The Revelation of God

Lesson 9

Lesson Text—Deuteronomy 7:6-7

Deuteronomy 7:6-76 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.


7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:


Deuteronomy 7:8-108 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of

Pharaoh king of Egypt.


9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Lesson Text—Deuteronomy 7:10

Deuteronomy 7:10And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

Focus Verse—Deuteronomy 7:9

Deuteronomy 7:9Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God,

which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and

keep his commandments to a thousand generations.

Focus Thought

God demonstrated Himself to be always faithful throughout all His

dealings with humankind.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureCulture Connection

Jesus—the Consistently Faithful God

The English translation of one of my favorite German Scripture verses states, “The goodness of the Lord has no ending. His mercies never stop. They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness.”

I. God—Immutable in His NatureGod has many attributes such as

love, omniscience, omnipresence, eternality, omnipotence, and others. Would these qualities be significantly meaningful if God was not also faithful? I think not. If His love existed only in the daylight, what would we do at night? If His omnipotence was sporadic, could we depend on Him to guard and protect us? If He were not all knowing, could we trust Him to know the future and to plot our course?

I. God—Immutable in His NatureThe writer of Hebrews stated that

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus is always consistent; He never changes. What He was yesterday, He will be today and tomorrow. His mercies and compassion never fail because God is the same; He’s constant. Because He loves me, He wants only what is best for me—always. Because He is omniscient, He knows what is best for me—always.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureBecause He is omnipotent, He—in His sovereignty—has the power to bring it to pass—always. And because He is faithful, I have no fear of placing my life in His hands.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureContemplating the Topic

Everything we know and believe about God and His Book is based on His faithfulness. We often emphasize being faithful to one another and to God, but today we will examine God’s faithfulness to us. If God were not faithful, any effort of faithfulness on our part would be vain; trusting Him would be futile. But thank the Lord He is faithful in every respect.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureIn this lesson we will investigate three aspects of the faithfulness of God: He is immutable in His nature, faithful in His character, and constant in His dealings.

One of the greatest disappointments in the arena of human suffering is when a friend proves to be unfaithful. The breaking of a friend’s promise dissolves the friendship and crushes us because we expected his fidelity.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureThe world and everything in it is

transitory. But God does not change, making His faithfulness permanent and unchanging as well. We can trust in our divine Friend’s faithfulness because it never wavers. He said, “I am the Lord, I change not” (Malachi 3:6). “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). First we will highlight the slight nuance between the terms “nature” and “character” of God. A closer look at these terms can give us insights from two different perspectives.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureWe also will study God’s constancy in His dealings with us. Deists hold that although God exists and created the universe, He oversees it from a distance and does not interfere with its functioning, somewhat like an absentee landlord. According to deists, after He created the world, He stepped back and stayed out of the affairs of mankind. We know this belief is erroneous for God intervenes very much in the affairs of man, and He does it wisely, justly, and

consistently.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureSearching the Scriptures

God—Immutable in His Nature

A person’s nature is the core of his being; he cannot separate himself from it like separating platelets from whole blood or cream from whole milk. His nature is inherent, inborn. Thus, probing a person’s nature reveals the reality of his person, his essential characteristics and qualities.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureSome people choose to disguise

their nature. They project a contrived persona designed to impress their peers. They act out a personality that reflects only what they want others to see, like furniture made of particleboard and covered with a shiny oak veneer. Although we cannot see beneath the veneer, God can observe the true essence of a person’s nature. The Bible says, “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (I Samuel 16:7)

and “weigheth the spirits” (Proverbs 16:2).

Transparency 1

I. God—Immutable in His NatureIn contrast, the nature of God is

genuine through and through, like furniture made of solid oak. The psalmist wrote, “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end” (Psalm 102:25-27).

A. God Is ImmutableA. God Is Immutable

Four interesting biblical examples provide insights about the immutable nature of God, although at first they may appear to indicate God changed.

1. God repented that He had made man and it grieved His heart (Genesis 6:5-6). This statement does not assume any variableness in the nature or purpose of God, for God never “repents.” (See I Samuel 15:29.)

I. God—Immutable in His NatureAny misunderstanding of this passage would emerge from what repentance means to us as humans. Our repentance and regret arise from our changeableness. Our desires and actions fluctuate according to the temptation, mood, impulse, or circumstance, which necessitate repentance on our part. This is never the case with God.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureThe “repentance” of God simply

refers to what theologians would call “anthropomorphism,” or the feeling of God expressed in a way we can understand. The wickedness and evil imaginations of His beloved human creation pierced His heart with overwhelming grief and disappointment.

