Israel

Pastor Stephen Cheung critiques “we are fast becoming a people who cannot make promises….we’re a culture that is terrified of making promises, and we are more terrified of having to keep them.” People today want the freedom to keep their options open. The problem with this cultural situation is that such things as faithfulness, loyalty and steadfastness can have no serious meaning. Without promise keeping, ultimately we lose friendship and any enduring relationships. This contrasts with God, who initiates the rescue of humanity with a promise. He binds himself to Abraham, and thereby to humanity and the earth through a promise, and calls his image bearers to be promise keepers as well, as those who would be fully human.

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Scripture: Genesis 12:1-3

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
    will be blessed through you.

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