The old covenant is based on our natural nature without new birth and it's performance. We are trying by ourselves to meet the behavioral requirements of God. God knows that this will never work. It seems though, that in the days of Moses, He gave us a chance to prove Him wrong!
I have heard the old covenant of law described as "the preference of procedure over relationship".
The old covenant requires our adherence to masses of procedures and rules. Relationship with an all consuming, jealous God can seem threatening. The old covenant is about mankind adhering to rules and procedure. This can seem safer, less threatening, less all consuming. The new covenant is about promises from God and relationship with God. The old covenant is about our performance, the new is about God's initiatives to us, regardless of our performance at the time.
Which 'P&R' do you want? Promise and Relationship; or procedures and rules?
In the books commonly called 'the Old Testament', there are relationships between individuals and God. Not every book in the Old Testament emphasizes the Old Covenant. Indeed the Old Covenant did not kick in until several hundred years in to Old Testament history.
Both before and after the Law was given, there are people who experienced God first hand, i.e. relationally.
Old Covenant encounters emphasizing Promise and Relationship, and not procedure and rules
The broad sweep of biblical history involves the Creation and Fall as set out in Genesis chapters 1-3. Subsequently we see God make initiatives and promises to men. Men such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses. Chapter 11 of the New Testament book of Hebrews records many heroes of the faith, including these men. They are mentioned because of their faith and not because of their rigorous attempts to uphold legalistic righteousness. Rahab the prostitute is in the list and so is Samson the womanizer. Does that excuse prostitution or depravity? No. But it did allow God to overlook them at the time and still work with these individuals!
God talks with Abraham and enters into a covenant with him. God promises to bless the whole earth through Abraham and calls him an exalted father. Abraham is asked to believe this even before he has a child. He and his wife are very old.
Reading Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians, in particular Chapter 3, we can see that there is a strong link in Paul’s thinking between the way God related to Abraham and the way He relates to us through the Gospel. The link is that both are based on a promise, and not good works. What exactly is the New Covenant promise? In a word, redemption. Redemption of everything the Devil has stolen and corrupted. Firstly, our relationship with our heavenly Father in all it's wonder and splendor. It is a complete package. Redemption, sanctification, provision, intimacy, security, righteousness, joy, peace, goodness etc. Also, in this age, persecution and suffering for righteousness' sake.
Let’s go back to Genesis 15v6.
And (Abraham) believed the LORD; and (the LORD) counted it to him for righteousness. (Gen 15:6)
(Remember this verse is quoted by Paul twice and also by James to help them develop their doctrines in the New Testament. It must be significant!).
God is after people who take His relational initiatives seriously. For those who do, righteousness will pretty much sort itself out as time goes on. Hebrews 11 records people who had a living, current relationship with God. Yes it was imperfect, but it was definitely there. The New Covenant revolves around this one thing; a living fellowship, first with God, second with each other as believers (see 1 John 1v1-4).
To people who hear from God and obey Him in this way, even imperfectly and intermittently, God always seems to show ongoing forbearance and commitment. He treats them as a patient and loving father would treat his children. We can see this in lives of men like Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and David. All these men lived and died before Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
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