2. God repented of His intention to destroy the people of Israel (Exodus 32:14).

I. God—Immutable in His NatureAfter Moses’ desperate intercession for Israel, God “repented” of His intention to destroy the people for worshiping the golden calf. Still, as the unchangeable true and faithful God, Jehovah would not and could not revoke the promises He had given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and therefore, even if He had destroyed the people, He would have fulfilled the promise through Moses by making of him a great nation.

I. God—Immutable in His Nature3. God repented that He had made

Saul king over Israel (I Samuel 15:11, 35). Saul rebelled against God’s instructions when he spared the Amalekite king Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle ostensibly to offer a magnificent sacrifice to the Lord. The prophet Samuel rebuked him and announced God’s rejection of him; Saul admitted his sin and asked for pardon. Sadly, his repentance did not reflect remorse, but alarm at the Lord’s rejection of him.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureSaul pressed his plea for mercy,

hoping God might change His mind, but Samuel declared God would not change His mind and would rip the kingdom away from the lineage of Saul. The prophet said, “The Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent” (I Samuel 15:29). Keil-Delitzch’s translation of I Samuel 15:29 states, God is “the unchangeable One . . . [who] does not lie or deceive, or repent of His purposes.”

I. God—Immutable in His Nature4. God repented of the evil He had intended for Nineveh (Jonah 3:10). When the Ninevites repented of their violent cruelty and sin, even though it did not last, it at least showed their susceptibility to the prophetic word of God. Their willingness to forsake their evil ways allowed God to extend His mercy and grace to them.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureHe did this not only for the sake of Nineveh, but so His own people would see His consistency in forgiving the sins of any repentant people, whether sinners or saints. Although judgment for sin is sure, hope for salvation is just as sure; God will always follow through.

B. Man Is InconsistentB. Man Is Inconsistent

The world is in flux. According to the second law of thermodynamics, commonly known as the Law of Increased Entropy, the quality of matter/energy deteriorates gradually over time. This affects not only the universe and nature, it affects our bodies. Every day we notice some incremental change. As we grow older we begin to lose muscle mass, memory, and eyesight; we acquire wrinkles, illnesses, and aches.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureAlong with that, our possessions get tattered, dented, ripped, and rusted. Relationships change. Families and friendships fracture or mend. Everything is temporary; nothing is constant. To borrow a common biblical phrase, all of these things “come to pass.”

An example of mankind’s changeableness can be seen in an incident at Mount Sinai. Moses delivered God’s message that Israel was to be God’s special treasure, a

kingdom of priests, a holy nation.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureAfter he told them what the Lord required, “all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do” (Exodus 19:8). After they had stated their vows, Moses ascended the mountain and disappeared into the thick cloud that brooded over it.

The people waited for days and weeks, but Moses had not returned. Soon they began to think he would never return. They brought their gold to Aaron, and he made a golden calf.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureWhen the people saw the image, they rejoiced: “These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus 32:4). In Egypt the slaves had worshiped the bull, which also represented Baal in Canaan. Aaron announced, “To morrow is a feast to the Lord” (Exodus 32:5), and the next day they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. The people’s statement coupled with Aaron’s pronouncement implied that they blended worship of God with a

celebration to the pagan gods.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureThus it took only forty days for them to go back on their word, for Moses discovered them celebrating the golden calf when he descended the mountain.

A New Testament example of human changeableness appears in Matthew 26. Jesus had just told the disciples of His impending passion and death when Peter interrupted: “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. . . . Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee” (Matthew 26:33-35).

I. God—Immutable in His NatureWhen the Temple guards came and arrested Jesus in the Garden, Peter drew his sword and took a swipe at one of the servants of the high priest. But that show of impassioned loyalty evaporated during the long, anxious hours in the cold and shadowy courtyard of the high priest’s palace. Before the night was over, Peter had betrayed that loyalty three times, as Jesus had said.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureChange is woven into the fabric of mankind’s nature, but the nature of God never wavers. Our moods rise and fall, our feelings wax hot and cold, but God remains steady and true from everlasting to everlasting.

A. We Can Trust in His Faithfulness

God—Faithful in His Character

A. We Can Trust in His Faithfulness

Jonah wanted God to hurl fire and brimstone down on Nineveh for the unspeakable atrocities they had committed. The last thing he wanted was for them to repent because he knew God’s merciful character. The reluctant prophet finally arrived in the city and for three days roared out warnings of God’s imminent judgment.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureThen he climbed a hill and situated himself at the best vantage point to see what would happen. He waited all day and all night. Nothing. As soon as Nineveh repented, the mercy, grace, and kindness of God would not let Him destroy the place. (See Jonah 3-4.)

