Truth: God will not leave us nor forsake us

Last Updated on October 25, 2023 by Andrea

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Ancient kings

I’m reading through Kings and Chronicles in my daily Bible. At this point, the two groups of Israelites are distinct – those called Israel and those called Judah (learn more here). Throughout Kings and Chronicles, we see a succession of kings, one after the other, for each group. The Bible is clear to tell us if they followed after God or man (“did evil in the eyes of the Lord”).

By and large, kings of Judah follow after God in some form while kings of Israel are less faithful to the One True God.

Here’s what struck me today. Over and over the Scripture tells us that the Israelite kings turned away from God to go their own way. They worshipped foreign gods, they committed abominable acts, they neglected the prophets.

YET…God still helped them.

In today’s reading, enemies are going to attack Israel and the prophet acts as a spy to help the Israelites. The enemy finds out and seeks to go after the prophet.

As they are approached by enemies, the prophet’s servant is scared and asks what they will do. The prophet says, “Do not be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those how are with them. And Elisha (the prophet) prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.”

Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15-18).

I love that! How many times has God sent his army to protect me but my eyes aren’t open to see it?

God helped anyway

The truth is, even though the Israelite king wasn’t actively following in God’s ways, God still had the prophet help His people and God still sent his army to surround the prophet and his servant to keep them safe. This is further proof of God’s promise from Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

The Truth

This is true for us, too. Have you gone away from God at times? Have you made decisions you know were wrong? Did you say things you know didn’t please Him?

Me, too.

But the lessons we learn from Kings and Chronicles only reinforce the Truth that God truly will not leave us nor forsake us. Our circumstances may not change directly, but knowing He is with us can change us.

Make the truth real

So here are four steps to make this truth real for you:

1. Let the Truth of God’s protection and presence sink deep into your soul (Deuteronomy 31:6). Ponder it, pray about it, write it down where you’ll see it every day.
2. Confess how you have turned away from God and sinned (1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”) Part of confession includes that turning away – often from things we are chasing that are NOT of God.
3. Repent – turn away from your old ways by turning your back on your sins and turn toward God and His faithfulness (Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”)
4. Enjoy the refreshing addressed in the last verse.
5. Repeat as needed.

In Christ’s love,

🌸 Andrea

PS Not sure how to read your Bible? Here are some ways to get started.

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