A PROMISE REMEMBERED

Nathan Beasley

Central Truth

God performs miracles for His people and for His glory.

Then God said, "Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the LORD, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you." (Exodus 34:10)

Moses Makes New Tablets

1 The LORD said to Moses, “Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2 Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain. 3 No one shall come up with you, and let no one be seen throughout all the mountain. Let no flocks or herds graze opposite that mountain.” 4 So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. 5 The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands,^{1

34:7
Or to the thousandth generation} forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. 9 And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”

The Covenant Renewed

10 And he said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or 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.

Footnotes

[1] 34:7 Or to the thousandth generation

There are moments in our lives that stand out as miraculous. What's interesting about these moments is that they're the coupling of two opposite emotions -- incredible fear and overwhelming joy.

The Israelites were definitely afraid. They were led out of Egypt without knowing where they were going or what lay ahead. They had just broken their first covenant with the Lord and saw their leader, Moses, angrily rebuke them. But soon after, unbeknownst to them, Moses had met with God and produced a new covenant: a promise of miracles that would bring unimaginable joy to His people and fear to His enemies and let His glory be seen throughout the world.

When I was 12, my mom decided one day at random that I needed to put on my seat belt. I argued back, but to no avail. At the very next traffic light, our car was smashed by another car running a red light. In the moment of impact I experienced some of the worst fear of my life. But as seconds turned to minutes, I began to comprehend the miracle that just happened. Though I didn't know God then, He still kept His covenant, promised in the key verse. Since that day, whenever I find myself in moments of fear, I can find peace that God has a miracle planned for me. It may not be sudden, but it will happen.

Right now, there are people reading this who are in the midst of fear and chaos. Know that the world shouts, while God whispers. I don't know what you may be going through, but God most certainly does. I urge you to stand firm in God's promise! Remind yourself of His covenant and know that overwhelming joy lies ahead of you in Christ.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

1. What's the difference between a blessing and a miracle?

2. What was the last miraculous event in your life? How did that event affect you? How did that event ultimately bring glory to God?

3. If you could promise God one thing right now, what would it be?