On the surface it seems as though Jonah accused God of inconsistency, but underneath the prophet’s fury was the reluctant testimony to the immutable character of God.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureEven though Jonah was not thinking straight, he did not doubt these characteristics. Jonah—not God—was the inconsistent one.

Peter’s denial of Christ reveals the mercy and faithfulness of God. Two times servants identified Peter as one of Christ’s disciples, and he swore he was not. Finally one of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had severed, accused, “I know you’re one of Jesus’ disciples. I saw you in the Garden.”

I. God—Immutable in His NaturePeter shouted, “For the last time, I’m telling you I don’t even know the man.” Then a rooster’s crow pierced the air, and from a distance the Lord turned and looked at Peter (Luke 22:61; John 18:26).

That one sorrowful look plunged a dagger of grief into Peter’s soul and he went out and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:75). Peter’s repentance opened a channel through which God could pour His mercy.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureAfter Jesus’ resurrection the angel told the women, “Go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you” (Mark 16:7, emphasis added). The Lord’s characteristic forgiveness and His permanent calling of Peter would not let Him omit the repentant disciple from His invitation.

Character is a composite of a person’s characteristics—the attributes, traits, and abilities that distinguish him from any other.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureThese characteristics are not momentary aberrations of the personality, but comprise the basic building blocks of a person’s nature. Thus, for the purpose of this lesson, nature is the latent fabric of an individual, and character is the dynamic that manifests that nature. We should note that a person can step outside his character and act “uncharacteristically”; but God cannot.

Transparency 2

I. God—Immutable in His NatureWe can never be like God in this

regard, for some of His attributes are “incommunicable”; that is, “they cannot be communicated to human beings” (Daniel Segraves, If God Loves Me, Why Am I Hurting? 43). God’s incommunicable attributes are omnipotence, omniscience, sovereignty, and immutability. Some of His communicable attributes are love, faithfulness, and holiness. Therefore in some ways we can be like God; in other ways we cannot.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureGod can be nothing but immutable; our human state constantly fluctuates. God can be nothing but faithful; and although we can acquire this trait to a certain extent, sometimes we are not.

All of God’s attributes and characteristics are constant. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

B. We Can Trust Even When We Do Not Understand

B. We Can Trust Even When We Do Not Understand

If we observe inconsistencies in another individual in the area of personal integrity, we tend not to trust them, for we do not understand why they behaved or responded in such a manner. By the same token, people tend not to believe in God based on their inability to understand some of the things God does.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureHowever, misunderstanding a peer

and misunderstanding God are diametrically opposed to each other. When people act in unexpected or erratic ways, it is only natural for us to draw back with uncertainty and doubt. We too are human and our inconsistent actions have disappointed and dismayed others. However, God’s ways are worthy of trust.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureHe said, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). Our trust in Him assures we can continue believing in Him even if we do not understand what He does.

Job did not understand the reason for his suffering. And as far as we know, God never did reveal the reason to Job. Further, throughout his trial Job did not hear one encouraging word from God. He could not find God,

even though he searched.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureYet in spite of this he knew God was there somewhere and was intrinsically faithful: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold” (Job 19:25-27). Job can teach us that regardless of what we go through and whether or not we understand our trials, God is always faithful.

Hebrews 10:23

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he

is faithful that promised;)” (Hebrews 10:23).

A. God Will Always Act Based on His Character

God—Constant in His Dealings

A. God Will Always Act Based on His Character

Many people do unto others as others do to them. If the “other” keeps his promise, they keep theirs. If the other is fair, they are fair. But God does not base His faithfulness on the reciprocation of others. He is always faithful and worthy of trust even when we are not.

I. God—Immutable in His Nature“If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself” (II Timothy 2:13). None of His actions will ever conflict with His character, for He cannot act apart from the basis of His character.

God’s faithfulness means He will always follow through, whether the situation calls for His judgment or His mercy. For example, He gave Malachi a list of grievances against Judah for their disregard of Him and His law.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureHe warned of certain judgment for those who would not repent; but for those who did, He promised mercy, forgiveness, and healing. He said, “For I am the Lord, I change not” (Malachi 3:6). They could trust Him to follow through on His promises, whether for punishment or for salvation.

Abraham trusted in God’s faithful dealings with him. He left his god, his home, his family, and his friends at the Lord’s command.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureEven though He never found the “city” during his lifetime, he believed God had built it. Even though he had to wait twenty-five years for the promised son, “he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Romans 4:20-21).

