Living On The Promises Of God
BRD REFLECTIONS
Genesis 28:10-22; Psalm 23 (NIV)
(Justin Ong, Chairperson of Mandarin Ministry)
READ:
Genesis 28:12-15 NIV
He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. ”
Psalm 23:4-5 NIV
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
OBSERVE:
Our God will never take back what He has said. Every word He has said is His promise to us.
There are many interesting stories of God keeping His promises. My favourite one is about Jacob.
Jacob, with the help of his mother,Rebekah, fooled his father to bless him instead of his elder brother Esau. Esau was angry with Jacob and wanted to kill him. Issac decided to send Jacob away to Laban, her brother.
After a long day’s journey, Jacob was exhausted and he fell asleep quickly and deeply. In a dream, Jacob saw a stairway leading to heaven with many angels traveling up and down on the stairway. He heard God speak to him:
“I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.”
God’s promise to Jacob was what He had promised to his grandfather Abraham:
“I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies”. (Gen 22:17)
Abraham had passed away, but God continued to fulfil His promise to Abraham’s descendants.
APPLY:
Since Jesus is Abraham’s descendant, all those who believe in Jesus are also Abraham’s spiritual descendants.
In the last three years, we have witnessed the world becoming fragile and incomprehensible, and people have become more anxious. The ongoing COVID pandemic, the disruptive Ukraine war, hyperinflation as well as a slowing economy have combined into a perfect storm that threatens to draw us into dark, uncharted and turbulent seas this new year.
Just like Jacob, many of us have become fearful, trying to run away from problems. But God is seeking after us to return to Him. He reminds us about His promises which are everlasting because He is an eternal and honourable God.
DO:
God is sovereign. He is the Waymaker. He provides a way when there seems to be no way. Challenges abound in the new year, but I will cling to His promises. I pray that He may give me the mustard seed of faith to move mountains:
Psalm 23:4-5 NIV
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
PRAY:
Sovereign and mighty Lord, please forgive me for looking away from You and focusing on the many problems around me and in the world; they overwhelm me and shake my faith and hope. In this new year, please renew me and grant me a repentant heart to return to You. You are the solution, You are my refuge and strength, my ever-present help in trouble. Thank You for Your generous mercy and grace. May Your Spirit continue to sanctify me so that I will not conform to the world, but be transformed with a renewed mind. I want to experience Your goodness from the inside out. In Jesus’ most precious name I pray, Amen!
