The “Other” Promises
August 13, 2007
Dear Friends,
Typically, when we talk about promises in the Scriptures, we focus on the promises made the Abraham, Isaac, Israel and David; and rightly so. These promises frame the story of the Bible, of Christ and the hope of all mankind. However, there are many other promises in the Bible which do not receive as much attention. We would like to take some time to focus on these promises.
In Deuteronomy 31:6 just before the children of Israel enter into the land, Yahweh tells them through Moses, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (NIV) We might dismiss this wonderful promise as only applicable to those to whom Moses spoke, but God again repeats this promise to us through the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.‘” The writer continues: “So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’
Every one of us feels alone at some point in our life. We may feel forsaken by friends or family. We may feel betrayed by our brothers and sisters. We may be troubled by our jobs, our finances, our health, the loss of a loved one, or any of a million other problems. Yet, in the best of times as well as the worst of times, we have the comfort of this simple promise – “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” God is always there. He is always watching. He is always listening.
What greater comfort is there on this earth than there is to know that the Creator of heaven and earth is always with us. He will not abandon us. Perhaps Jesus was comforted by these very words when all of his friends fled in the Garden of Gethsemane leaving him alone with his tormentors.
When considering this promise, we can’t help but having our minds drawn to Psalm 23: “yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”(v. 4) Even in the valley of the shadow of death, God is with us.
God’s omnipresence (or His ability to be everywhere at the same time) is a doctrine that we can easily profess without thinking about its most personal ramifications. For those who love God, He is there as a protector and a comforter. Yet, this presence is not benign for anyone. For those workers of iniquity, the promise is there of God’s presence too. “For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.” (Job 34:21:22)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble..Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. (Ps. 46:1,10-11)
Have a great week,
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