December 13, 2008

God Is Faithful

“But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they [are] not all Israel who [are] of Israel, nor [are they] all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called.’ That is, those who [are] the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this [is] the word of promise: ‘At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.’ And not only [this], but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, [even] by our father Isaac (for [the children] not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, ‘The older shall serve the younger.’ As it is written, ‘Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.’” (Romans 9:6-13 NKJV)

Paul addresses the person who would accuse God of not being faithful to keep His promises. Obviously, the way in which God was fulfilling His promises was not what the Jews expected. They were looking for a King that would elevate Israel over every other nation and set up a utopia here on earth.

Paul clarifies for the reader that the promises were for a spiritual seed not a physical seed. He makes this very clear when he says, “those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of promise are counted as the seed.”

God is doing exactly what He said He would do. There is no shadow of turning with God. You can trust Him to keep His promises.

“Just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Therefore, know that [only] those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, [saying], ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’” (Galatians 3:6-8 NKJV)

“Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he [who was] of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—— for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—— but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, [You] who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband." Now we, brethren, as Isaac [was], are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him [who was born] according to the Spirit, even so [it is] now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.” (Galatians 4:21-31 NKJV)