Is God loyal? (Part I)

2 Corinthians 1: 17-20
"Yes, I changed my mind. Does that show that I change my mind a lot? Do I plan things as people of the world who say yes when they mean no? You know I am not like that! As God is true, my yes means yes. I am not the kind of person who says one thing and means another. Timothy and Silvanus and I have preached to you about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In Him there is no yes and no. In Him is yes. Jesus says yes to all of God’s many promises. It is through Jesus that we say, “Let it be so,” when we give thanks to God."

Loyalty is the virtue that allows us to fulfill what we promise even when circumstances are adverse. We have a God who demands of us loyalty throughout his blessed Word, but ... far beyond that, is God loyal? If we have doubts about this, we can see the following examples:

1. 1. Did God fulfill the promise of Abraham's seed? "When God made a promise to Abraham, He made that promise in His own name because no one was greater. He said, “I will make you happy in so many ways. For sure, I will give you many children.” Abraham was willing to wait and God gave to him what He had promised. When men make a promise, they use a name greater than themselves. They do this to make sure they will do what they promise. In this way, no one argues about it. And so God made a promise. He wanted to show Abraham that He would never change His mind. So He made the promise in His own name. God gave these two things that cannot be changed and God cannot lie. We who have turned to Him can have great comfort knowing that He will do what He has promised. " (Hebrews 6:13-18) and of course "Because Sarah had faith, she was able to have a child long after she was past the age to have children. She had faith to believe that God would do what He promised." (Hebrews 11:11), "The Holy Writings say that Abraham had two sons. One was born from a woman servant (Hagar) who was owned by someone. She had to do what she was told. The other son was born from a woman (Sarah) who was free to work and live as she desired. The son born from the woman servant who was owned by someone was like any other birth. The son born from the free woman was different. That son had been promised by God." (Galatians 4: 22-23)

2. Condition not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah: "Then the Lord said, “The cry against Sodom and Gomorrah is loud. Their sin is very bad. I will now go down and see if they have done as much wrong as the cry against them has told Me they have. And if not, I will know.” Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom. But Abraham still stood before the Lord. Abraham came near and said, “Will You destroy the good also, with the bad? What if there are fifty good people within the city? Will You destroy the place and not save it because of the fifty good people in it? May You never do such a thing as to destroy the good with the bad! May the good never be punished like the bad! You would never do such a thing! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” So the Lord said, “If I find fifty good people in the city of Sodom, I will save the whole place because of them.” Abraham said, “Now see, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am only dust and ashes. What if five of the fifty good people are not so good. Will You destroy the whole city because of five?” The Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five good people there.” Abraham spoke to Him again and said, “What if only forty are found there?” The Lord said, “I will not destroy it if there are forty.” Then Abraham said, “O may the Lord not be angry, and I will speak. What if only thirty are found there?” The Lord said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” Abraham said, “Now see, I have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord. What if twenty are found there?” The Lord said, “I will not destroy it because of the twenty.” Then Abraham said, “O may the Lord not be angry. And I may speak once more. What if ten are found there?” The Lord said, “I will not destroy it because of the ten.” Then the Lord went on His way when He finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place." (Genesis 18: 20-33) How many righteous were there? "Before they went to bed, all the men of the city of Sodom both young and old gathered around the house. They called to Lot, saying, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so we may lie with them.”" (Genesis 19: 4-5), "So Lot went out to speak to his sons-in-law who were to marry his daughters. He said, “Get up! Get out of this place! For the Lord will destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was only joking. When morning came, the angels told Lot to hurry. They said, “Get up. Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Or else you will be destroyed when the city is punished.”" (Genesis 19: 14-15) How many righteous did the Lord find? Did God fulfill the condition?

3. And the promise of the promised land?: "The Lord said to Moses, “Go away from this place, you and the people you have brought out of the land of Egypt. Go to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your children.’ I will send an angel before you. And I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a strong-willed people and I might destroy you on the way.”" (Exodus 33: 1-3) And what happened? "The Lord gave Israel all the land He had promised to give to their fathers. They took it for their own, and lived in it. The Lord gave them peace on every side, just as He had promised their fathers. Not one of all those who hated them could stand in front of them. The Lord gave all those who hated them into their hand. Every good promise which the Lord had made to the people of Israel came true." (Joshua 21: 43-45)

To be continued...


God bless you and have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!

Roldan Ortiz Molinares