B. God Will Always Keep His Covenants

B. God Will Always Keep His Covenants

Note the words “the faithful God, which keepeth covenant” (Deuteronomy 7:9). The Lord said, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips” (Psalms 89:34). When God covenants with us, we can depended on Him for He is constant in His dealings. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (II Corinthians 1:20).

I. God—Immutable in His NatureGod’s covenants differ radically

from the covenants of mankind. Men can shake hands to close a business deal; they can sign a contract legally binding them to its provisions. In a courtroom they can swear with one hand on the Bible and the other hand raised to God. In church before God and a hundred witnesses they can pledge to share their lives with their spouse until death separates them. But all of these temporal covenants can and have been broken by the deviousness of man.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureUnlike mankind, God keeps His promises. “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it” (I Thessalonians 5:24). He will do what He said He will do. There is no greater guarantee than this, for it is backed by the Word.

The contracts and covenants of men often expire after a specific amount of time. For example, the fine print of deeds to some time-share properties may indicate that ownership expires in twenty-five years, although this provision is often not advertised.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureAnother example is the law of eminent domain, in which the government has given itself permission to confiscate private real or personal property and use it for a specified purpose.

In 2005 the Supreme Court affirmed the authority of New London, Connecticut, to take non-blighted private property by eminent domain, and then transfer it for a dollar a year to a private developer for the sole purpose of increasing municipal revenues.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureAfter four years and over $80 million spent from public funds, nothing had been built on the taken land. The corporation that would have benefited from the development then announced it would close its New London research facility, shortly before the expiration of its ten-year tax abatement agreement with the city. (Since then the Supreme Courts of several states have ruled to disallow such takings under their state constitutions.)

I. God—Immutable in His NatureThe Lord’s covenants come with no

expiration date, even when others are not faithful to the covenant. After the Israelites entered Canaan, some of the tribes, such as Judah and Simeon, aggressively took over the territories of their inheritance and either destroyed or drove out the inhabitants. Most of the other tribes, however, such as Manasseh, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan, failed to drive out the inhabitants from the land Joshua had allotted to them, and did not destroy the existing altars.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureIsrael’s close proximity to the

Amorites led them to forge alliances with them. Still, the angel of the Lord appeared to them and reminded, “I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you” (Judges 2:1). The Israelites wept with remorse over their faithlessness and sacrificed to the Lord in the place they named Bochim (the weepers).

I. God—Immutable in His NatureAs long as Joshua and the elders of

Israel lived, the people served God. Before Joshua died, he spoke soberly to them about critical choices they must make, and they all vowed, “The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey” (Joshua 24:24). However, after “that generation were gathered unto their fathers . . . there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10).

I. God—Immutable in His NatureGod said He keeps His

commandments to a thousand generations. If a generation is thirty years, that would be thirty thousand years. Obviously, Moses did not mean that God’s covenant promises had an expiration date. He used the phrase “a thousand generations” to indicate an interminable amount of time. This is illustrated by the fact that in the twenty-first century God still honors the ancient covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

I. God—Immutable in His Nature“Because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand. . . . Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:8-9).

I. God—Immutable in His Nature“Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” a great

hymn sung since Thomas O. Chisholm wrote the lyrics and William M. Runyan wrote the music in 1923, beautifully celebrates God’s immutability. Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;There is no shadow of turning with Thee;Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not:As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great Is Thy FaithfulnessGreat is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!Morning by morning new mercies I see.All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto Me!

Undoubtedly Chisholm was inspired by Lamentations 3:22-23: “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy

faithfulness.”

Transparency 3

I. God—Immutable in His NatureInternalizing the Message

Our King is “eternal, immortal, invisible” (I Timothy 1:17). Because God is immutable and eternal, His purposes cannot be frustrated. He is the ever-living One, and what He has promised He can and will accomplish.

I. God—Immutable in His NatureThe covenant He made with the Jews

is not the only everlasting covenant. God made a new covenant, which includes the church and all who answer His call to covenant. The terms of the old covenant included an eternal inheritance; the terms of the new covenant include an eternal inheritance as well: “[Jesus] is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they

which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance”

(Hebrews 9:15).

I. God—Immutable in His Nature“The children of thy servants shall

continue, and their seed shall be established before thee” (Psalm 102:28). Because God is eternal, He has the power to grant eternal life to His children. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish” (John 10:27-28).

I. God—Immutable in His NatureGod’s covenant shall abide; His children shall abide; His church shall abide. The stability and welfare of the church are guaranteed by the eternality and immutability of the Lord.

The Revelation of God

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