Holding on to God’s promises
For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will take you back. In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while. But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer. “Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you. For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you. Isaiah 54:7-10 NLT
God wants His children to have confidence in Him for His promises are dependable. Isaiah from the text described how God had to show His anger at their sin. But it was not a sustained anger for the disciplining was over and they were returning to their land. “With great compassion I will take you back. In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while” (Isaiah 54:7b-8). God’s compassion, love, and redemption will overshadow His anger for He promised, “With everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer” (Isaiah 54:8b). We are mistaken when we think that God will just condone our rebellion. Whenever we rebel against God and His word, He must discipline us. “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child” (Hebrews 12:5-6). When God disciplines those who belong to Him, He does it out of His love. He cannot permit His children to continue living in sin and get away with it. God disciplines us to bring about repentance and to produce in us right living. “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way” (Hebrews 12:11). It is always for our benefit that God disciplines us. When we turn from our sinful ways, He is glorified. Because of God’s mercy and love, we can always hold on to His promises for He will keep His covenant and His word.
Blessings,
