“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Numbers 23:19
Objective Of The Lesson
God is a faithful God. He always keeps and remembers His promises. We want our kids to understand this truth. God always keeps His promises He can be completely trusted.
Introduction
How do you know if you can trust someone to keep their promise?
The character of the person making the promise lets you know whether you can trust them to keep their promise. If the person is a notorious liar then you know that you cannot trust him. If he is generally an honest person then you can trust him to keep his promise.
Is God someone who can be trusted to keep His promises?
If we want to find out if God can be trusted to keep His promises, we can look at His character and His attributes.
God Is Truthful
Not only is God exactly as He reveals Himself to be, but things are exactly as He says they are.
God only acts and speaks within the realm of the truth:
His knowledge is perfect and so He is never mistaken.
His character is holy and righteous; He cannot lie or distort the truth.
Truth is defined by God’s very nature. God not only speaks truth; He is truth.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
God’s words are utterly reliable and dependable.
God does not mislead people or lead them down the path of falsehood.
“May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar.” Romans 3:4
“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent…” Numbers 23:19a
“Also the Glory of Israel will not lie…” 1 Samuel 15:29a
Do people always keep their promises? No, not always. Sometimes people cannot keep their promise, they choose to break their promise or they forget to keep their promise.
Does this happen to God?
Would God Break A Promise Because Something Happens That He Didn’t Know Was Going To Happen?
Example: Your mom promises to take you to the zoo, but it starts to rain so she can no longer take you.
There are no surprises for God. Nothing happens without His say so.
“I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done.” Isaiah 46:9
“Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.” Psalm 147:5
Would God Break A Promise Because He Changed His Mind?
Example: Your brother tells you that he will let you borrow his bicycle, but he decides not to.
God does not change His mind. He is the same “yesterday, today and tomorrow”.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Numbers 23:19
Would God Break A Promise Because He Isn’t Strong Enough To Keep It?
Example: A friend tells you he’ll help you climb a wall, but he’s too weak to lift you up.
God is all-powerful. Nothing is to hard for Him to do.
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2
“All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?” Daniel 4:35
Would God Break A Promise Because He Forgot?
Example: A friend promises to call you back but he has so much work he forgets?
God never forgets His promises.
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion for the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Isaiah 49:1, 6, 15
“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5
Would God Break A Promise Because He Lied?
Example: Your sister tells you that she will take you to the store if you clean her room, but she knows she will not take you.
God never lies.
“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Numbers 23:19
“God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us.” Hebrews 6:18
God’s Attributes
Go over the following list of the attributes of God that show that He can keep His promises:
God is almighty (He is all-powerful)
God is sovereign (He has the right and wisdom, and power to do everything He pleases)
God is self sufficient (He doesn’t need anything from anybody)
God is attentive (He knows what is happening and acts appropriately)
God is faithful (He always does what He says He is going to do)
God is omnipresent (God is everywhere all the time)
God is love.
God is good.
God is unchanging (God never changes)
God is omniscient (God knows everything)
God is righteous (He is right in everything He thinks and does)
God is patient
And there are many more…
Can God be trusted to keep His promises?
Yes, God always keeps His promises.
Nothing prevents God from keeping His promises. He is all-powerful. He knows everything. He never forgets and He never lies. Since God always keeps His promises, He can be completely trusted.
Not only that, God calls His children to reflect His character.
Review Questions
How does God character show us that He will always keep a promise?
Would God break a promise because something happens that He didn’t know was going to happen?
Would God break a promise because He changed His mind?
Would God break a promise because He isn’t strong enough to keep it?
Would God break a promise because He forgot?
Would God break a promise because He lied?
Can God be trusted to keep His promises?
Take some time to memorize the memory verse at the end of the lesson.
Activities
Attributes Poster- Make a giant poster illustrating and describing Gods attributes. His attributes help us to understand that God is more than capable of keeping His promises.
Scripture
Crafting The Word Of God 