And He [the LORD] said: “Behold, I make a
covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done
in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the
LORD. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.” Exodus 34:10 (NKJV)
While the United States Marine Corps and several U.S. Army units have the motto of Always Faithful, I recall reading a news article about the U.S. Coast Guard’s official and unofficial mottos. The article summed up both readiness and faithful service. The official USCG motto is Semper Paratus (Always Ready). The unofficial motto is in any disaster or storm, “You have to go out, but you don’t have to come back.” It sums up the faithfulness of this naval branch to risk everything to save lives in peril. It is one thing to be ready but another to be trustworthy and faithful to fulfill your mission. While talk is cheap, there is no higher value one can place on faithfulness.
Moses was
perhaps under the impression when he led the Children of Israel out of Egypt,
he would have a quick journey back to the land God promised to Abraham’s
descendants (Genesis 17:8) That was God’s original design, but Israel’s disbelief
changed what might have been a journey of perhaps weeks to one that lasted 40
years.
In all that
time God was always ready and faithful to meet all of Israel's needs. He led them by a 24/7 presence in a cloud by day and pillar of
fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22; 14:19), He opened the Red Sea allowing them to escape
pursuit by the Egyptian army (Ex. 14:21-31), He supplied them with bread and
meat (Ex. 16:4, 13-18), while giving enough water to sustain them (Ex. 17:2-6,
Numbers 20:2-13). In 40 years of wandering, He even kept their clothes and
shoes from wearing out (Deuteronomy 29:5). He was always ready to meet their
needs and consistently faithful to do so.
In the same
manner God remains faithful for us for He never changes (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8).
Jesus posed the question to His listeners if they being wicked knew how to give
good gifts to their children how much more will their perfect Father in
heaven give them good things (Matthew 7:11)? Whatever your current struggle, this same
unchangeable perfect God who provided for Israel will work in your current circumstance(s)
perfectly.
I challenge
you to put God to a 3-month test of His faithfulness. Offer to Him a 90-day
sacrifice of trust and hope, asking Him to show you His power in faithfulness.
It is OK to ask (Philippians 4:6). Keep a daily prayer journal that can confirm
how God is faithful to work in your circumstances.
When I did
this myself, I marveled at how much of the changes I saw happened in myself,
changes that increased my faith in the reality and power of Jesus Christ and brought peace that was beyond my understanding (Philippians 4:7). It is God’s faithful covenant with those who love Him. Trust
Him. Ask Him. As He says, “It is an awesome thing I will do with you.”
Maranatha,
Ken
