Editing Salvation History (section)

= Covenants: cycle of Blessings, Curses & Redemption =


God's blessings are conveyed through creation and the "Covenants," which establish his relationship to his people and his promises for them.

The blessings are conferred by God upon those keep their Covenants (promises) with God, and thereby receive the blessings promised by the Covenants. Note that "blessings" are inter-generational, and are conferred from one generation upon another through God's chosen agent, such as when Israel blesses Jacob and thereby selects Jacob to be the beneficiary and agent of the Covenants that were passed on to Isaac by his father, Abraham, who blessed (chose) him. 

God never breaks his covenants (promises); people do. When they break their promises, God "curses" them, but always within the context of "redemption," as in "to come back", as if the curse were a punishment designed to guide the people back to God's ways.  Thus the curses are always "redemptive" and are designed to bring the people back to God's ways.

<u>Note</u>: "Covenant" is the same as "Testament," thus the "Old Testament" is at its heart God's Covenants for his people, and "New Testament" is about the "new Covenant" brought by Christ.

The below charts demonstrate the connections and cycles across Salvation History. If the charts do not show, please refresh your browser.

== Edenic Covenant ==

===Garden of Eden: Edenic Covenant ===

{{#mermaid:graph TB


subgraph " "
1a[EDENIC COVENANT]--BLESSING-->1b[GARDEN OF EDEN]
1b--"SIN<BR>SNAKE<br>(Satan)"--->1c[THE FALL]
end


subgraph " "
1c--BLESSING-->EC2[EDENIC COVENANT CONTINUES]--GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION-->R[REDEMPTION IN CHRIST]
end

subgraph " "
1c--CURSE-->W[WORK LAND/BIRTH PAIN]
1c--CURSE-->D[DEATH]
end

subgraph " "
0[CREATION]-->1a
end


}}

===The Fall: Adamic Covenant ===

{{#mermaid:flowchart TB

subgraph " "
direction LR
1f[MARRIAGE & CHILDREN]--BLESSING -->1fa[CAIN & ABEL born]
end

subgraph " "
direction LR
1f--REDEMPTION-->1h[BIRTH OF SETH]--BLESSING-->1j["SONS OF GOD (The Faithful)"]
end

subgraph " "
direction LR
1fa--SIN-->1g[CAIN MURDERS ABEL]--CURSE-->1i["SONS OF MAN (Sinners)"]
end

1g--REDEMPTION-->1h

subgraph " "
1e[ADAMIC COVENANT]--BLESSING-->1f[MARRIAGE & CHILDREN]
end
}}

=== Descendants of Cain & Seth ===
<br>
{{#mermaid:graph TB
subgraph " " 
2a[CAIN'S DESCENDANTS]--CURSED-->2b["SONS OF MAN":<br>GLORIFY THEMSELVES]--SIN MULTIPLIES-->2c[LAMECK:<br>SIN OF PRIDE]
end
subgraph " " 
2d[SETH'S DESCENDANTS]--BLESSED-->2e["SONS OF GOD":<br>GLORIFY GOD]--SIN CREEPS IN -->2f[MARRY DAUGHTERS OF MAN]
end
subgraph " " 
2c--CURSE-->3a[GOD'S WRATH]
2f--CURSE-->3a
end
}}
<br>
<br>

== NOAHIC COVENANT ==

=== SIN MULTIPLIES & GOD'S WRATH (anger) ===

=== The Flood ===
{{#mermaid:graph LR
subgraph " "
N[NOAH & family]-->SV[SALVATION ON THE ARK]
end
SE---BLESSSINGS-->N[NOAH & family]
subgraph " "
C[CAIN'S DESCENDANTS]-->S
end
subgraph " "
SE[SETH'S DESCENDANTS]-->S
S[SIN MULTIPLIES]
end
subgraph " "
S-->3[GOD'S WRATH]--CURSE-->3a[THE FLOOD]
end
}}

