Can We Trust God's Promises — In Biblical Context
Every promise of God is backed by His unchanging character — He cannot lie, He never fails, and Scripture records thousands of fulfilled promises as proof.
Every promise of God is backed by His unchanging character — He cannot lie, He never fails, and Scripture records thousands of fulfilled promises as proof.
"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it?" — Numbers 23:19 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
Numbers 23:19 declares, 'God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?' God's promises rest on His character — His faithfulness, power, and unchanging nature. 'All the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen' (2 Corinthians 1:20). Joshua testified near his death, 'Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof' (Joshua 23:14). Hundreds of Old Testament prophecies about Christ were fulfilled precisely — His birthplace (Micah 5:2), manner of death (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53), and resurrection (Psalm 16:10). Peter adds, 'The Lord is not slack concerning his promise' (2 Peter 3:9). Hebrews 10:23 encourages, 'Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.' Trusting God's promises is not wishful thinking — it is reasonable faith grounded in His perfect track record.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Numbers 23:19, sits inside Numbers 23. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it?"
Supporting Passages
"Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you."
"All the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen."
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