What is a covenant and how is it different from a promise?  And why is the concept of a “covenant” something worth teaching our children?  According to  Crosswalk.com, “Covenants can be loosely compared to promises, but often with more weight behind them. There are consequences for failing to uphold them, and outlined responsibilities between the parties. Covenants are sacred, and often take place between God and mankind, or between individuals in the sight of God.”  A promise, on the other hand, is a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specific, Merriam-Webster.com.  A promise may or may not be sacred. Examples of modern-day covenants are marriage, baptism, oaths of loyalty, and the ordination of clergy.  

We want our children to feel loved and cared for.  We want them to know that we will always be there for them and will do whatever it takes to ensure their safety and health.  Our love for our children mirrors the love that Christ has for us, although not quite as perfect.  One way to ensure that our children know they are loved is to teach them about God’s love and His covenants.

Our littles will hear the phrase “I promise” in many settings and for many reasons.  We use it to ensure we will do something, and kids use it too!  Sometimes we can fall short of our promises as well.   As we Book Time with Our Kids, we can read stories about God’s faithfulness, and we can assure them that God keeps His promises, His covenants.  In this chaotic world of uncertainty, knowing that God loves them can bring great comfort to children.    

There are several examples of covenants in the Bible.  One story we can use to teach this is the story of Noah’s Ark.  After the flood that covers the earth, the Lord tells Noah (Genesis 9:8):  ⁸ Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: ⁹ “And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your ^[a]descendants after you, ¹⁰ and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. ¹¹ Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” ¹² And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: ¹³ I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 

Beautiful rainbows that we see in the sky are a symbol of one of God’s covenants, to never send flood water to cover the earth again.   Yes, there is a scientific reason for rainbows as well- and this also points to the science and design of creation itself.

In The Promises of God Storybook Bible: The Story of God’s Unstoppable Love by Jennifer Lyell (Author), Thanos Tsilis (Illustrator), children will read about how God has demonstrated His love for us, from the first promise in the garden to the promise of the new heavens and earth.  This is a conversational and biblical retelling of more than fifty key Bible stories, assuring children of God’s unstoppable love and unbreakable promises.

Covenant is a big word with a lot of meaning.  But it’s also a sweet assurance that we can share with our littles as they start to learn and understand deeper things.  We can use books to generate conversation, we can use books to grow comprehension and create laughter, and we can use books to assure our children of the fact that they are loved, a promise from God Himself.

Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 

Thanks for reading! Please share and subscribe for a weekly idea of how we can use books to help our kids!