What other biblical instances involve symbolic acts to confirm agreements? Setting the Scene Ruth 4:7 explains that in ancient Israel a man could “remove his sandal and give it to the other; and this was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel”. The sandal served as a visible, tactile guarantee that the agreement would stand. Why Symbols Matter • God created us with senses; He often ties covenant promises to sights, sounds, or actions we can feel. • A physical token keeps the promise vivid for generations (Exodus 12:24–27). • The act itself carries a built-in reminder: every time the object is seen or the story retold, the covenant is rehearsed. Other Symbolic Acts That Confirmed Agreements • Rainbow after the Flood – Genesis 9:12-13 “I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.” God Himself attaches a perpetual sign to His promise never again to destroy all flesh by water. • Pieces of sacrificed animals – Genesis 15:17-18 A “smoking firepot with a blazing torch” passes between the divided carcasses. The meaning: may the same happen to the one who breaks the covenant. • Circumcision – Genesis 17:11 “This will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.” Every Hebrew male bore on his own body the mark that God had chosen them. • Hand under the thigh – Genesis 24:2-3; 47:29-30 Abraham and later Jacob require an oath with a hand placed under the patriarch’s thigh, pledging absolute fidelity. • Stone pillar and heap – Genesis 31:44-48 Jacob sets up a pillar; Laban names the heap “Galeed.” The pile of rocks silently witnesses the non-aggression pact. • Blood on altar and people – Exodus 24:6-8 Moses “took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant.’” The ceremony locks Israel into obedience to the written Law. • Covenant of salt – Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5 Salt’s permanence illustrates the irrevocable nature of God’s promise to the priesthood and to David’s throne. • Jordan River stones – Joshua 4:6-7 Twelve stones from the riverbed stand on the bank so future children will ask, “What do these stones mean?”—a lasting testimony to God’s covenant faithfulness. • Witness stone at Shechem – Joshua 24:26-27 Joshua erects “a large stone” and says, “It shall be a witness against us,” securing Israel’s vow to serve the LORD alone. • Levirate sandal ceremony – Deuteronomy 25:9-10 If a kinsman refuses to redeem, the widow removes his sandal before the elders. The very act stakes the legal judgment in public memory. • Jonathan’s robe and weapons – 1 Samuel 18:3-4 Jonathan “made a covenant with David” and hands over his royal gear, pledging protection and succession. • Deed sealed in clay jars – Jeremiah 32:9-14 Jeremiah buys a field, signs and seals the deed, then stores it “in a clay jar so they will last a long time,” certifying future restoration. • Two sticks joined – Ezekiel 37:15-22 The prophet writes on two sticks, then unites them as “one in My hand,” picturing God’s oath to reunite Judah and Israel. • The Lord’s Supper – Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:25 Jesus breaks bread, lifts the cup, and declares, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.” The ordinance becomes the enduring sign of the New Covenant. Key Takeaways for Today • God backs His words with tangible signs, underscoring that every promise in Scripture is utterly reliable. • Symbols are never empty ritual; they tether faith to concrete history (Hebrews 6:17-18). • Just as ancient Israel trusted a sandal, a rainbow, or a heap of stones, believers today anchor hope in the once-for-all sign of Christ’s shed blood and empty tomb. |
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