“When God made His promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself.”

Hebrews 6:13
My family and I recently watched the 1982 movie E.T. In one scene young Elliott forces his older brother to make a promise and then secure it with an oath; “Now, swear it. The most excellent promise you can make. Swear as my only brother on our lives!” When a promise alone just isn’t enough, we ask the other party to add to the promise in order to make us feel secure.
God understands this dynamic, and in His love for us, He has graciously not only given us His word, but also He backs it up with the most excellent promise He can make: He swore by Himself. The author of Hebrews says the promise to Abraham was, by extension and by faith, a promise made to us. We are those promised descendants, and Jesus is our perfect, unfailing, forever high priest.
When the circumstances of life feel overwhelming, when you wonder if the promises that God makes in the Bible are really true for you, remember that He makes vows for His name’s sake. And what He does for His name’s sake always has the good of His children in mind.



Scripture Focus

Hebrews 6:13-20

Insight

“Feelings come and feelings go,/ and feelings are deceiving;/ my warrant is the Word of God–/naught else is worth believing.” (Martin Luther)

Bible In A Year

  • Genesis 25-26
  • Psalm 13
  • Matthew 21

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