God Doesn’t Make Extravagant
Claims or Promises
By Peter Crause
Numbers
By
and large, most advertising is prone to exaggeration and making extravagant
claims concerning the product presented. Such phrases as “money back guarantee”
carry little weight or truth in the society we live in today. I have had
numerous complaints concerning products bought that were substandard, but have
yet to receive a reply or “money back” as promised. When the “product” doesn’t
perform, it is always the “user’s fault” – not following directions properly –
or is it? Maybe the real truth is that the “product” or “service” was actually
inferior to what was portrayed in the advertising. The extravagant claims where
it seems each new “ad” tries to “outdo” all others are merely aimed at gullible
folks to relieve them of their hard-earned cash.
Unfortunately,
with time we tend to become “hardened” and skeptical of all advertising and
when we do face truth we do not heed it. I wonder how much influence this trend
has on our willingness or ability to believe God. I wonder if this “hardening”
makes us indifferent to the promises in the scriptures – makes us consider
everything as exaggeration.
In
our scripture reference, I think we see this attitude of doubt and unbelief
possibly surfacing in the mind of Moses. I’m sure it had nothing to do with
“advertising” exposure, but possibly was due to the seeming delay in
fulfillment of the promises. What these promises were is immaterial here, but
the fact of doubt and unbelief is our focus. Here are some of these that have
surfaced in my thoughts:
-
God can’t do it
-
God can do it for others but not for me
-
God doesn’t care
-
He’s forgotten about me
-
I must be out of His will
-
Satan is too powerful
-
The promises were for the early Church only
-
The promises were for
-
God helps those who help themselves
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It’s up to me to make it happen – I’m tired of waiting
-
Etcetera; etcetera
Anyone else have thoughts like these or am I unique? I wonder
where these thoughts come from – Satan maybe? I take courage when I read of the
failures of God’s heros of faith. They may have failed, but God was always faithful and fulfilled His
part. Abraham and Sarah failed by trying to help God fulfill the promise of a
son – yet God fulfilled His promise. Moses failed many times; yet God didn’t.
so when I fail, as I often do, I can take courage in the sure fact that God
cannot lie or fail and will fulfill His side – He is a “covenant keeping” God.
There is a tendancy among some to “shorten God’s hand” in
their thinking because of seeming delays in fulfilment. We need to persevere in
faith and patiently wait. God has reasons for delay of which we will only
become aware of in retrospect. God’s Word will always come to pass – be assured
of that. Faith will accelerate the arrival of the answers we seek. God delights
in us trusting Him. Take control of that attitude of apathy and unbelief. Don’t
let the influence of the world and society defile your faith and trust in your
Lord. Look! Listen! And believe! In the Lord of course!
If you have doubts and think God’s promises are exagerated
and extravagant and not likely to be fulfilled; confess this unbelief as the
sin it is to Him and like the disciples prayed: “Lord increase our faith!”
God never promises what He doesn’t intend to do. He can do
anything and thus doesn’t promise what He cannot do. It was so in Moses’ day –
it is so in our day. Keep strong in faith and receive!