Trusting the God of Covenant

The Bible teaches that our God is a covenant-making and covenant-keeping God. Do you realize how astonishing that fact is?

The gods of the ancient world weren’t that way at all. The mythical gods worshiped in the Greek and Roman world were deemed to be big and strong, but their characters mirrored all the same flaws humans have. They didn’t make or keep promises to humankind, for they did whatever they pleased.

Likewise, the thousands of deities worshiped by followers of Hinduism and some other Eastern religions didn’t bother to make promises to humans or invite people into a personal relationship. They established precepts for how to live, but the only thing akin to a promise was the law of karma—warning people that they would endlessly be reincarnated to reap the consequences of their bad choices.

You see, if you or I were going to create our own gods, we would inevitably make them in our own image. Impulsive. Unreliable. Selfish. Dishonest. Never condescending to make promises to mere mortals.

Yet the God described throughout the Bible is far different. When He makes a promise, it’s completely reliable. As He revealed to the Israelites, “Know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9 NKJV). Yes, He’s “the faithful God”—the only faithful God! He’s the God “who keeps covenant,” always true to His promises.

If you make an agreement or covenant with another person, they are likely to let you down from time to time. In contrast, the Bible declares the trustworthiness of the Lord: “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:11 NASB). Praise God! In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, He remains “Faithful and True” (Revelation 19:11 NKJV).

Perhaps your heart was broken when a friend, spouse, child, or employer lied to you or failed to live up to their promises. But you never have to worry about that happening with God:

God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19 NKJV).

We hope you’ve already come to know this great God. He loves you so much, and He’s inviting you today to go deeper in your covenant relationship with Him.

Scriptures to meditate on this month:

Week One
Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.
Genesis 9:11 NKJV

Week Two
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
Luke 22:20 NKJV

Week Three
You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men.
2 Corinthians 3:2 NKJV

Week Four
But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
Hebrews 8:6 NKJV

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This article originally appeared in the monthly Inspiration Magazine. Find out how you can receive your free annual subscription here.