April 2003

Dear Readers,

Biblical promises is the topic of this edition of my e-newsletter. You are likely well aware that the Bible is filled with promises from God. There are hundreds and hundreds of promises. A short essay like mine on this topic barely scratches the surface of such a vast theme. Yet, I want to touch on the subject because perhaps more people read the Bible to learn and be assured of the promises than for any other reason.

"Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared." This short verse from Exodus is an example of the sort of promise that both comforts us and gives us hope.

Of course, a promise that is not fulfilled ends up sounding hollow. The stories of the Bible may be viewed as example after example of God's promises fulfilled. Here's an example of an Old Testament promise fulfilled in New Testament times. Isaiah writes: "Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing...."

Christ Jesus opened the eyes of the blind (see, for example, Mark 8:22-26), unstopped the ears of the deaf (Mark 7:31-37), and caused the dumb to speak (Matthew 9:32, 33.) When Peter and John healed the lame man at the temple gate, he "entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God." (Acts 3:1-10.) All are specific examples of biblical promises fulfilled.

The question is: are biblical promises fulfilled today? In other words, can we count on such promises being fulfilled in our lives?

To address this question, I'd like to offer an example from my own life when a precious biblical promise was beautifully fulfilled. My husband and I were married nearly eleven years before we had children. For sometime I prayed about the issues of family and children. I felt a great longing to have children but wasn't always confident this would come about. A friend pointed out this verse from Psalms: "God setteth the solitary in families...." This assurance, as well as other biblical promises, gave me hope.

Our two lovely daughters joined our family via international adoption in May 1984. They have been a joy and a blessing. So many times I have thanked God for them. And, I'll always be grateful for that brief, six word promise in chapter 68 of the Psalter.

Over the years I have paid attention to biblical promises. Here is a small sampling of some that are especially meaningful to me:

- The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me....
- Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
- I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord.
- When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
- all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
- this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
- God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:

All the above quotes are from the King James Version of the Bible.

If you'd like to explore this theme more deeply, I recommend a taped talk by Caryl Krueger. It is entitled "God's Promises to You." You can order this two tape set from Belleridge Press in Escondido, California. The phone number is 760-749-2122. The talk is excellent -- well researched and professionally delivered.

BIBLE WORKSHOPS
I am greatly enjoying conducting Bible workshops around the country. In April I'll be speaking in Towson, Maryland and in St. Louis, Missouri. In May, I'll be in Mystic, Connecticut. If you'd like details, please email me.

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Yours truly,

Joan Koelle Snipes

Volume 3; No. 2
Published six times a year by:
Bible Teaching Press
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