Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“Ephraim is like an easily deceived dove, without understanding.
    They call to Egypt.
    They go to Assyria.
When they go, I will spread my net on them.
    I will bring them down like the birds of the sky.
    I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard.
Woe to them!
    For they have wandered from me.
Destruction to them!
    For they have trespassed against me.
Though I would redeem them,
    yet they have spoken lies against me.
They haven’t cried to me with their heart,
    but they howl on their beds.
They assemble themselves for grain and new wine.
    They turn away from me.
Though I have taught and strengthened their arms,
    yet they plot evil against me.
They return, but not to the Most High.
    They are like a faulty bow.
    Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue.
    This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.”
(Hosea 7:11-16)

“Yahweh upholds all who fall,
    and raises up all those who are bowed down.
The eyes of all wait for you.
    You give them their food in due season.
You open your hand,
    and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
Yahweh is righteous in all his ways,
    and gracious in all his works.
Yahweh is near to all those who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him.
    He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Yahweh preserves all those who love him,
    but he will destroy all the wicked.
My mouth will speak the praise of Yahweh.
    Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.”
(Psalm 145:14-21)

“I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God didn’t reject his people, whom he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with God against Israel: “Lord, they have killed your prophets. They have broken down your altars. I am left alone, and they seek my life.” But how does God answer him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” Even so too at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.”
(Romans 11:1-6)

The people turned away from God. They looked to other countries. They looked to other gods. They looked everywhere but the one place where they would receive everything that they wanted and were looking for. They failed to look to God. They wanted to do everything they saw everyone else doing AND get all the blessings of the Lord as well. Which is impossible. So they started looking to places where compromise was the rule, in order to compromise. They started wandering. But God didn’t. God remained. God was faithful. God preserved His people – a remnant that was faithful to Him. God knew that if they repented, He would accept them – so He urged them to repent.

God looks after those who are obedient. Because they go and stay where He says to go and stay, they are eligible for the BLESSING. It’s worked that way since the beginning of beginnings. He tells us what is right, He gives us the choice to obey, and if we do, we get everything that He says that He has for us. That simple. Because we rebelled and we all were infected with Sin, it isn’t EASY to make that choice. But it is a simple choice. His way is the BEST way.

God is merciful and God REMEMBERS covenant. God isn’t done with Israel. We as Gentiles have been grafted into God’s family tree. We haven’t replaced the tree. There is a remnant still. God has His hands on His people still. There is a restoration coming still. God’s Word is true. It is faithful. And He keeps His promises. We will join together, enjoying God together, rejoicing and worshipping together. We will see it. It will happen. And it will be yet another proof of God’s keeping of His Word. It will be a tremendous opportunity to rejoice and worship Him. Because who else could do it?

Summary

We have all been given promises from God. The Jews have some. The Gentiles have some. Some promises are for both groups. We are children of God together. Some original and some step-children. But all children. We can all look to the promises and know that God will keep them. His personal promises to you, His promises to believers in Jesus, and His promises to nations. He keeps them all. He is GRACIOUS to us. He preserves us for His promises. Always remember: God keeps His promises. ALWAYS. When things happen to make it seem like He won’t, we either don’t understand the promise or we’re looking in the wrong spot. God is faithful and true.