The Old Covenants
Promises, Promises Written By: Kim Whipkey
Promises, Promises
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “so shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 15: 1-6
When I sat down to write this devotional, the song “Promises, Promises” kept running through my mind, particularly this chorus: You made me promises, promises
You knew you’d never keep
Promises, promises
Why do I believe all of your promises?
We live in a broken world, and broken promises seem to be the blocks on which our world is built. We are constantly inundated with promises, most of which are not worth the time it takes to say them. Whether we hear the promises from advertisers, salespeople, employers, friends, or family members, we are often discouraged when people break their promises. Sometimes, the broken promises are unintentional or unavoidable, but other times they are planned. In response to broken promises, we become cynical and find it hard to believe any promises. We assume that everyone makes promises with no intention to actually keep them.
In the midst of this broken world, littered with broken promises, comes along our God, the Promise Keeper. As we read in Psalm 145: 13, “The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.” Abram lived in the broken world, and I’m sure experienced his share of broken promises. He could easily have been cynical of God’s promise to give him an heir, and to make his offspring as numerous as the stars. After all, he was an old man with no children, and his experience with this world would have taught him it was too late for this particular promise. When God reaffirms the promise, Abram could have scoffed; he could have said, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Abram, with no evidence to the contrary, believed God’s promise, and because he believed, he was credited with being righteous.
It can be difficult to believe in promises when the world provides us with ample proof that promises are meant to be broken, but God is the Promise Keeper. Whatever He promises, we can be sure He will keep. For if He conceived the promise, we can be sure He will fulfill it. “I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6.
Father, we thank you for being faithful, for keeping your promises to us. This world tries to convince us that promises are just empty words, but you prove yourself to us over and over again. You are the Promise Keeper! We believe that if you promise it, we will receive it, no matter how long it takes. Help us to believe each and every one of your promises! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
