When God makes His covenant with Abraham, He commits Himself to be God to Abraham and his descendants (Gen 17:7). God's covenant with Abraham occurred after Abraham demonstrated his faith in God, and God knew that Abraham would teach his household the way of the Lord to do what it is right and just (Gen 18:19). Abraham had to teach "so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him" (Gen 18:19).

After leading the nation of Israel out of Egypt, God uses Moses to teach the way of the Lord. Just before introducing the Law of Moses, God tells the nation what faith means:

You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites. (Ex 19:4-6, NIV)

1. After revealing the conditional Law, Moses states the significance of God's choice of the nation of Israel, what does he demand the nation do? Carefully observe the text and explain your observation.

To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. (Deut 10:14-17, NIV)

2. As the nation of Israel repeatedly fails to keep their covenant promises, they ultimately and irrevocably break the Mosaic Covenant, and are expelled from the Promised Land. What do you observe of God's explanation for making the New Covenant? What does it reveal about "God's people" who were supposed to keep their covenant promises?

Therefore say to the Israelites, "is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.
For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. (Ezek 36:22-25)