Daily Devotions
Genesis
"I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me." Psalm 57:2
Text: Genesis 22:1-24
“BY MYSELF I HAVE SWORN” (Genesis 22:16)
If God were simply to say a word, it would be good enough! However, to strengthen the force of His promise, an oath was also uttered. Since there wasn’t one greater than God Himself, any oath undertaken would have this statement attached. Majestically, God uttered an oath to back up His promise to Abraham! What a tremendous experience to hear this Word of God!
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS STATEMENT
How significant was this statement? The Book of Hebrews picked up on this great statement and wrote one of the most profound and encouraging theological statements!
“For when God made a promise to Abraham, because
He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying,
‘Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply
you.’ And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the
promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for
confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God,
determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise
the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,
that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God
to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for
refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have
as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which
enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has
entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.”HEBREWS 6:13-20
The following thoughts may be highlighted:-
1. “The Immutability of His Counsel”
This was one of the main things God wanted to get across to Abraham! His counsel, even His will, that He would bless his descendants, was immutable!
2. “We might have strong consolation”
The promise was not just made to Abraham! That powerful word from the Lord was for all who through faith, became heirs of Abraham. Through this oath, God had bound Himself to keep His Word of promise!
3. “Jesus… High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”
The Angel of the Lord who was also High Priest forever has entered into the very Presence of God as our forerunner. All who have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ may now have this hope as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast. This great God will bless us as He has promised!