PROMISES --- PART 2

YHVH’S PROMISES

Among the most common public ceremonies of our lives are weddings. The vows of marriage are breath-taking in beauty and boldness and are intended to be binding. Yet divorce statistics prove that today even the most serious of human promises are -- made to be broken. Not so with YHVH. YHVH’s promises are anchored in His Unchanging Character and steadfast Love. The Scriptures is filled with promises upon which the believer can depend. Where even our most heartfelt promises sometimes falter, the Word of Elohim is His promise and never fails.

WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE ABOUT THE FUTURE.
Soon I will die; Joseph told his brothers, but YHVH will surely come for you, to lead you out of this land of Egypt. He will bring you back to the land he vowed to give to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. -- Genesis 50:24. Joseph was ready to die. He had no doubts that YHVH would keep His promise and one day bring the Israelites back to their homeland. What a tremendous example! The secret of that kind of faith is a lifetime of trusting Elohim. Your faith is like a muscle --- it grows with exercise, gaining strength over time. After a lifetime of exercising trust, your faith can be as strong as Joseph’s. Then at your death, you can be confident that Elohim will fulfil all His promises to you and to all those faithful to Him who may live after you.

WE CAN KNOW THAT YHVH IS FAITHFUL.
YHVH heard their cries and remembered His Covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He looked down on the Israelites and felt deep concern for their welfare. -- Exodus 2:24-25. YHVH’s rescue doesn’t always come the moment we want it. Elohim had promised to bring the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt -- Genesis 15:16; 46:3-4. The people had waited a long time for that promise to be kept, but YHVH rescued them when He knew the right time had come. YHVH knows the best time to act. When you feel that Elohim has forgotten you in your troubles, remember that He has a time schedule we can’t see.

WE CAN KNOW THAT YHVH HAS A PLAN.
In the book of the prophet Isaiah, YHVH said: Look, I am sending My messenger before you and he will prepare your way. He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: Prepare a pathway for the Moshiach’s coming! Make a straight road for Him! -- Mark 1:2-3. Hundreds of years earlier, the prophet Isaiah had predicted that John the Baptist and Yeshua would come. How did he know? YHVH promised Isaiah that a Redeemer would come to Israel and that a messenger calling in the desert would prepare the way for him. Isaiah’s words comforted many people as they looked forward to the Moshiach and knowing that YHVH keeps His promises can comfort you too.

WE CAN LEARN CONTENTMENT.
I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Moshiach who gives me the strength I need. -- Philippians 4:12-13. Are you content in any circumstances you face? Paul knew how to be content whether he had plenty or whether he was in need. The secret was drawing on Moshiach’s power for strength. Do you have great needs or are you discontented because you don’t have what you want? Learn to rely on YHVH’s promises and Moshiach’s Power to help you be content. If you always want more, ask YHVH to remove that desire and teach you contentment in every circumstance. He will supply all your needs, but in a way that He knows is best for you.

OUR PROMISES

OUR PROMISES OUGHT TO BE DEPENDABLE.
As the time of his death drew near, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, If you are pleased with me, swear most solemnly that you will honour this, my last request: Do not bury me in Egypt. When I am dead, take me out of Egypt and bury me beside my ancestors. So Joseph promised that he would. -- Genesis 47:29-30. Putting a hand under the thigh was a sign of making a promise, much like shaking hands today. Jacob had Joseph promise to bury him in his homeland. Few things were written in this culture, so a person’s word then carried as much force as a written contract today. People today seem to find it easy to say; I didn’t mean that. YHVH’s people however, are to speak the truth and live the truth. Let your words be as binding as a written contract.

OUR PROMISES SHOULD BE KEPT EVEN WHEN THEY ARE COSTLY.
I asked Elohim to give me this child and He has given me my request. Now I am giving him to Elohim and he will belong to YHVH his whole life. And they worshiped Elohim there. -- 1 Samuel 1:27-28. To do what she promised --- 1 Samuel 1:11 --, Hannah gave up what she wanted most - her son - and presented him to Eli to serve in the house of YHVH. In dedicating her only son to Elohim, Hannah was dedicating her entire life and future to YHVH. Because Samuel’s life was from YHVH, Hannah was not really giving him up. Rather, she was returning him to YHVH who had given Samuel to Hannah in the first place. These verses illustrate the kind of gifts we should give to our Elohim. Do your gifts cost you little or are they gifts of sacrifice? Are you presenting Elohim with tokens or are you presenting Him with your entire life?

OUR PROMISES SHOULD BE MADE WITH FIRM COMMITMENT.
But why can’t I come now, Adonai? he asked. I am ready to die for you. Yeshua answered: die for Me? No, before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know Me. -- John 13:37-38. Peter proudly told Yeshua that he was ready to die for Him. But Yeshua corrected him. He knew Peter would deny that he knew Him that very night to protect himself -- John 18:25-27. In our enthusiasm, it is easy to make promises, but YHVH knows the extent of our commitment. Paul tells us, -- be honest in your estimate of yourselves -- Romans 12:3. Instead of bragging, demonstrate your commitment step by step as you grow in your knowledge of YHVH’s Word and in your faith.

WITH SO LITTLE TO DEPEND UPON IN LIFE, WHAT CAN I COUNT ON FROM YHVH?
Galatians 3:21-29: The only way to receive YHVH’s promise is to believe in Yeshua Moshiach. -- The centre of Elohim’s promise has always been the offer of salvation through faith.
Ephesians 1:13-14: Ruach HaKodesh is YHVH’s guarantee that He will give us everything He promised. -- YHVH promises are trustworthy.
John 14:1-6: I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. -- Yeshua promises an eternal home in heaven for those who trust Him.
John 14:15-18: I will ask the Father and He will give you another Counsellor, Who will never leave you. He is Ruach HaKodesh. YHVH promises to be with us forever in the form of Ruach HaKodesh.
2 Peter 3:8-10: The Day of Adonai will come. -- The Scripture promises that Yeshua will return to Judge the world for its deeds.
Romans 8:28: We know that YHVH causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called by Him. -- YHVH promises to redeem all the events of our lives for our good if we look to Him.
Hebrews 6:18: YHVH has given us both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable. -- YHVH’s promises are completely dependable and trustworthy. This gives us great comfort in the present and assurance for the future.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR PROMISES?
Numbers 30:1-2: A man who makes a vow to Elohim or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. -- Keeping a promise is the basic foundation for trust in any relationship.
Matthew 5:33-37: To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong. -- Yeshua said that if you are a person of your word, you shouldn’t need to strengthen your promise with a vow. Keeping your promises will establish your reputation as a person of your word.

WHAT DOES YHVH EXPECT OF US IN REGARD TO PROMISES?
1 Samuel 1:11: She made this vow. Proverbs 20:25: It is dangerous to make a rash promise to YHVH before counting the cost. -- YHVH expects us to keep our promises.
Genesis 12:1-7-- Go to the land that I will show you. I will cause you to become the father of a great nation... So Abram departed as Elohim had instructed him. -- YHVH expects us to respond in faith to His promises.