September 16, 2001
"So all the officials and people who entered into this covenant
agreed that they would free their male and female slaves and
no longer hold them in bondage. They agreed, and set them free.
But afterward they changed their minds and took back the slaves
v
they had freed and enslaved them again.
Jeremiah 34:10-11
The latter part of this chapter of Jeremiah records the Israelites making a covenant before God to free their Hebrew slaves. As they faced their impending capture it appears to be a noble act on their part but just a short time later they changed their mind, go back, recapture and enslave all those they had formerly freed. What a horrible thing to do - probably a self serving decision to begin with. With times being rough slaves were just extra mouths to feed and who needed that? But then as soon as times appeared better they realized they needed those slaves. I'm so grateful that is not God's character! He has never made a promise or a covenant that he has failed to keep exactly as he promised. He has never allowed circumstances or the action of individuals, no matter how sinful or dishonorable to him, to cause him to move from his original promise - he has always been faithful to his Word and to his own character. We can look to God and be absolutely sure of all that we see written in His Word!
"God is not a man, that he should lie,
nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill? "
Numbers 23:19