Covenant

You've probably heard the saying "blood is stronger (or thicker) than water". Most people think that means that blood family is more important than anything else. I always thought that, until I learned about covenant. What does this saying and covenant have to do with adoption? Everything.

Covenant is not something our culture is familiar with. We are more comfortable with the concept of a contract. Contracts can be broken. Covenant is forever. What is a covenant anyway? The use of covenants have been around since the beginning. It was usually used as a way to protect a people group. A smaller or weaker group (vassals) would seek out a stronger more powerful group (suzerains) and come into covenant with them. This new relationship would typically offer protection for the weaker and provision for the stronger. (this is just one example.) There was a specific type of ceremony held to finalize this covenant. One of the things they would do is cut in half an ox or a cow. The leader of the vassals would walk in and out and around the dead animal saying their vows to the suzerains. Part of the vow would be along the lines of "let it be done to us as it has been done to this animal should we ever break our covenant with you." Basically, they were saying cut us in half should we stray from our vows of covenant. It was serious business.

Interestingly enough, there is a beautiful example of this in the Bible between Abraham and God. (You can find it in Genesis 15) God is making a covenant with Abram that he will be the father of many people. God is promising all these wonderful things to Abram, but He knew there was no way for Abram to uphold his end of the covenant. So it was God who walked between the animals that were cut in half. God made Himself lowly to be in covenant with Abraham.

Blood is shed for a covenant to be made. Because of the blood shed, this new relationship holds more power than anything before or after. Water, in this saying, is a symbol for the waters of birth. When a baby is born, water flows.

Covenant says that "blood is stronger than water." Are you getting it yet?

When I adopted my children, I was entering into a legal covenant. These children now have all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of a biological child. When I stood before the judge, I was asked a series of questions ensuring that I understood the gravity of what I was entering into. No blood was shed, but a covenant was made non the less.

See part of the reason there are those who are against adoption is because of what it represents. It is a spiritual battle over something that is holy. When we adopt, we are showing the world that we have entered into a covenant with these children. The blood of the covenant is stronger than the waters of birth!! They may have been birthed by another person, but they are now under a covenant relationship with me.

This is something so powerful and beautiful. I'm not sure I am doing it justice. Feel free to do research on covenant. It is amazing!! Every time I hear a sermon on covenant, I learn something new. God sent Jesus to be the sacrifice for us, to allow us to enter into a covenant relationship with Him. I am a daughter of the King! I am an heir! I am adopted into His family!

The blood of the covenant is stronger than the waters of birth!