What an encouragement His Word is to each one of us every morning. Our God does not desire to make a contract with us but an eternal covenant with us. Why? Because HE IS A GOD WHO WANTS TO HAVE AN EVERLASTING RELATIONSHIP WITH US.
"I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you"
(Genesis 17:7)
Human relationships on this earth do not always withstand time. Being ignored by close relatives and being forgotten by close friends have become the norms of the day. Promises made and contracts signed yesterday are broken very casually today. But God is different. Let's look at our God's promises in that context:
1. I will establish my covenant as an EVERLASTING COVENANT.
By saying that He would establish His covenant, God promised that it would never be altered and that it would be fulfilled at any cost. The words "covenant" and "everlasting" give a long term dimension to God's relationship with Abraham. It clearly means that this relationship with Abraham and his descendants would be eternal, transcending the limits of time. He would take care of them eternally. Is our relationship with God shaky and determined by circumstances.
2. I will give as an EVERLASTING POSSESSION to you and your descendants after you and I will be their God.
God summed up in this promise all the privileges of covenant He made with Abraham. A person needs nothing else to keep him happy during his life time. What God meant was that, what He was, that He would be to Abram and his descendants. He would be their wisdom to guide and counsel them and power to support them during times of weakness. He would be their goodness to provide their needs. He would be their comfort at times of grief. What all faithful worshippers expect from their God that He promised to provide to Abraham and his descendants. Are we living as faithful worshippers of our God, that we may also enjoy those privileges as spiritual descendants of Abraham?
God longs to have the same kind of eternal relationship with us. What He was to Abraham and his descendants He wants to be to us and our families. Shall we determine not to do anything that would disturb our eternal relationship with Him? Shall we commit to live as faithful worshippersthat we may also inherit all the blessings that He has in store for His children?
Blessed weekend!