Day 58/365- Number 2:32

"Promise Keeper"

In summary, the troops of Israel listed by their families totaled 603,550. (Numbers 2:32 NLT)

God keeps his promises. We know this, right? We often take this for granted however. We need to be reminded of this. Almost daily we are tempted to doubt the promises of God. We are tempted to think that he might not actually do what he says he will do. This has more to do with our limited perspective than his actual lack of trustworthiness.

Here in Numbers, we see that the total number of troops that Israel now has is over 600,000. That number doesn't include women, children, & men beyond the age of military eligibility. What significance does this have?

God told Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky & the sand on the beach. But it seemed as though God's promises would be derailed with the lack of an heir & God's subsequent command for Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. It seemed like God's promises were going to be derailed in the life of Joseph. It seemed like God's promises were derailed in Egypt. Notice the common word in all of these phrases: seemed. God delivers on his promises no matter what the circumstances seem to us. He is faithful even when we think he is late. God keeps his promises.

We begin to see the descendants of Abraham taking shape into that uncountable nation that God once promised that they would be. They are well on their way to inheriting the promises that God has made to them. God is faithful & he always keeps his promises.

The ultimate way we see God keep his promises is in his son. God promised to send a messiah, a descendant that would fulfill all the hopes of his people. God goes further still. Not only does he fulfill the hope of his people but also those who aren't his people so that he might bring them to himself. People waited for centuries for him to come & it seemed as if God had forgotten about this promise. In fact, many Jewish people are still waiting for him to come. But God has kept his promise & he keeps them all. Christ has come & purchased a people for himself so that we can be in Christ & therefore, heirs of the promises of God.