God’s Word and His Promises

God's Word and His truth do not change. This is why the psalms say, "The truth of the LORD endures forever" (Ps 117:2) and "Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in the heavens" (Ps 119:89). "The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God abides forever." (Isa 40:8) "The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my words shall in no wise pass away" (Mt 24:35). We too may rely on these words in faith, for, "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither a son of man, that he should repent. Shall he say and not do? And shall he speak and not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19).

Because the Word of God does not change, and because God does not change in His faithfulness, He will make all the promises He has made come true in Christ. "For whatever promises of God there are, in him is the yea, and in him the amen, for glory to God by us" (2 Cor. 1:20). The Word of God is always up-to-date! By doing what He has promised, He glorifies Himself as the Rock - the God of faithfulness! He made promises to Abraham such as that his descendants would be oppressed in a foreign land for over 400 years. After that they would move away from there with great possessions. This is exactly what came to pass.

It is very interesting how God revealed Himself to Moses when He was about to fulfill His promises. He shows Himself to him as the great "I am" - the God of eternity Who is unchangeably existing in Himself. It’s like God is saying, "I am at this moment who I have always been and who I will always be. Nothing can be added to me and nothing can be taken away from me. I stick to the word I have promised!"

God’s purposes stand in the light of eternity. The wisest man of his time said, "I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever; there is nothing to be added to it, nor anything to be taken from it; and God does it, that men should fear before Him" (Eccl. 3:14).

God is unchanging in His purposes and plans. We change our plans - He never does! "The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the thoughts of His heart from generation to generation" (Ps. 33:11). "For the gifts and the calling of God are not subject to repentance" (Rom 11:29). "But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does" (Job 23:13). That is why we also read of the "unchangeableness of his purpose" (Heb 6:17). This certainty should fill us with deep peace.

The immutability of God gives His people security. We see this especially in the last book of the Old Testament, where God once again calls out to His people, "For I, the LORD, change not; and ye, sons of Jacob, are not consumed" (Mal. 3:6). The God of the Old Testament is also the God of the New Testament. He has not changed in His nature, nor in His character. But He has revealed Himself in various ways. He has revealed more and more of Himself, so to speak. The more we know of Him, the more reasons we have to trust Him.

The immutability of God is our security, our fortress, the anchor for our souls and the rock on which we stand! There is no one like Him! And He deserves our worship and our wholehearted devotedness!

J.P.S.