“Therefore say to the children of Israel: 'I am the Lord; I will … I will … I will … I will … I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God … I will … I will … I am the Lord.”

- Exodus 6:6-8

Each of those “I wills” introduced a promise the Lord was making to the Hebrews who were living under the burden of Egyptian slavery. These were rescue and redemption promises. His ultimate goal was for His people to know Him as Lord.

Today, we are God's people and we, too, face difficulties. God has promises for us. And His goal for these promises is that we grow in relationship with Him.

I had an experience with God’s promises several years ago. Reading Psalm 37, my attention was drawn to this verse: “I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a native green tree.”

“That sounds like my thyroid cancer,” I thought. “Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.”

In drawing my attention to these words, could God be telling me that my cancer would pass away? Was this a promise?

Yes, it was. But I didn't know for sure until years later. During those intervening years it was God, not the promise, I was trusting. When the third, difficult check for lingering cancer revealed “he could not be found,” I was overcome with love and gratitude to God. He had wanted to speak hope to me and to fulfill His promise. And I heard him.

Why do you think God gives promises to people? Have you experienced a closeness with God because of His promises?