=== Noahic Covenant ===
<blockquote>Noah was a righteous man and blameless in his generation (see [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/6?9| Gn 6:9])</blockquote>{{#mermaid:graph TD
subgraph " "
3[ADAMIC COVENANT]
end
subgraph " "
3--NOAH ALONE RIGHTEOUS-->3a[BUILDS THE ARK]--SALVATION-->NC[NOAHIC COVENANT]
NC-->3c[NO MORE FLOODS]
NC--BLESSING-->3d[NOAH'S DESCENDANTS TO MULTIPLY]
3d--SHEM RECEIVES THE BLESSING-->SS[SHEM'S DESCENDANTS SPREAD]
3d--NOAH GETS DRUNK<BR>A TYPE OF SIN OF ADAM-->H[LINE OF HAM RECIEVES THE CURSE]
end
subgraph " "
3--SIN-->3b[GOD'S WRATH]-->FL[FLOOD]
end

}}

=== Noah's Descendants===
"Shem" means "name." The descendants of Ham are jealous and try to make a "shem for themselves in defiance of God's chosen line of Shem.<br>

{{#mermaid:graph TB
subgraph SHEM
3h[SHEM]--BLESSING-->3i[DESCENDANTS OF SHEM]--SIN MULTIPLES-->3j[JOB TESTED]--REDEMPTION-->3k[GOD CHOOSES ABRAM<br> FROM LINE OF SHEM]
end

subgraph HAM
3d[HAM]--PRIDE-->3e[PRIDE OF HAM]--SIN MULTIPLES-->3f[NIMROD & TOWER OF BABEL]--CURSE-->3g[SCATTERING/LANGUAGES]
end

}}

== Abrahamic Covenant ==

[[File:Abraham's Journey (en).svg|thumb|Abraham's Journey to Canaan according to the Book of Genesis.|right|474x474px]]
=== COVENANT: PROMISED LAND ===
God makes three Covenants with Abraham:
'''# Gen 15: To make of his descendants a great nation (promised land), which is fulfilled by Moses 
# Gen 17: To make of his descendants a great kingdom (a son), which is fulfilled by David
# Gen 22: that his descendants will be as plentiful as the sand and the stars and blessed by God, which is fulfilled in Jesus'''

Abraham is chosen by God to make God's "chosen people," the Israelites, through whom God wants to redeem the rest of mankind. The Israelites are not chosen because they are special, they are special because they are chosen by God.

God knows, however, that the stain of original sin is yet upon his creation in man (from the Fall of Adam and Eve), to he confers his blessings as a reward for belief (faith). As such, God tests Abraham, who obeys God and thus earns God's promises for him and his descendants.  

In Romans Ch. 4, St. Paul says,
 What then can we say that Abraham found, our ancestor according to the flesh? Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works, he has reason to boast; but this was not so in the sight of God. For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/4:1 Rom 4:1-3])
The full Abrahamic Covenant is fulfilled by Christ. As Paul explains to the Galatians,
 Thus Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Realize then that it is those who have faith who are children of Abraham. Scripture, which saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, foretold the good news to Abraham, saying, “Through you shall all the nations be blessed.” Consequently, those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham who had faith. ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/3?6 Gal 3:6])
 
 (quotations Paul uses are from [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/15?6 Gn 15:6] and [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/15?6 Gn 22:18])


==== Abram: from Ur to Haran to Canaan====
{{#mermaid:graph TD
H-->4b
subgraph " " 
A[ADAMIC & NOAHIC COVENANTS]--SHEM SETTLES IN UR-->T[ABRAM'S FATHER TERAH<BR>LEAVES UR]--TAKES FAMILY TO HARAN-->H[ABRAM, SARAI, NAHOR, LOT LIVE IN HARAN]
end
subgraph " " 
A--->4[ABRAMA TRUSTS IN GOD]--LEAVES HARAN-->4b[ABRAM SEEKS THE PROMISED LAND]
end

