Understanding God’s Character through His Promises

Understanding God’s Character through His Promises

Numbers 14:18

The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.

Why is this description of God important to us? 

We are rebellious and sinful repeatedly.

Allen – Children of Israel and us – Same

Does this passage describe God as someone who is never angry?

How does the Bible show God as angry?

1Samuel 2:6-8

This passage is part of Hannah’s song. She was Samuel’s mother – she was childless and asked Eli the priest to pray for her, and she prayed for a son. When Samuel was granted to her, she gave him to Eli to serve as a priest.

What do you think is the most significant attribute she ascribes to God? 

Job 19:25-27

In this passage Job is lamenting all that has happened and is speaking in response to his “Friend” Bildad.

What does this passage say that Job knew about God? (He lives, Job would see Him in the end).

There are lots of passages in the New Testament about Jesus eternal Kingdom, but this is from possibly the earliest recorded writing in scripture (estimated at 2000 to 2500 b.c. Isn’t it remarkable these key components of God’s plan are repeated over thousands of years.

 Does our view of God change depending on our circumstances? i.e. when our circumstances go from good to bad or bad to good?

These passages tell us that our ALL Powerful God is too big for us to totally comprehend.

Famous OT Promises

Famous OT Promises

Abraham

Genesis 12:1-3 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you;

² And I will make you a great nation, Lot of counting – 2 Samuel 24:9 1300k fighting men

And I will bless you, - Genesis 24:1 The LORD blessed him in every way.

 And make your name great;

And so you shall be a blessing; Mathew 1:2 – Abraham – to Jesus

 ³And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. Many OT fulfilling – Egypt, delivering Israel from slavery.

 And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” – Jesus

1)      Looking at the fulfillment of these Promises

2)      Who Do these promises apply to? – Abraham, Clearly not anyone else.

3)      As we look at the promises of God, we will see some apply to one person, some to Israel, and some to all of those with faith in God.

4)      Why did God promise to make Abraham great, but not me?Why can’t I take every promise in scripture and apply it to me?

The Burning Bush Exodus3:1-8

God kept this promise. He took His people to Canaan, but the timing was not exactly as Moses might have expected. God’s people alive at that time did not get to see this promise fulfilled (except Caleb and Joshua, Numbers 13).

What can we learn about God’s timing from this Kept Promise? God’s timing may not be what we expect.

How do we normally respond when we demonstrate our faith by believing in one of God’s promises, but His fulfillment takes MUCH longer than we expect?

What can we do in this situation?

A conditional Promise - Solomon at the Temple Dedication

1 Kings 8:22-24

God’s Promise and Warning

1 Kings 9:1-9

Who are these promises to? Solomon and his sons

Although these promises are not made to us, we can learn something about God by looking at them.

What do these promises tell us about God?

                God wants his followers to be faithful to Him

                Israel (and the Church) are used to demonstrate God’s plan and His Glory

                God keeps His promises

Promises of God – God is Able to Keep His Promises

Promises of God – God is Able to Keep His Promises

2 Timothy 3:16- 17 All Scripture is inspired by God 

Types of Promises

                Positive – Good stuff, blessings

                Negative – Correction, punishment

                Unconditional – “I Will …”

                Conditional – If you X then I will Y.

Before we explore God’s promises, let’s look at why we believe that God can keep his promises.

We all want to keep our promises. We want to be a “Man of our word”, but sometimes we don’t keep our promises.

What are some of the reasons we sometimes make promises, and fail to keep them?

               

o   Reasons beyond our control

o   We change our mind

o   We decide something else is more important.

Why doesn’t God have these excuses?

Matthew19:26 (nothing is beyond his control)

Psalm136:10-12 (He is steadfast, not wishy washy) 

James 1:17 (He will not change his priorities)

He is ABLE

Ephesians3:20  

Colossians 1:16 

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.