A Promise to Remember

A Promise to Remember

Genesis 24: Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. ² So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh, ³ and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; ⁴ but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

 

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After years of difficulties, Abraham finally saw the promise GOD made to him come to fruition. Isaac was born through Sarah who was barren for ninety years. They lived with the promised child for thirty-seven years, but then Sarah died. Isaac was in his thirties. Abraham made the leader of his household swear to find a wife for his son in the land where he grew up.

 

My Observations:

• GOD did not provide the servant’s name.
• Placing his hand under Abraham’s thigh would be an action that is so odd and uncomfortable, that he would definitely remember the promise.
• Abraham did not know how long it would take to find a wife for Isaac, so he made his servant swear by the LORD, who would always be watching.

 

Living around the Hittites and the Canaanites may have provided safety and possibly the comforts of the best standards of living. But Abraham recognized that the people were not followers of GOD. He wanted the best for his son, so he made his servant swear that he would not find a wife locally, but return to his original home to find relatives who would believed and walked with the LORD.

 

The servant would remember the strange request for the rest of his life. Abraham was very serious about following GOD because of all GOD had taken him through. He was blessed “in all things.” Every animal and crop was fruitful and multiplied well. Every business deal went well. Even his health was solid. He even had a loyal servant who benefitted from GOD’s blessings.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about Abraham making his servant swear not to choose a wife for Isaac amongst the Hittites and the Canaanites?
• Have you remained loyal to GOD all your days?
• What does long lasting loyalty to GOD look like in your promises?

Promise Fulfilled

Promise Fulfilled

Revelation 10: ⁵ Then the angel that I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven ⁶ and took a vow in the name of God, who lives forever and ever, who created heaven, earth, and the sea, and everything in them. The angel said, “There will be no more delay! ⁷ But when the seventh angel blows his trumpet, then God will accomplish his secret plan, as he announced to his servants, the prophets.”

 

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“I will never do that again” I said in a halfhearted promise to GOD. I was either sick or in a lot of pain. This scared me to the point of making promises to GOD as if I could bargain my way out of the trouble.

 

• I thought that if I promised something to GOD, HE would stop the problem immediately.
• I did not think of the promise later on, so I did what I said I would “never” do again.
• I was reminded that I promised to “never” do whatever I did, but only in a gentle convicting way.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, heard the mighty angel take a vow in the name of GOD, that there would be “no more delay!” All prophecies would be fulfilled and there would be nothing left to do for GOD’s plan for humanity to be known.

 

My Observations:

• There are still parts of GOD’s plan that are hidden to mankind.
• JESUS fulfilled HIS part of the plan, but there is still another part that is secret to us.
• GOD has revealed what HE will do, but not when HE will do it.

 

Not knowing causes frustration. I mean, as a kid, I was blessed to get Christmas gifts, and I wanted to know what was behind the wrapped gift. I would wait in anticipation for the time to open the gift. The same goes for waiting for GOD’s plan to be made known to humanity.

 

What is HE really going to do and when? Are the questions that plague us to this day. BUT GOD has not missed a single promise and HE will not miss any future promises. The reason the angel could promise there would be no delay, is because GOD was ready to do whatever HE was going to do. HIS promises cannot be stopped.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer go into detail about the vow the angel took?
• Have you ever asked the question “What is the purpose of life?”
• If you are going through trouble, will you seek GOD as your solution so HE can show you HIS “secret plan” for humanity some day?

Filled Words

Filled Words

James 5: ¹² Above all, my friends, do not use an oath when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Say only “Yes” when you mean yes, and “No” when you mean no, and then you will not come under God's judgment.

 

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“I’ll call you” were my empty words I used when I was moving too fast. I had all the intention of following up, but simply forgot. The same happened when I said I would pray for a person, or pass on the message of hello.

 

• I found that I used empty words more than I thought.
• I had the best intentions, but I did not take into account becoming overwhelmed.
• I was not malicious in using empty words, but they were still empty, nonetheless.

 

James attempts to address one aspect of character, namely avoiding making promises that may or may not be kept. He implies that promises go before GOD and each one will be held accountable. He then suggests, to provide an answer without making empty promises.

 

My Observations:

• GOD wants me to make promises to HIM, but only the ones I will keep.
• Promises should be made sparingly, otherwise I will be held accountable for something I may or may not do.
• Saying “I may not be able to do this” is better than trying to make someone feel good by empty words.

 

Using empty promises to make a person feel good is a problem. I mean, saying “I will pray” or “I will call” as examples, only raises the recipients hopes up. But when I don’t follow through, the problem then falls on me for not having done so. GOD wants me to change my empty words.

 

HE wants me to say “Yes” or “No” and let the person who asked for something, know that I will or will not fulfill the request. This part of character is called reliability. I am glad GOD is always reliable in what HE says and does.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer say about making an oath?
• Have you ever made a small promise to do something, but simply forgot to do it?
• Have you ever wanted other people to do something and he or she forgot?
• Will you fill your words up with a solid “yes” or “no” so people can see your reliability for the purpose of understanding how serious GOD takes promises today?