}}

==== FAITH TESTED ====
{{#mermaid:graph TD
subgraph " " 
AC1[ABRAHAMIC COVENANT:<BR>PROMISED LAND]--BLESSING-->4b[PROMISED LAND]--FAITH TESTED-->4c[FAMINE<BR>ABRAM SENT TO EYGYPT]
end
}}

=== COVENANT: A GREAT NATION ===
 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/15?18 Gen 15:18–21])
{{#mermaid:graph TB
subgraph " " 
E[ABRAM LEAVES EGYPT]--GOD'S PROMISE-->PL[RETURN TO PROMISED LAND]
end
subgraph " " 
PL--CONFLICT-WAR--ABRAM DEFEATS INVADERS-->MZ[MELCHIZEDEK: KING & HIGH PRIEST]--BLESSES ABRAM-->1[COVENANT:GOD PROMISES ABRAM A SON]
end
}}
==== Faith Tested ====
{{#mermaid:graph TB
subgraph " " 
AC[GOD'S PROMISE]
end
subgraph " " 
AC1--CURSE-->CT[CIRCUMCISION]-->CH[MARK OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE]--BLESSING-->ISA2[ISAAC RENAMED ISREAL]--BLESSES HIS SON JACOB-->J[JACOB]--HAS TWELVE SONS-->ISR[12 TRIBES OF ISREAL]
end
subgraph " " 
C-->ISH[HAGAR'S CHILD: ISMHAEL]--CURSE-->HG1[SEPARATION IN DESCENDANTS/CONFLIC]
end

subgraph " " 
AC--BLESSING-->ISA[SARAI HAS CHILD ISAAC]--NEW COVENANT-->AC1[GOD CHANGES HIS NAME TO ABRAHAM]
end
subgraph " " 
AC--FAITH TESTED-->1B[ABRAM & SARIA DESPAIR OF HAVING CHILD<BR>SARAI TELLS HIM TO TAKE HAGAR<BR>A SIN OF THE TYPE OF EVE - TEMPTATION]--ABRAM DISOBEYS GOD-->HG[IMPREGNATES HAGAR<BR>SLAVE GIRL]-->C[CURSE]
end

}}

=== COVENANT: A KINGDOM (SON) ===
 Abram fell face down and God said to him:
 
 For my part, here is my covenant with you: you are to become the father of a multitude of nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham,* for I am making you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fertile; I will make nations of you; kings will stem from you.
 
 I will maintain my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting covenant, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are now residing as aliens, the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession; and I will be their God. 
 
 God said to Abraham: For your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages. This is the covenant between me and you and your descendants after you that you must keep: every male among you shall be circumcised. Circumcise the flesh of your foreskin. That will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.
 ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/17:3 Gen 17:3-11])
{{#mermaid:graph TD

subgraph " "
F[FATHER]-->A[ABRAHAM]
S[SON]-->I[ISAAC]
end

subgraph " "
A[ABRAHAM]--FAITH TESTED-->SAC[WILLING TO SACRIFICE/<BR>WILLING TO BE SACRIFICED] 
end

subgraph " "
I--FAITH TESTED-->SAC
end

subgraph " "
SAC-->FA[FAITH]--BLESSING-->AC[ABRAHAMIC COVENANT]
end

}}

=== COVENANT: BLESSING UPON ALL NATIONS (descendants) ===
 A second time the angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven and said: “I swear by my very self—oracle of the LORD—that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your son, your only one, I will bless you and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants will take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth will find blessing, because you obeyed my command.” ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/22:15 Gen 22:15-18])



{{#mermaid:graph LR
subgraph " " 
AC[ABRAHAMIC COVENANT]--REDEMPTION-->5b[NATIONS OF ISREAL]--BLESSING-->5c[BABEL]--CURSE-->5d[EXILE AND SLAVERY IN EGYPT]
end
}}

== Mosaic Covenant ==
<br>
{{#mermaid:graph TB

8[GOD CHOOSES MOSES]-->9[ESCAPE]-->10[TEN COMMANDMENTS]

TC[TEN COMAMANDMENTS]--BLESSING-->11[REBELLION]--CURSE-->12[LEVITE PRIESTS]--BLESSING & CURSE<BR>REDEMPTION-->13[CEREMONIAL LAW]

}}

== New Covenant v. Mosaic Covenant == 

From Galatians 4:25:
 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the freeborn woman. The son of the slave woman was born naturally, the son of the freeborn through a promise.
 
