Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 34:10.

“Then God said, “Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the LORD, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you.” Exodus 34:10.

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The central concept of the covenant is the working of the LORD. The covenant is not an agreement between God and man. The covenant is not based on the shaky premises of man entering into the agreement, man maintaining his desire to stay in the agreement, or man performing his part of the agreement.

The covenant is based on the promises of the LORD, the unchangeableness of the LORD, and the ability of the LORD to perform: all of which can be summarized as “the working of the LORD”.

But, there is more. Here, in this covenant, God promised to perform miracles. God promised that all the people among whom Israel lived will see the working of the LORD. God promised that He was going to perform with Israel. In other words, the recipients of the miracles would include Israel; God could perform miracles for other peoples, but here, He promises to perform the miracles with or for Israel.

So, that is nice for Israel. But, what is our hope?

Our hope is that somehow we could be included within the covenant. Our hope is that what happens to us will not be based on us, but will be based on God. Our hope is that our vindication or glory will be seen by others. Our hope is that we will receive the benefits of God’s miracles.

“remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:12-22.

“So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.” Galatians 3:5-9.

Reformed Doctrine most closely and clearly summarizes the central concept of the covenant and our hope: “the working of the LORD” in God’s “Unconditional Election”, God’s “Limited Atonement”, God’s “Irresistable Grace”, and God’s “Preservation of the Saints”: the “U”, “L”, “I” and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.