Translate

Sunday, October 16, 2011

God's Goodness in His Permanent Relationships

Genesis 21:33  Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.

In these past several blogs we have explored how to see God's Goodness as the focal point of your Christian walk.  We have noted how God's Goodness can be witnessed through His Promises fulfilled and answered prayer.  In this blog we want to discover how to see God's goodness in the permanent relationships He makes with His people. 

When we speak of that word "permanent", we are referring to God's unending pledge of Himself to those who by His grace evidence faith and trust in Him.  Abraham has been walking with God for over 25 years.  He has experienced the fulfillment of a major promise from God - the birth of his son Isaac.  After meeting and making covenant with a king by the name of Ablimelech, Abraham decides to plant a tree in commemoration of the relationship he has with God.

The tree tells it all
Tamerisk trees are interesting trees that grow in the land of Israel.  From what we know about them, they are the type of plant that flourishes in poor soil and hostile environments.  Undoubtedly Abraham saw himself as that Tamerisk tree.  By God's grace he had flourished and grown in circumstances that many would consider to be hostile to his faith-life.  Dear believer, understand that you and I are called like Abraham to flourish where God plants us.  Though we may seen frail, yet in Christ our faith cannot fail. 

God is the Everlasting God
Abraham then utters a name of God, revealed to Him for this occassion - El Olam.  The name means - the Everlasting God.  This name tells us that God, the Everlasting God, was in perpetual relationship with Abraham.  Indeed God's Goodness is as long and High as His character.  Jesus Christ tells us as Christians in Matthew 28:20 that He will be with us always - even to the end of the age.  In Philippians 1:6 I am told that the work God began in me will be completed.  We are reminded in Hebrews 13:5 that Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us.  God is Everlastingly Good - He will not fail you.  He is there all the time.  He is Good.