 Now this is an allegory. These women represent two covenants. One was from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar. Hagar represents Sinai,* a mountain in Arabia; it corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery along with her children.


{{#mermaid:graph LR
1[MOSAIC COVENENT]-->2[ON MT. SINAI in Arabia: Gentiles]-->3[FOR THE NATION OF ISREAL: Hebrews];
4[NEW COVENANT]-->5[ON MT. MORIAH in Jerusalem: Jews]-->6[FOR THE ALL NATIONS: Gentiles]
subgraph one
5-->3
end
subgraph two
2-->6
end
}}


== End of Patriarchs (Judges) ==
Samuel, the last Judge, annoints Saul king (Messiah)<br>
{{#mermaid:graph TB
  subgraph " "
JG[JUDGES<BR>RULE OF THE PATRIARCHS BY CEREMONIAL LAW]
  end
  subgraph " "
JG-->IS[PEOPLE REBEL<BR>DEMAND A KING]--CURSE-->K[GOD GIVES THEM A KING]--SAMUEL CHOOSES KING/MESSIAH-->SA[SAUL]--CURSE/BLESSING<BR>REDEMPTION-->NL[NEW RULES FOR KINGS]
  end
}}

== Saul ==
But Saul, out of hubris (selfishness and pride) disobeys God<br>
{{#mermaid:graph TB

  subgraph " "
SA[SAUL]--SIN<BR>DISOBEYS GOD-->LK[LOSES KINGSHIP]--GOD CHOOSES DAVID-->D[DAVID]--BLESSING-->DK[DAVIDIC COVENANT]
  end


}}

== Davidic Covenant ==

=== Overview ===
{{#mermaid:graph TB
DC[DAVIDIC COVENANT]--BLESSINGS-->16[UNITED KINGDOM]--DAVID'S SIN-->SO[SOLOMON CURSED]--CURSE-->18[KINGDOM WILL BREAK UP]

DK[SIN<BR>& DIVIDED KINGDOM]--CURSE-->19[EXILE]--BLESSING-->20[PROPHETS]--PREDICT MESSIAH-->21[JOHN THE BAPTIST]
}}

=== Davidic Covenant Curse === 
{{#mermaid:graph TB

  subgraph " "
BK--GOD WARNS AGAINST OFFENSE-->P[PROPHETS]
  end

  subgraph " "
P--WARNING-->I[ISREAL IGNORES PHROPHETS]--CURSE-->IN[INVASION & EXILE]
  end

  subgraph " "
DK-->D--SINS-->SO[SOLOMON]--SINS-->KB[KINGDM BREAKS UP]--CURSE<BR>DIVIDED RULE, TAXES, DIVISION-->BK[BAD KINGS]--CURSE-->IN
  end
}}


== to do==

==OLD MERMAID CODE (PRE-MAR 10)==
{{#mermaid:graph LR

0[CREATION]--BLESSING-->1[EDENIC COVENANT]--CURSE-->2[FLOOD]--BLESSING-->3[NOAHIC COVENANT]--BLESSING-->4[ABRAHAMIC COVENANT]
  subgraph one
4a[ABRAHAMIC COVENANT]-->5[NATIONS]-->6[BABEL]-->7[SLAVERY IN EGYPT]-->8[GOD CHOOSES MOSES]-->9[ESCAPE]-->10[TEN COMMANDMENTS]
  end
  subgraph two
TC[TEN COMAMANDMENTS]--BLESSING-->11[REBELLION]--CURSE-->12[LEVITE PRIESTS]--BLESSING-->13[CEREMONIAL LAW]--CURSE-->14[KINGS & SAUL]--BLESSING-->15[DAVIDIC COVENANT]
  end
   subgraph three
DC[DAVIDIC COVENANT]--BLESSINGS-->16[UNITED KINGDOM]-->17[SAUL]--CURSE-->15[NATIONS BREAK UP]
   end
   subgraph four
PROPHETS--CURSE-->18[EXILE]--BLESSING-->19[PROPHETS]
    end
}}


