“The Promises of God in the Old Testament is a unique guide that helps Christians explore biblical promises to enrich their faith and live a purpose-driven life. This book provides practical tools for personal exploration through Bible study and prayer. Discover how this book can be an important resource in your devotions.”
Christians believe in two distinct testaments of the Bible, the Old and the New. The Old Testament tells of God’s Covenant with His chosen people, and includes more than 30 proclamations from God including His promise to send a Savior.
Promises Of God In The Old Testament
The Bible is filled with the promises of God. From Genesis to Revelation we read of normal people that received the promises of God. These promises are sealed by the highest authority, God’s word. In Hebrews 6:13 it says, “For when God made a promise to Abraham since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself.”
How Can We Trust in God’s Promises?
When God makes a promise to his people, it will come to pass. What is a promise? A promise is a covenant or declaration that one will do exactly what they say or something will happen just as pledged.
We Can Count on God’s Promises Because of God’s Character
First of all, he’s not a man. He’s not human. He doesn’t have a fallen nature. He’s never sinned, never lied. He is the essence of righteousness and can’t lie. He is the truth and only speaks the truth.
We Can Count On God’s Promises Because God is Unchanging
Unlike us, God never changes in his person or his purposes. We may change our minds as we age, or our situation changes or we get more information. But God doesn’t decide to do something then a thousand years later realized it was a bad decision.
We Can Count On God’s Promises Because of His Infinite Wisdom
Because of his infinite wisdom, when he makes a promise, it’s the best possible promise he can make. He won’t discover later he could have made a better promise. God never needs to make course corrections. He doesn’t make it up as he goes along. He knows the end from the beginning.
If he has said it, he will do it. If he has spoken it, he will fulfill it. He’s not messing around with your life.
For these reasons, we should trust God’s promises and heed his warnings
He’s going to do what he said. Sooner or later. Even if it hasn’t happened yet. Even if you can’t see how he could possibly fulfill it. Even if your eyes, ears, mind and feelings are screaming it can’t happen.
If God has made unshakable promises, we should devour his word
I want to know all God’s promised. I want to know what I can pray for. What I can count on. What to hang my hope on when everything around looks bleak.
If we drift from reading God’s word, our faith will wane, our prayer life will wane, our joy will wane and our hope will wane.
So let’s read God’s word, grab on to his promises, then say in the face of hopelessness, God is not a man. He won’t lie or change his mind. He said it, so he’ll do it. I believe it. Thank you, my unchanging Lord! (excerpt provided by Mark Altrogge, theblazingcenter.com)
Seven Promises of God in the Old Testament
Genesis: “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.” (Genesis 17:4)
When God spoke to Abraham (Genesis 17:4) he declared that he would bless him and make him a father of many nations. This is exactly what we see throughout the Bible and history.
Exodus: “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.” (Exodus 2:24-25)
One of the greatest promises God made in history was the deliverance of his people from Egyptian slavery. God would call a man by the name of Moses to declare to Pharaoh that it was time for his people to be set free. Pharaoh didn’t take God’s word seriously, and the effect was catastrophic.
We read of the many plagues God sent in Egypt that led Pharaoh, in the end, to release God’s people only to regret it and cause more problems for his armies. The nation of Israel crossed the red sea and was set free after 430 years of slavery.
Deuteronomy: “The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him.” (Deuteronomy 28:9)
God made a promise to the nation of Israel, that if they kept his commandments he would bless them abundantly. If they would obey his word and truth, he would set them high above all the nations on the earth.
Joshua: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
In the book of Joshua God would speak through him to encourage the people of Israel to not be discouraged, to not be afraid, God is with them wherever they go. In the middle of the storm, he is right there.
1 Samuel: “The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” (1 Samuel 16:1)
Saul had been the one that the Lord chose to rule as king. The problem with Saul was that he didn’t listen to the Lord and disobeyed his orders. God then decided that David would be the New King. His word was sealed in heaven and David ruled and became king.
Isaiah: “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Isaiah was speaking to people that were broken, discouraged, and running weary. He would tell them to wait on the Lord for he will renew their strength and hearts. This promise is beautiful and can be applied to us today. If we wait on God he will show up, he will renew our being.
Jeremiah: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
The nation of Israel was going through a time of oppression. They would spend 70 years in captivity, but God would be waiting for them with plans to prosper them – not plans of evil but of hope, love, and peace.
The Lord loves his people and this promise shows his relentless pursuit. In our lives, God has good plans for us, filled with hope and a future.
Eight Promises of God in the New Testament
Matthew: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
As life goes on, we forget our foundation as the people of God. Sometimes we begin to place other things before the Lord, and this verse is a perfect reminder of his promise if we put him first in all things.
Seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness will open the door to all other needs in this world. Financial needs, relationships, and even small details can be overlooked.
John: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12)
This promise is in the context of salvation. If you believe and receive Jesus, he will give you the power to become a child of God. You don’t need to work for your salvation – it’s a gift from God when we simply believe in him.
Romans: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Sometimes life doesn’t turn out the way we thought it would. At times, circumstances outside of our control enter our life and put us in a place of struggle or pain. Even bad things happen to the people of God, but Paul wrote “all things work together for good.” whatever the enemy meant for evil, God’s love and power are enough to turn around for good.
2 Corinthians: “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)
Paul reminds us that the promises of God are rock solid. If God said something, it will come to pass. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and believe him at his Word. God isn’t a man – his promises are guaranteed.
Philippians: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
When we rely on our strength, we will fall short. If we rely on God, he will give us his strength and power to overcome in this world. His word is a promise to us that we can do all things through him.
2 Timothy: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
This promise reminds us that God didn’t give us a spirit of fear but one of power, love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). When you feel fear coming over you, claim this promise over your life. His word is sharper than any two-edged sword, we read in Hebrews 4:12.
Hebrews: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
When we need mercy and grace his Word promises that if we draw near to the throne of God, we will receive and find it there. Prayer is our connection to God. He is ready to listen.
Revelation: “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:5)
Jesus promises us that we will never be blotted out of the book of life. Once it is written, it is sealed with his promise to keep it forever. Our salvation is guaranteed, Jesus will confess our name before the Father and the angels.
gods promises to his people
- God’s promises never fail. — Joshua 21:45 “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”
- God is always good. — Psalm 119:68 “You are good and do good. Teach me your statues.”
- God is always with me — Joshua 1:9 “This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
- God is faithful — Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
- God is kind and compassionate — Isaiah 54:10 “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love {kindness} for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
- God designed me for a purpose. — Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
- God loves me deeply, no matter what. — Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- God gives me power for my life — 2 Timothy 1:7 “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
- God’s presence brings joy — Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
- God will fill me to overflowing with hope — Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
- God will strengthen and help me — Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
- God will give you wisdom –James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
- God promises you an abundant life — “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
- God has a plan for my life — Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
- God can be trusted — Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”