Lord’s Day, Vol. 10 No. 50
The Faithfulness of God
God created and formed the nation of Israel to be His witness to the nations of the world. For Israel to become a nation, they had to have a people, whom God multiplied in the land of Goshen in Egypt, and when He led them out of Egypt by a mighty hand, He gave them the law at Mount Sinai, the constitution for the nation. And finally, they had to cross the Jordan River and enter Canaan, defeat the giants in the land and lay hold of it as their inheritance from God.
Moses exhorted the new generation that arose in the wilderness that will enter the Promised Land with these words in Deuteronomy 7:9 (KJV) Know (yada) therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
“To know” God is to have an intimate experiential knowledge of Him. This word “to know” means “firstly, to know by observing and reflecting (thinking), and secondly, to know by experiencing, thirdly, this verb represents that kind of knowing which one learns (acknowledges) and can give back. [Vine]
In Genesis 15 we find that the LORD declared unto Abraham, “Thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them…But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again” (Gen 15:13-16).
Centuries ran their weary course. Abraham’s descendants groaned amid the brickkilns of Egypt. Had God forgotten His promise? No, indeed! Read Exodus 12:41: “And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the self-same day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.”
Moses sought to reinforce the truth that the God who led them out of Egypt is a faithful God, He is able to bring them to the Promised Land as He had promised. God is true, His Word of promise is sure. In all His relations with His people, God is faithful. He may be safely relied upon. No one yet really trusted Him in vain.
We find this precious truth expressed everywhere in the Scriptures, for His people need to know that faithfulness is an essential part of God’s divine character. But it is one thing to accept the faithfulness of God as a divine truth; it is quite another to act upon it.
Recall the entire generation that came out of Egypt in the Exodus did not enter the Promised Land because of their unbelief except Joshua and Caleb. They did not act upon the promise of God to help them possess the land.
To do so, we must be persuaded like the Apostle Paul did, convicted, convinced, confirmed in the heart, that brings one to act upon that conviction. This is the Holy Spirit’s work as we take hold of Scriptures with prayer and earnest seeking.
Psalm 63:6-8 (KJV) When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
AW Pink in “The Faithfulness of God” said well, “There are seasons in the lives of all when it is not easy, to believe that God is faithful. Our faith is sorely tried, and our eyes are dimmed with tears when we can no longer trace the outworkings of His love. Our ears are distracted by the noises of the world, harassed by the atheistic whisperings of Satan, and we can no longer hear the sweet accents of His still small voice. Cherished plans have been thwarted, friends on whom we relied have failed us, and a professed brother or sister in Christ has betrayed us. We are staggered. We sought to be faithful to God, and now a dark cloud hides Him from us. We find it difficult, yea, impossible, for a carnal reason to harmonize His frowning providence with His gracious promises. Ah, faltering soul, severely tried fellow pilgrim, seek grace to heed Isaiah 50:10: “Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.”
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (KJV) Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. When you are tempted to doubt the faithfulness of God, cry out, “Get thee hence, Satan” (Matt. 4:10). Though you cannot now harmonize God’s mysterious dealings with the avowals of His love, wait on Him for more light.”
In His own good time, He will make it plain to you. “What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter” (Joh 13:7). The sequel will yet demonstrate that God has neither forsaken nor deceived His child.
“And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him” (Isa 30:18).”
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
“To know” God is to have an intimate experiential knowledge of Him.
Deuteronomy 7:9 (KJV) Know (yada) therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth (to keep in the sense of “tending” and taking care of) covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
He is faithful because He is the God who keepeth covenant (promise) and mercy (love) with them that love him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations. His love for us is unfailing and unchanging.
בְּרִית berith
Pledge, Promise, Covenant
This word is first used in Genesis 6:18.
Genesis 6:18 (KJV) But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.
I will establish my covenant literally “cause to stand” or “confirm”. The rainbow is the sign of God’s covenant with us that He will not judge the world again with a flood.
Genesis 6:17-18 (KJV) And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.
Genesis 9:13-15 (KJV) I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
Because God is Faithful, He keeps every promise He makes. Let us take time to trace God’s promises through the Bible so that our faith may be strengthened to trust Him and to walk with Him to His praise. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee