Promise Made – Promise Kept

I remember growing up and learning the value of a promise. I remember making “pinky promises” and “cross my heart and hope to die” promises. I’m sure that I had to be guided and taught the value of telling the truth and keeping my word. I know that when a person makes promises that the mean what they say for the most part. For example, when a politician makes a promise to a certain group of people, he or she fully intends to keep that promise. (I realize that I’m being fairly optimistic! I’m trying to give them the benefit of the doubt.) If I make a promise and then don’t keep it, I’m pretty much a liar.

The family tribes of Reuben & Gad approached Moses and asked for the land where they were camped. They liked what they saw and didn’t really want to go into the Promised Land to settle. They promised that they would get their families all set up there, but that their fighting men would go with the rest of the nation and fight for their inheritance. Moses knows that he will not be alive to see this promise kept so he issues a gentle but firm warning. Check this out…

23 ‘But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.

31 The Gadites and Reubenites answered, ‘Your servants will do what the Lord has said. 32 We will cross over before the Lord into Canaan armed, but the property we inherit will be on this side of the Jordan.’ (Numbers 32:23, 31-32 NIV)

Looking back at history, these two tribes along with the half-tribe of Manassah did complete their promise.

When I connect with someone who is honest and trustworthy, I can put my trust and confidence in him or her. They will not tell me just what I want to hear; they will tell me the truth. I remember my Mom telling me as a kid to “be sure my sins will find me out”. She was trying to underscore that when I sin in secret, it will be found out. The Lord is my Accountability Partner. I can do nothing without Him knowing it. I can’t be sneaky and get away with anything. There are no secrets with the Lord – He knows everything and He sees everything. It’s really wise to take responsibility for my screw-ups and my sin because He forgives my sin and He dispenses grace like crazy. Sometimes I think the Lord is way too extravagant with His grace until I’m the one who needs it.

I want to be careful to do what I say and always keep my word.

I want to be honest before God and therefore anyone else for that matter.

I want to make promises carefully so that I can keep them completely.

Pressing On!

Dwayne