotion to God. By comparing them to Adam, Hosea underscores the seriousness of their betrayal. Just as Adam broke his covenantal relationship with God through disobedience, so too are the Israelites transgressing their covenant with God by failing to show true love and fidelity.
In verse 6, Hosea highlights God’s preference for "steadfast love and not sacrifice," indicating that genuine relationship and obedience are more valuable to God than ritualistic offerings. This ties back to the nature of covenant, which is fundamentally about relationship and fidelity, not merely external adherence to rules.
The mention of Adam's covenant breach sets a precedent for understanding humanity's ongoing struggle with sin and fidelity to God. It frames the story of Israel within the larger narrative of human failure and divine grace, which runs throughout the Bible.
The Covenant with Creation - An example of a Royal Grant: The Unbroken Order of Creation
The idea of God's covenant with creation, or what some theologians refer to as "The Unbroken Order of Creation," explores the concept that God has established a steadfast, ongoing relationship not only with humanity but with the entire created order. The covenant with creation suggests that God’s commitments extend beyond the human sphere to encompass the whole cosmos. This unbroken order is a testament to God’s sustaining grace, calling humanity to a deeper recognition of our role within God’s broader providential care.
The passage in Jeremiah 33:19-26 discusses God’s promises to David and the Levitical priests, presenting these assurances in the format of a "royal grant" covenant. This type of covenant, known from other ancient Near Eastern texts, typically involves a sovereign granting rights or privileges to a loyal subject, often hereditary in nature, as a reward for some service or loyalty shown. These grants are usually unconditional and meant to be perpetual.
Jeremiah is prophesying during a dire period in Judah's history, specifically the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile. Despite the grim circumstances, Jeremiah 33 contains promises of restoration and hope.
The passage articulates God's commitment to the house of David and the Levitical priests, ensuring that the covenant with them will not be broken. It highlights the enduring nature of God’s promises, despite the people's current unfaithfulness and the looming punishment:
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: “Thus says the LORD: If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night will not come at their appointed time, then also my covenant with David my servant may be broken, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and my covenant with the Levitical priests my ministers. As the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to me.” The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: “Have you not observed that these people are saying, ‘The LORD has rejected the two clans that he chose’? Thus they have despised my people so that they are no longer a nation in their sight. Thus says the LORD: If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, then I will reject the offspring of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his offspring to rule over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.” (Jeremiah 33:19-26, ESV Bible)
The point is that God is going to be faithful to his covenant with the night and the day. God is stating that He will keep his covenant regardless of Israel’s faithfulness to Him. He compares His faithfulness to the covenant to the unbroken order of creation. “If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night will not come at their appointed time, then also my covenant with David my servant may be broken.” In other words, His covenant with David will not be broken. This unbroken order of creation is alluded to in Matthew 5:45:
For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45, ESV Bible)
In this passage, Jesus emphasizes the impartiality of God's provision and kindness, which extends to all people, regardless of their moral state. He uses this observation to encourage His listeners to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, thereby reflecting the character of God, who is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. His covenant with creation does not change despite our own actions. We can count on the blessings of his faithfulness (in this case the blessing of the sun and the rain) because He is faithful to His covenants.
The unconditional nature of the promises to David and the Levitical priests showcases the features of a royal grant. God, the sovereign, is granting these promises based on His prior covenants and their fulfillment does not depend on the ongoing obedience of the people. This type of covenant is seen as affirming the continuation of Davidic kingship and the Levitical priesthood, regardless of Israel's disobedience.
In the midst of prophecies of doom and exile, this passage offers a profound assurance that God remains faithful to His covenants. It provides a counterpoint to the conditional Mosaic covenant, under which the current calamities have come as a result of Israel's failure to obey God's laws.
Conclusion
The narrative of the Adamic Covenant and its broader implications highlight a fundamental theme in biblical theology: the covenantal relationship between God and His creation. From the individual commitment with Adam in the Garden of Eden to the enduring covenant with all of creation, these interactions shape our understanding of God's expectations, humanity's responsibility, and the promise of redemption. Recognizing these covenantal themes provides a richer appreciation of the Bible's message, emphasizing the continuity of God’s grace and the profound implications of our responses to His commands.