Something To Hold On To Series

The Shelter of God’s Promises #1

Something To Hold On To

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. - 2 Corinthians 1:20

Introduction

Sheila Walsh begins her book The Shelter of God’s Promises by telling of receiving a letter in the mail from someone who had attended one of her conference speeches. In the letter, an unknown woman shared that she had been through so many struggles… illness, financial hardship, the breakup of her marriage. She made a simple statement that captured her attention: “I would not have made it this far without the promises of God.”

In the storms of life, when things look really bad, can we trust that God will keep his promises? In this series of lessons we will be looking in the Scriptures for some of the promises of God that will see us through the difficult days - and we all have them.

1. WHAT IS A PROMISE?

Merriam-Webster Dictionary says a promise is: “A declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified…that gives the person to whom it is made a right to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act.”

Most frequently in the Old Testament, the word promise refers to “speaking,” “speech,” or “to say.” When God says something, that settles it.

"A promise is the assurance that God gives to His people so they can walk by faith while they wait for Him to work.” —James MacDonald in Always True.

Psalm 119:50, 148, 154 ESV “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life … My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. … Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!”

2. GOD’S PROMISES ARE NEEDED IN THE HARDEST TIMES: Moses

Moses was called to lead God’s people out of slavery and to the promised land. He was called the friend of God. Exodus 33:11a “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” Even so, Moses was very much a human being. He sometimes doubted (Exodus 3:10-4:13). He murdered an Egyptian (Exodus 2:11-14). At times, Moses was angry, afraid, disappointed, and discouraged.

When we arrive to Exodus 33, Moses had been upon the mountain of God and received the Ten Commands, brought them down Mt. Sinai, and found the people were engaging in idol worship - a golden calf. Moses threw down the commandments. Moses was discouraged; God was unhappy. 3,000 people were killed and a plague broke out. God suggested that he should just let them go on without him (32:33-33:3). Moses puts himself in between Israel and God and makes atonement for them. Moses asks for assurance that God will go with them. (32:13-17 “...if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” 17 And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

Moses then requests to see the glory of God. (Exodus 33:21-23 “And the Lord said, "Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

Then he told Moses to get new stones for new tablets. Moses was discouraged by the people’s sin, but God answered his prayer with a promise: ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Walsh: “Even when they had proven to be totally faithless, He remained willing to start all over again.” Through all of our hardships, we have been held close to God in the shelter of his promises - the greatest promise of which is Jesus.