Pledge is a Promise

Pledge is a Promise

Acts 5: But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. ² And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? ⁴ While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

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“I’m going to call you” were the words I used in vain. I may get around to it or maybe not. Soon this lackadaisical attitude spilled into other areas of my life. “Yes, I will pray for you” would come out of my mouth but what I was praying about immediately flew out of my mind and I would not pray.

• There were times when I would agree to do something and not follow through.
• There were times when I would volunteer for something, get bored, and stop showing up.
• There were times when I would not complete what I said I would complete.

Ananias and Sapphira were aware of that everyone boldly sold their possessions to give to those in need. “How would it look if we did not sell?” they may have said to themselves. “How can we keep some of this and still look good?” may have been a thought. GOD spoke though Peter, condemning their choice.

• GOD wants me to be honest and say “No I cannot do that.”
• GOD wants me to keep my voluntary decisions as promises.
• GOD wants me to complete the things I start, not for myself, but as a vow to others.

Saying “I’m going to” voluntarily should not be done in vain to someone else. Saying “I’m going to pick you up” and not showing up could cause problems. GOD sees the large and small pledges and knows who will follow through and who will not.

HE wants me to say “Yes” to HIS calling, but only when I will follow through with HIS leading. If I say “Yes” but act like I said “No”, dire consequences could follow. I am thankful GOD gives me opportunities to say “Yes.”

• Have you volunteered and not followed through?
• Do you say you will do something so you will look good in front of people?
• Will you stop trying to please humans and seek to please GOD by doing what you say?  

Swearing

Matthew 23: ¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ ¹⁷ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? ¹⁸ You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ ¹⁹ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰ Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. ²² And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.

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“I swear I will never do that again” were my empty words of whatever sin I did at the time and felt I got hurt by it. I actually swore by something that I would “never” do something again and probably did that thing the next week or even the next day.

• In the past I have taking my “swears” lightly.
• In the past I have taken my “oaths” with a grain of salt.
• In the past I have treated my “vows” as something to find loopholes in.

Swearing is a part of GOD that is probably taken the most seriously. HE holds HIMSELF accountable to HIS sworn word. HE never lies. Whatever HE says, HE does. Unfortunately I have not been as diligent. For a number of reasons, more like excuses, I have travelled away from my “sworn” word in the past. BUT GOD makes that right.

• GOD wants me to swear only when necessary.
• GOD wants me to take an oath only when I am sure I can keep it.
• GOD wants me to state a vow only when I know I have HIM on my side to enable the vow to be kept.

The Pharisees manipulated their congregations into swearing by money and gifts and not by the grouping of the people which is the church. GOD saw through their evil plan and sees through my pitiful sworn word. HE wants me to swear on occasion and to make it sacred.

• Have you sworn without the means to keep your word?
• Have you sworn in order to get out of trouble?
• Can you swear on occasion and admit to GOD you need help upholding your end of the bargain?

Generational Blessings

Jeremiah 35: ¹⁸ Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Rekabites, “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jehonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.’ ¹⁹ Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve me.’”

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Following GOD is a decision that has to be made each day. I mean there are so many things that can take me away from focusing on GOD that seem harmless. Any moment I spend thinking about something else, I am not thinking about GOD. I know this seems a bit extreme, but I have noticed more and more “harmless” things popping up in my life and I end up so busy that GOD is no longer there.

• GOD wants me to take time to think about HIM each day.
• GOD wants me to worship HIM with a purpose.
• GOD wants me to belong to HIM rather than HE serving me.

Jehonadab decided not to drink wine, own a house or have a job, all of which are harmless. He decided to only be GOD’s servant and kept that promise all throughout his life. His children, also known as the Rekabites, kept this promise as well. GOD was pleased, not only that they kept a promise but they made one in the first place. Making a promise to GOD to refrain from something one desires is difficult, yet beautiful.

• Each time I deny something in a sacrifice to GOD is a moment I can spend with HIM.
• Each distraction I can lay aside in a sacrifice to GOD is a moment I can worship HIM.
• Each harmless item I can deny myself in a sacrifice to GOD is a moment I can be with HIM.

Obedience, promises and worship are things that make GOD delight in our relationship. When I do these things, GOD has never, ever, ever disappointed me. HE likes when I acknowledge the fact that HE needs to be GOD without my questioning HIS authority, power, ability or supremacy. My full trust in HIM allows me to make promises to HIM for which HE blesses me when I keep them. HE even blesses my family and I am truly grateful.

• Do you want GOD’s blessings?
• Are you willing to make a sacrificial promise to GOD?
• Can you give up something harmless for a short period of time?
• What will you do with your time?
• Will you add a little more worship during this sacrificial time?