BIBLICAL REFLECTIONS: HE HAS PROMISED HE WILL NEVER FAIL

“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

The God of the Bible, the God Jehovah, equally known as the Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent God, has yet to -- and never will -- renege on any of His promises. He never failed to deliver on the multiple promises of protection, safety and blessings made to His people through the canal of His prophets and messengers in olden days. It would be unlikely of Him to fail to deliver on His promises today either.

A catalogue of such pronouncements floods the pages of the Bible as a testimony. Up until now, not one of His words has fallen to the ground. None of His words as recorded in this compendium of books, the Bible, has remained unaccomplished; except of course, the second coming of His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, whose return we await with eager expectation.  

God is love; that is one His major characteristics. He has a special love for those who receive Him, obey and love Him for who He is. He chose the Children of Israel – ‘His treasured possessions,’ and ‘the apple of His eye’ and now He has extended a hand to the Gentiles whom we represent, acknowledging them as part of His spiritual Children – “born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:13)

God is mindful of His own -- in His capacity as The Good Shepherd who takes care of His sheep. Going through Scripture, we realise He has accomplished great and marvellous things in their favour – innumerable times -- unsolicited. On a number of occasions, as a Father, He has disciplined His children in love – so they could grow up -- as would an ordinary father. The only time He turned His back on them was as a result of their disobedience. No sooner they repented, He forgave.

His concern stretches even to minute details. When He called Moses to send him on a mission to Pharaoh, His concern was expressed thus. “I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians ....” (Exodus 3:7-8) 

The Pharaoh that lived in Moses’ era suffered the most from God’s wrath for disobeying His commands. He had commissioned Moses to tell Pharaoh to set the Children of Israel free, but the latter proved reluctant to obey a God whom he said he did not know. Pharaoh said, “Who is the ‘Lord’ that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and will not let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:2) Then God sent a series of plagues that inflicted untold economic losses on the nation of Egypt. Not long after, all the firstborns -- both humans and animals -- were killed and the whole nation was mourning its loss, did Pharaoh cave in. Then God caused Pharaoh to change his heart as he pursued the Children of Israel immediately after they had left Egypt. The entire elite Egyptian army drowned in the Red Sea as it foolishly chased The Children of Israel. Thereafter they had peace.

In the course of their journey to the Promised Land the various nations that had attempted to impede their progress suffered from God’s wrath when they were severely dealt with. Yahweh, God, the Alpha and Omega, the God mighty in Battle has never changed. He is still the same – yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

Furthermore, He is not dead – He is the living God. He has invited His people – those called by His name -- to call upon Him in times of trouble; He promised to respond to the call. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) He promises to do great and mighty things that they did not realise He could do. His promises are ‘yes’ and ‘amen,’ meaning you can fully rely on His Word.

Biblical history is fraught with incidents where God intervened without having to put up a physical fight on behalf of the Children of Israel. Because He operates in the supernatural realm, nothing is impossible for him to do. “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)

Of recent, there has been a flurry of activities to stem any move in the Draft Constitution put together by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) likely to curtail the rights of minority groups by the deliberate omission of the word ‘secular.’ Minorities are speaking up to ensure that their rights, Christians in particular, are not trampled upon, but remain secure. Anxiety is increasing in the midst of an aura of a silent majority. Take heart; God is watching; “... He who watches over you [citizens of the Gambia] will not slumber; indeed He who watches over The Gambia will neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:3b)

God is immutable [impossible to change; always true or always the same]. He assured young Joshua who succeeded Moses: “As I was with Moses, so will I be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5b) And therefore The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is saying to His people: “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

He had demonstrated His might when the Children of Israel panicked on the banks of the Red Sea gripped by fear of imminent death from the Egyptian army that had given chase. God parted the Red Sea and the Children of Israel traversed through dry ground. He had promised through the lips of Moses. “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today......The Lord will fight for you, you need only be still.” (Exodus 14:13, 14)

God is not indifferent to our cry for justice and fair play to reign. Therefore, it is to Him that Christians in this nation are making their appeal. “O You who hear prayer, to you all men will come.” (Psalm 65:2)