January 25, 2022 – Reflections on “God’s Promises!”

“I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” Genesis 9:14-16.

As I read about Noah’s life and saw the improbability of following God’s instructions to build the ark. So many details.

Never had a vessel this large ever been built to float on the sea. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. Genesis 6:14-16.

Why was Noah chosen? The reason is given in this verse. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Genesis 6:9-10.

Noah did all that God commanded. What did it take for Noah to build the ark? He waited, he obeyed all of God’s commands; he believed God’s Words. Noah knew God to be faithful. God chose Noah and his family into the ark. After two days of rain, we complain. After 40 days of rain, then came the waiting for the ark to come to rest, and then came more days of waiting for the earth to dry from the deluge of rain. When Noah prepared to leave the ark, what was the first thing Noah, and his family did upon leaving the ark?

Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” Genesis 8:20-22.

God is faithful to those who keep His Commandments. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:16-17.

Just as God’s many promises mean something, and the covenants He makes with followers teach us, He is faithful. Just as the promises we make show our trustworthiness.

What are some promises of God in the Old Testament?         God promised to bless Abraham through his descendants, and the whole world, and points to the Messiah. “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:2-3.

God promised that if we search for Him, we will find Him. For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call upon Him? But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him if you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:7, 29.

God promised that His love will never fail. Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever! I Chronicles 16:34.

God promised blessing for all who delight themselves in His Word. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law, he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2.

The New Testament blessings include:        God promised salvation, a gift, to all who believe in His Son. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17.

God promised all things will work out for good for His Children who are concerned by present circumstances. And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.

God promised a new life in Christ, a brand-new existence. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

God promised every spiritual blessing in Christ in the heavenly realms. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:3.

God promised to finish the work He started in us. And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6.

God promised peace when we pray, for it will guard our hearts and minds in Christ. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5-7.

Jesus gave promises, too. Here are two of them.    Jesus promised abundant life to those who follow Him.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10.

Jesus promised He will return for us. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am, you may be also. John 14:2-3.