I am so thankful for the promises that we, as Christians, have received from the Lord. The Lord is holy and just. The Lord does not go back on His word. But, there are three promises given by the Lord that seem to trouble some people.

The first of these promises was given to Abraham in Genesis chapter 12. This was an unconditional promise made by God. It consisted of seven blessings. “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3)

The world challenges this promise. Beginning with Pharaoh and continuing to today, there are many who would dispense of the Abrahamic Covenant.

Just three chapters later the Lord made another promise to Abraham. In this instance the Lord promised what has become known as the Holy Land to the descendants of Abraham. The land promised extends far beyond the existing borders of Israel today. Again, this was an unconditional promise by the Lord. In Genesis 15 Abraham prepared the sacrifice, dividing the animals in half. But a deep sleep came over Abraham and it was only the Lord, in the form of a flame that passed between the pieces. This made it a unilateral promise from the Lord.

The Islamic world challenges this promise. We have all seen, heard or read statements from Muslim leaders promising to push Israel and the Jews into the sea.

The third troubling promise is found in Second Samuel 7:5-16. David was not happy because he lived in comfort while the Ark of the Lord dwelled in a tent. That very night, in a vision to the prophet Nathan, the Lord promised that David’s “house” would not only build a house for God, but his “house,” or his family, would be established forever. The Lord said that He would punish the kings of David’s lineage when they did wrong, but He reiterated that “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever.” There were no conditions to this promise. This was a unilateral promise from the Lord.

Sadly, the Church challenges this promise. The Roman Catholic Church and most Protestant denominations follow “Replacement Theology.” This theory says that the Church has replaced Israel, and all the promises made by the Lord to Israel and to David, are now applied to the Church. If the Lord changed His mind and cancelled the promises made to Abraham and David, we ALL are in deep trouble. Could He not also cancel the promise of Eternal Salvation made to Christians? But, praise the Lord. He does not change. (Malachi 3:6)

I have seen news reports of Protestant ministers demanding that Israel give back to the Palestinians the land promised them by the Lord! Have they not read the Word? The Lord must weep at such statements.

Because of Replacement Theology, the Church has long disputed the promises made to Abraham and David, and has challenged those promises. In such instances, the Church is in company with the world and Islamic leaders. This is not pleasant company to be in.

If the Church would repent of this and other sins against the Lord, then He would forgive us and heal our land. (Second Chronicles 7:14)