HOPE IN GOD’S IMMUTABILITY

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” – Hebrews 13:8

The Faith of the Believer in Christ is established and reinforced by HOPE in GOD’S IMMUTABILITY: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb.13:8). This is also the basis of authentic “brotherly love” (vv.1-3); and overall Christian conduct and contentment (vv.4-7). When our Hope is hinged on God’s constancy, we are able to stand firm in truth and avoid being “carried about with various and strange doctrines” (v.9). God’s promises made to Israel through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, other Old and New Testament saints, and perfected in His Son Jesus Christ, will never fail!

Malachi affirmed that the Hope of Israel was fixed on God’s Constancy: “For I the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob” (Mal.3:6). The phrase “do not change,” from the Hebrew shanah lo’, means God does not need to “repeat” or “do a second time.” His people do not need to wait for a “repeat event” from God to prove Himself. The Author of Life and “Father of  Lights” is ever with us: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (Jam.1:17). Malachi called Israel to respond to God's unfailing and unchanging love, and warned of their refusal to do so. He exhorted them to honour the Lord and Hope in His unfailing resources, while outlining the serious penalties of continuing in sin and rebelling against Him as their King.

In other words, Malachi wrote to remind Israel of the covenant relationship that they had with Jehovah. When He brought them out of the land of Egypt, the covenant was conditional: with promises of blessings for faithfulness, and warnings of curses for lack of faithfulness, neglect of God and unbelief in His Word. God had been true to His Word and had to punish erring Israel by sending them into exile. Yet, He demonstrated His unchanging nature by bringing them out of captivity, reinstating them in their homeland and allowing them to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple as was foretold by earlier prophetic scriptures. This gives Hope that despite their widespread apostasy, a remnant of Israel will one day receive all that God had promised, for He is the Lord Who changes not and Whose promises stand fast for ever and ever.

Though Malachi’s prophecy was written to Israel and not to the New Testament Church, it is an effective schoolmaster that points us to Christ, and a vital tool to help us appreciate our need for salvation and have Hope in the Grace that brought it. We have a steadfast God Who through Time and into Eternity is faithful to His Word; a patient God Who is long-suffering and of great goodness; an Immutable God Who is unchanging and unchangeable; and One Who will never go back on His Word – either the earthly promises to the nation of Israel or the many precious eternal promises which by grace through faith in Christ, He has given to the Church – His Body.

God alone possesses the attribute of Unchangeableness and Immutability. He remains the one enduring and unalterable Source of Life and every perfect gift. His steadfastness offers comfort amidst the transiency and unpredictability of life. But there is a sense of paradox between human frailty and God’s Constancy. All created things are subject to change: rocks decay, metal rusts, and soil erodes. Change is an unavoidable and necessary part of life. Every creature undergoes change – everyone grows up and grows old. God is “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”! Oh, that we would lift up our voices in praise and thanksgiving to Him Who is the Unchanging God – faithful, true, and of Immense Mercy!

Whoever has Hope and Trust in the Immutable and Unchanging God can envision a glorious future with confidence, knowing His promises endure: “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psa.1:3). May that be our Story, in Jesus name!