God is Faithful
But as surely as God is faithful . . .
no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:18,20
It is hard to relate to people you can’t trust or count on when needed, but you can count on God because He is eternally consistent and faithful. The psalmist says, “I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself” (Psalm 89:2). The fact that God made the world and all that is in it, and that He demonstrates His faithfulness by providing for His creatures, is abundantly illustrated in the “nature psalms,” such as Psalm 104. His faithful provision for His Chosen People is best seen in His plan for redemption as evidenced in His promises and covenants.
The Old Testament is a record of God’s faithfulness in redeeming His people, from the call of Abraham to the establishment of the Israelites in the Promised Land. The Exodus from Egypt demonstrated God’s faithfulness (see Exodus 15:1-17), and it caused those who had been delivered to believe in Yahweh and His servant Moses (see 14:31). For generations, even up to our own day, the Jewish people have commemorated the deliverance from Egypt and the Passover in remembrance of God’s faithfulness.
From the time God made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, His unlikely promises were slowly but progressively fulfilled even when they seemed to be humanly impossible and in spite of overwhelming odds. The Messianic line began with Sarah, who gave birth to Isaac when she no longer humanly could, and then God provided a scapegoat to take the place of Isaac when he was ordered to be sacrificed, preserving Abraham and Sarah’s posterity. God promised that the seed of the woman would continue through the house of David and that the Messiah would sit on the throne of David. “Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—and I will not lie to David—that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky” (Psalm 89:35-37).
The first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel paint a vivid picture of people who were waiting expectantly for God to fulfill His promises made under the Old Covenant (see Luke 2:25-38). Simon saw the fulfillment in the birth of Jesus and rejoiced in God’s faithfulness: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people” (Luke 2:29-31).
From the days of Abraham, many people probably thought that God was unfaithful, and so they lost their faith in Him when His Word was not fulfilled in their lifetime. “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness” (2 Peter 3:8-9). There was a faithful remnant, however, who chose to believe in God in spite of incredible hardships and persecution (see Hebrews 11). “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39-40).
Questions to Ponder:
How much is our confidence in God based on His keeping His word, covenants, and promises?
What evidence do we find in the Old Testament of God’s faithfulness to His Chosen People? Are Christians His Chosen People (see 1 Peter 2:9-10)?
Why don’t some people trust God if He is faithful? How might that relate to God’s timing?
Have you ever lost your trust in God because you thought or heard that He is unfaithful or broken a promise? Explain.
How important is it to your faith to know that some covenants and promises are conditional (“if you will, then I will,” which is dependent on you), as opposed to those that are unconditional (“I will,” which is dependent on God)?
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.