odam

"El Odam" : God a witness to the covenant of peace

Abraham entered into a covenant of peace with Abimelech and called that place “Beersheba” because the two of them swore an oath there Genesis 21:31 After making the covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech returned to the land of the Philistines along with his commander of the army. Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God i.e. “El Odam” in Hebrew. God was a witness to the covenant of peace Abraham made with Abimelech.

Under the New Covenant, the Everlasting God made a covenant with us through the Blood of the Cross of His Son. Abraham and his people lived in peace in the very land of Philistines who were enemies to them. Similarly, we dwell in the midst of people like the Philistines who war against the people of God. Let us not fear them because the Everlasting God Who made the covenant with us through His Son would protect us from the inhabitants likened to the Philistines.

Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba as a token of the covenant. For us, the Everlasting God made the Cross out of a tree at Calvary as a token of the Covenant. The tamarisk tree planted by Abraham does not exist today. Similarly, the wooden Cross, on which our Lord was crucified, may not exist today. But, His Cross does exist in the life of every disciple of Christ.

Paul said, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed – ALWAYS CARRYING ABOUT IN THE BODY THE DYING OF THE LORD JESUS, THAT THE LIFE OF JESUS ALSO MAY BE MANIFESTED IN OUR BODY, for we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us but life in you” (2 Cor.4: 7-12).

If we carry about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal body. So death is working in us but life in those to whom we minister. Dear Minister, if you want to be used of God mightily, you have to carry about in your body the death of your Lord so that His life may be manifested in your mortal flesh. This is the secret of success for your ministry. It is not the mere operation of the gifts of the Spirit but the death of Christ, which you carry about in your body that will release a mighty manifestation of His Spirit power through your ministry.

Your life in Christ radiates the glory of His Cross. The Everlasting God Who made the Cross of His Son as a token of His Covenant with us is attracted towards the glory of His Cross, whereas the devil is frightened of the glory of His Cross. Jesus chose the glory of the Cross so that His eternal life is manifested in His body, the Church.

- job Anbalagan