Genesis 8:21 – When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, he said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of human beings, even though the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth onward. And I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done.

Author : Evangelist Daniel Sushanth

It’s often said that promises are meant to be broken, and unfortunately, many of us have fallen victim to this feeling. From childhood commitments to our parents to promises made to friends and loved ones, it’s all too easy to let our commitments fall by the wayside. Whether it’s failing to study hard, breaking a vow to quit smoking, or simply not showing up when we said we would, the truth is that promises can be difficult to keep, even when we genuinely want to uphold them. 

In the Bible, God makes a promise to humanity that he will never again curse the ground or destroy every living thing as he did in the past. Remarkably, to this day, God has remained faithful to this promise.

From the book of Genesis, where God speaks to Noah about his plans to end every living creature on the earth due to their wickedness. Despite this initial warning, God ultimately decides to spare Noah and his family, along with a select group of animals, as a sign of his commitment to his promise.

In the Bible, God instructed Noah to build an ark of wood and gave him specific instructions on how to construct it. Noah and his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, along with Noah himself, who was six hundred years old at the time, obeyed God and built the ark. God commanded Noah to bring two of every living creature, male and female, onto the ark to keep them alive during a coming flood that would wipe out every living thing on earth.

Noah followed God’s instructions and took seven pairs of every clean animal, male and female, and two of every unclean animal, male and female, onto the ark. God established a covenant with Noah, promising to save him and his family from the flood. He also promised never to curse the ground or destroy every living thing on earth again.

After Noah and his household entered the ark, it rained for forty days and forty nights, covering the earth with floods. The floods destroyed everything except those inside the ark. The rain stopped, and the waters receded after forty days, and Noah and his family came out of the ark. They built an altar and taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it.

God was pleased with the offering and promised never to destroy everything on earth again. Symbolized by a rainbow in the clouds, promising that water would never again become a flood to destroy every creature on earth.

“As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease.”

Instead of inflicting another destructive flood, I shall spare them to enjoy the blessings of grace, through a Savior-(Jesus Christ)

God has made numerous promises in the Bible, yet many individuals fail to claim them because we do not meditate on the word of God or study the Holy Bible. It’s like discovering a treasure trove filled with diamonds, jewels, and gold, but failing to explore it.

We worship a Living God who is faithful and loving, and who offers these promises to those who seek them. Promises should be taken seriously and not broken. Making a promise is a commitment that we should honor to another person or to ourselves. While it can be tempting to make promises that we can’t keep, or to break them when circumstances change, doing so can harm our relationships and undermine trust.

Instead, we should strive to keep our word and make promises thoughtfully, only when we are truly committed to fulfilling them. And if we do fail to keep a promise, we should take responsibility, offer a sincere apology, and do everything we can to make things right.

Our ability to keep our promises is a reflection of our character and integrity. By valuing our commitments and doing our best to fulfill them, we can earn the trust and respect of others, strengthen our relationships, and build a reputation as people of honor and integrity.

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Remember that prayer is a powerful tool that can help you claim the promises of God in your life. Trust in Him, seek His will, and believe that He will fulfil His promises in His perfect timing.

• Prayer for provision: “Father, I claim your promise in Philippians 4:19 that you will supply all my needs according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Please provide for me and my family, and help me to trust in your provision and not worry about tomorrow.” In Jesus name – Amen
• Prayer for healing: ” Father, I claim your promise in Isaiah 53:5 that by your wounds, we are healed. Please touch my body and heal me from every sickness and disease. Give me strength to endure this trial and faith to believe that you are working all things together for my good.” In Jesus name – Amen
• Prayer for guidance: “Father, I claim your promise in Proverbs 3:5-6 to trust in you with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. Please guide me in the decisions I need to make and give me discernment to know your will. I surrender my plans and desires to you and trust that you will lead me in the right path.” In Jesus name – Amen
• Prayer for peace: “Father, you are God of peace, I claim your promise in Philippians 4:7 that your peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and mind. Bless me with peace and help me to rest in your presence and trust in your love.” In Jesus name – Amen ======================================================

From Past history where a promise was broken:

In 1941, the Japanese government signed the Tripartite Pact with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy, which was an alliance aimed at countering the Allied powers. As part of this alliance, the Japanese government promised to respect the neutrality of the Soviet Union. However, in 1945, with the tide of the war turning against Japan, the Japanese government broke this promise and launched a surprise attack against the Soviet Union in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol.

The attack was a disaster for Japan, and it contributed to the Soviet Union’s decision to enter the war against Japan. The Japanese government’s broken promise to respect the Soviet Union’s neutrality had significant consequences for the war in the Pacific and the eventual outcome of World War II. It serves as a reminder of the importance of trust and credibility in international relations, and the potential consequences of breaking promises or betraying alliances.

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From Past history where a promise was broken:

During the Holocaust, the Nazi regime made false promises to Jews and other persecuted groups, such as Roma and disabled people, in order to deceive them into cooperating or to quell resistance. One example of this was the deception used to transport Jews to concentration camps. They were told that they were being relocated to new homes and workplaces, and were even provided with propaganda about better living conditions. However, upon arriving at the camps, they were subjected to inhumane living conditions, forced labor, and ultimately, extermination.

Another example was the establishment of quarters, where Jews were forced to live in crowded and unsanitary conditions, with limited access to food, medicine, and other basic necessities. They were promised that the ghettos would provide a safe haven from persecution, but in reality, they were merely a temporary holding place before being sent to concentration camps. The broken promises of the Nazi regime during the Holocaust serve as a chilling reminder of the devastating consequences of deception and betrayal, and the importance of upholding the dignity and rights of all individuals.

Frequently Asked Questions –

• Q: Why did God decide to flood the earth?
  A: According to the Bible, God saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5). So God decided to wipe out all living beings from the earth with a flood, except for Noah and his family who were righteous in God’s eyes.
• Q: How did God communicate with Noah about the upcoming flood?
  A: God spoke directly to Noah and instructed him to build an ark, which would serve as a means of escape from the coming flood. God also gave specific instructions about the dimensions and design of the ark, as well as the animals that Noah was to bring on board.
• Q: How long did it rain during the flood?
  A: According to the Bible, the flood lasted for 40 days and 40 nights, during which time the rain poured down and the waters rose above the highest mountains.
• Q: How did Noah know when it was safe to leave the ark?
  A: After the rain stopped and the waters began to recede, Noah sent out a raven and then a dove to see if the waters had receded enough for the birds to find a place to land. When the dove returned with an olive leaf in its beak, Noah knew that the waters had receded enough for the bird to find a living tree. After waiting for a while longer, Noah and his family finally left the ark when God instructed them to do so.
• Q: What covenant did God make with Noah after the flood?
  A: God promised never again to destroy all living beings on earth with a flood, and He established a covenant with Noah and all living creatures, symbolized by a rainbow in the clouds, as a sign of this promise.

##Living by Faith##