------------------------- <BR><BR>
{{#mermaid:flowchart TD

0[CREATION]--BLESSING-->1[EDENIC COVENANT]--CURSE-->2[FLOOD]--BLESSING-->3[NOAHIC COVENANT]--BLESSING-->4[ABRAHAMIC COVENANT]

4a[ABRAHAMIC COVENANT]-->5[NATIONS]-->6[BABEL]-->7[SLAVERY IN EGYPT]-->8[GOD CHOOSES MOSES]-->9[ESCAPE]-->10[TEN COMMANDMENTS]

TC[TEN COMAMANDMENTS]--BLESSING-->11[REBELLION]--CURSE-->12[LEVITE PRIESTS]--BLESSING-->13[CEREMONIAL LAW]--CURSE-->14[KINGS & SAUL]--BLESSING-->15[DAVIDIC COVENANT]
 
DC[DAVIDIC COVENANT]--BLESSINGS-->16[UNITED KINGDOM]-->17[SAUL]--CURSE-->15[NATIONS BREAK UP]
 
PROPHETS--CURSE-->18[EXILE]--BLESSING-->19[PROPHETS]
}}


{{#mermaid:flowchart LR
NATIONS-->[BABEL]--CURSE-->5[SLAVERY IN EGYPT]--BLESSING-->6[MOSAIC COVENANT]--TEN COMMANDMENTS-->7[DAVIDIC COVENANT]
}}

{{mermaid:flowchart TD;

0[CREATION]--BLESSION:GARDEN OF EDEN-->A[EDENIC COVENANT]--BLESSING: Marriage-->Aa[ADAM & EVE];
Ac[SIN]--CURSE: THE FALL-->Ad[EXPULSION];

Aa--CHILDREN-->ABEL;
Aa--CHILDREN-->CAIN;
Aa--CHILDREN-->SETH;

CAIN--MURDERS-->ABEL
CAIN-->ENOCH-->LAMECK-->Af[SONS OF MAN]-->
SETH-->ENOSH-->Ag[SONS OF GOD]

 B[NOAHIC COVENANT]--BLESSING: no more floods!-->Bb[RAINBOW]
 Bc[HAM]-->S[SIN]-->Z
 C[ABRAHAMIC COVENANT 1]--BLESSING: Promised Land-->Ca[ABRAHAMIC COVENANT 2];
 Cb[ABRAHAMIC COVENANT 2]-->Cc[ABRAHAMIC COVENANT 3];
 C-->Cd[TRIBES];


}}


{{#mermaid:flowchart TD
CREATION

subgraph EDENIC COVENANT

 A[EDENIC COVENANT]--BLESSING: Marriage-->Aa[ADAM & EVE];
 Ac[FALL]--SIN-->Z[CURSE]
 Ad[CAIN]-->Z[SONS OF MAN];
 Aa--BLESSING: Seth-->Ae[SONS OF GOD];


NOAH
 B[NOAHIC COVENANT]--BLESSING: no more floods!-->Bb[RAINBOW]
 Bc[HAM]-->S[SIN]-->Z
 C[ABRAHAMIC COVENANT 1]--BLESSING: Promised Land-->Ca[ABRAHAMIC COVENANT 2];
 Cb[ABRAHAMIC COVENANT 2]-->Cc[ABRAHAMIC COVENANT 3];
 C-->Cd[TRIBES];

 Aa--CURSE-->Ac[THE FALL];

[[Category:Bible]]
[[Category:Catechism of the Catholic Church]]