One of the keys to rightly understanding scripture is to understand the big picture framework on which the Bible hangs. God of course never changes, but His agreements, promises, curses and covenants on different bloodlines have changed several times to adapt to the changes that man has gone through.
This post is going to be one that I need to come back to and build on as my own understanding of covenants grows and more scriptures and pieces of the puzzle are reveal through study and meditation. Covenant and promises (blessing and curses) are not interchangeable and yet hold some elements in common. They are all words of God that He will never change and yet they are often limited to a specific scope either of time or of people. Very often they are tied to the bloodline generations that follow the person He makes the Covenant with. Understanding which covenant, promises, curses etc apply to our lives is therefore important to understanding how scripture applies to us today. For example.
Here are some passages and a bit of framework to get us started. Please join me in searching our verses and sharing insight via the comments. That would be such a tremendous help.
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
Adam and Eve after the Fall
Promises and Curses to Cain and all of his Descendants
Covenant with Noah (Genesis 9)
Covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12-22)
Blessings to Isaac
Blessings to Jacob
Blessings and Curses on the bloodline of the 12 sons of Jacob
Blessings and Curses on David
Blessings and curses on Solomon
New Testament Covenant (Law of the Spirit) with those who receive Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Questions that need addressing:
Q-Which bloodlines do I come from? Are there curses and blessings that are coming my way through my generational bloodline? What did Jesus accomplish in this department?
Q- If Christ became the curse for us, do any of the curses mentioned at any other time in History apply to us? What did Jesus accomplish in this department?
Q-Am I still under the Law of Moses? Am I under the whole Law of Moses or just certain parts? What did Jesus do in this area?
Here are some books in the Bible I encourage you to read that reveal at least the answers in part.
Genesis (Reveals God’s original plan for mankind)
Exodus (reveals the Covenant of Condemnation as given to Moses)
Jeremiah 30-32
Galatians
Romans
2 Corinthians
Revelation (and all prophetic verses that talk of the new Heaven and new Earth) reveal the final/eternal covenant/plan for man
Romans 7:1-7 (KJV) “7 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”
2 Corinthians 3:7-18 New King James Version (NKJV)
7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— 13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”
Galatians 3:10-25 World English Bible (WEB) “10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.”Deuteronomy 27:26 11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”Habakkuk 2:4 12 The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.”Leviticus 18:5 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,”Deuteronomy 21:23 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15 Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void or adds to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. He doesn’t say, “To descendants”, as of many, but as of one, “To your offspring”,Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 24:7 which is Christ. 17 Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.
19 Then why is there the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”
Healing and Discipleship 