Have you ever broken a promise before? I have and that can be very hurtful to another person. The good news is God is not like us. The Lord tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. [1]
In our story about Moses the Lord remembers his promises to the Israelites. 23 Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. 24 God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.[2] Exodus 2:23-24.
When the text says “God remembers” it means to remember and act upon that person’s behalf. What was God remembering? He was remembering the covenant or agreement that he promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” [3] Genesis 12:1-4.
God had reaffirmed this covenant with Isaac and Jacob and now He was remembering it again and would affirm it with the Israelites as a body of people. God had not abandoned them or forgotten about them and was about to do something very amazing as He put His plan in place to rescue them.
I remember visiting a man in the hospital who was dying, but very much alert. His wife wrote a bible verse on a small piece of paper and gave it to him. It was a promise from God. He held on to that piece of paper as he meditated on the words that were written on it. God’s word gave him peace, strength and courage to face the last moments of his life.
Sometimes it just good to take time out and focus on the promises of God. Although life seems it will last forever, we know it will not. One day we will all step into eternity and we need to think about God’s promises and know they are true. Here are just a few.
- John 3:16 -“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [4]
- John 11:25-26 – Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.[5]
- 2 Cor. 2:9 – That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” [6]
- 2 Cor. 4:14 – We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. [7]
To hear more of the story of Moses, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/the-footsteps-of-moses/gods-wise-timing
[1,2,3,4,5,6,7] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
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