What a Great Promise

Do you believe the promises that God has made? Which of them apply to you?

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Genesis 28:15 (NIV)

Reflection

Okay… you and I are not Jacob. That much is clear. But this verse, spoken by God to Jacob in a dream, is recorded by Moses in the book of Genesis. And what a powerful promise it is.

Let us not forget Jacob was the man who tricked his brother Esau out of his inheritance. Does not exactly sound like a model citizen, does it? Kind of makes you wonder why God would show up in his dream with such a bold and comforting promise.

That is one thing I love about the Old Testament. Especially Genesis. It is dramatic. We are talking about creation, global floods, a man nearly sacrificing his own son, and so much more. And through it all, God is revealing Himself. Sometimes it is a warning. Other times it is a must do or a must not do. And sometimes, like in this case, it is a promise.

The Bible is filled with God’s promises. And what stands out is this… God gives us so much and asks for very little in return.

Especially now. We live on this side of the resurrection. We are not out here slaughtering animals to atone for sin. We simply bring it to Jesus. We ask for forgiveness. We repent. And He meets us right there.

That is a promise in itself.

But let us be real. Did God promise that your life would be easy? That you would never lose your job? That your health would stay perfect or every relationship would go smoothly?

No.

What He did promise was that He would be with you through it. That He would guide you. That He would comfort, correct, and carry you when needed. That salvation is found in Jesus. That our sins can be forgiven. That we are to love God above all else. And when we mess up, because we will, He invites us back if we will just turn and repent.

Simple. Not always easy. But beautiful in its simplicity.

And if you keep reading Genesis, you will see God kept His promise to Jacob. He always does. He never breaks His word.

So here is the question… What promise has God made to you? How is that shaping your life today?

Are you living like it is true? Or are you letting it collect dust on the shelf of your faith?

Only you know.

Well… God knows too.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for the storytellers who recorded your Word. Thank you for revealing your heart through them and showing us how trustworthy you are. Help us to understand your promises, live in alignment with your will, and make the changes we need to make. Keep us, our families, and our friends safe. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.