DIVORCING GOD: THE UNILATERAL COVENANT RELATIONSHIP

THE UNILATERAL COVENANT RELATIONSHIP

 “... I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV).  ^“...[My Word to you].... is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV).“...For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son...” (John 3:16 KJV). “…Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that HE LOVED US...” (1 John 4:10 KJV). “...We love, because HE FIRST LOVED US…” (1 John 4:19 ASV). “...Christ ...died for sins ONCE for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us... [BACK]... to God...” (1 Peter 3:18 NASB). “… [He sent the ] …one … who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus…” (1 Timothy 2:5 NLT).“…I have drawn you with unfailing kindness…” (Jeremiah 3:13 NIV). "… I chose you….” (John 15:16 ASV).  “…He that is joined unto the LORD is ONE SPIRIT [with God AGAIN]…” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV). “...the Spirit of God dwelleth “in” you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV). “…Abide in Me, and I in you. …apart from Me (Jesus, the reconciler) you can do nothing (you can’t be REUNITED to God without the indwelling Holy Spirit)…” (John 15:4-6 NASB). “…I will be their God (HIS UNCONDITIONAL FAITHFULNESS), and they shall be my people...” (2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV).

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Relationships make-up the majority of our lives. It starts in the womb where the embryo has a relationship with the mother through the umbilical cord.

Afterwards, there are the relationships with both parents, siblings, family members, friends, neighbors, community, co-workers, church, boyfriends, girlfriends, spouses, and the larger society.

Relationships teach you two things about the role you learn to play, which involve how you perceive your contribution to others and how others contribute to you. Thus you learn if love is truly reciprocal or is it one-sided, imbalanced, unfair, or totally remiss.

How you perceive your contribution to others is the way you learn to understand your role in the relationship with others as you developed in life. This “perceived” contribution is gained by how others see you, feel about you, speak about you or speak over you, and treat you.

Healthy relationship will nurture you, confirm you, speak life to or over you, and attend to your needs as constructively as is humanly possible. Healthy relationships teach you about reciprocal love, care, and ongoing support.

Healthy relationships will help you define yourself as an individual who has and knows how to have loving connections with others.

On one hand, healthy relationship contribute to self-discovery, self-growth or development, self-understanding, self-acceptance, self-esteem, self-identity, and the communal self in the role with others.

On the other hand, unhealthy relationships contribute to unawareness of one’s true self, an immature self, a misunderstanding of self, a rejection of self, low esteem of self, warped identity of self, and uncertainty about the communal self in the role with others.

Most people come into the covenant relationship with God with experiences from a conglomeration of  unhealthy relationships.

These unhealthy relationships have negatively impacted their communal self in its role with God, the Holy Spirit.

The covenant relationship is like that of marriage. It is also a binding agreement that was meant to join two or more people together forever. Jesus said, "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30). The bible says, “…that they (believers) may ALL BE ONE; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, …” (John 17:21-23 NASB).

The communal self in a covenant relationship, with God, the Holy Spirit, has accepted Christ, has become “one” Spirit with God through the joining of the indwelling Holy Spirit and has decided to show their love, to God, by keeping his commandments. “…Confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and … believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved...” (ROMANS 10:9 KJV).  “...But he(she) that is joined (in a covenant) unto the Lord is ONE SPIRIT” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV). If you love me, you will keep my commandments…” (John 14:15).

Following God’s commandments is one of the commitments, the believer, lovingly chooses to keep within the covenant relationship. “…If you love me, you will keep my commandments…” (John 14:15).

The communal self is willfully choosing to trust in and depend upon, the indwelling Holy Spirit, to empower them to keep this life-long (eternal) covenant with God, the Holy Spirit.“... For it is God who worketh in you, both to will (to desire to keep the covenant) and to do (to actually keep it) of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).  “…I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).

With God, the Holy Spirit and the believer, the bond is love and the connection is Spirit. “… Love ...the perfect BOND of unity…” (1 Corinthians 6:17 NASB).  “... But he that is joined (in a covenant with) unto the Lord is ONE SPIRIT...” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV).

God, the Holy Spirit has an unconditional role and the believer has a conditional role, but both roles include certain responsibilities specific to each. “…I am the vine, you are the branches…” (John 15:1-11 NASB). “… abide in me, and I in you…” (John 15:4 KJV).

Most covenant relationships are bilateral, with equal and equitable responsibilities allotted to each party, but the covenant that God, the Holy Spirit makes with the believer is NOT bilateral.

The covenant God, the Holy Spirit, makes with the believer  PLACES all the responsibility upon HIM making it unilateral.

An unilateral covenant makes the believer’s role one of a recipient, who MERELY trust and depends upon God. And it makes God, the Holy Spirit a contributor (caregiver), who TOTALLY provides, and supports EVERY need of the believer.

God, the Holy Spirit, MADE a unilateral covenant with Abraham. “... He (God, the Holy Spirit) said to him (Abraham), “Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other...Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.  God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years.  But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions ... It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces.  On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates...” (Genesis 15:9-21 NLT).

The unilateral covenant with God, the Holy Spirit entered with Abraham, giving him and his descendants the promise land, demonstrates God’s unconditional faithfulness to HIS WORD. God was the ONLY one to walked through the bloodied animals, because Abraham was sleep. “...Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram ...On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates...” (Genesis 15:9-21 NLT).

Abraham was asleep and didn’t participate in the covenant agreement, but God made it anyway and Abraham’s descendants were given the promise land. God KEPT his unconditional promise.

All of Abraham’s descendants made it to the promise land EXCEPT those who choose not to trust in or depend upon God’s unconditional faithfulness to the covenant promise he made. “... “Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?  And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief...” (Hebrews 3:7-19 NASB).

The SECURITY of SALVATION and ALL that it promises is BASED on the UNCONDITIONAL FAITHFULNESS of God, the Holy Spirit,  to the covenant relationship he makes with EACH believer. “... [Nothing]…will be able to separate us from the love of God (WE ARE SECURE IN HIS LOVE), which is in Christ Jesus our Lord…” (Romans 8:31-39 NASB). “…[God’s] ... love .... is the perfect BOND of unity...” (Colossians 3:14 NASB).

“…He [ALSO]… remains faithful (WE ARE SECURE IN HIS HOLY FAITHFULNESS)…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT). “…I am with you always, to the very end…"(Matthew 28:20 NIV). God will “…Never leave nor forsake you…” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV). 

Thus, THE SECURITY OF SALVATION IS BASED ON GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO THE COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.

HOWEVER, "YOU" CHOOSE TO ABIDE WITH GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND "YOU" CHOOSE TO DEPENDING UPON "ALL" THE FINISHED AND "LOVING" WORK OF CHRIST UPON THE CROSS. CHOOSE TO, “…abide in me, and I in you. (John 15:4 KJV). “...Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?  And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief...” (Hebrews 3:7-19 NASB).

“…If a man (WOMAN) abide NOT in me, ‘he(SHE) is cast forth as a branch, and is withered…” (John 15:6 KJV).“…The branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me ... apart from Me you can do nothing…” (John 15:4-6 NASB).

"... He (Jesus) said, IT IS FINISHED…” (John 19:28-30 KJV).  “…HIS divine power hath given unto us ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3 KJV). “…[ IT IS] … SO GREAT … [OF A] … SALVATION … with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST, according to his own will (HIS OWN HEARTS DESIRE)...” (Hebrews 2:3-5 KJV).“ HOWEVER, …abide in me, and I in you…” (John 15:4 KJV). “...bodies fell in the wilderness... we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief...” (Hebrews 3:7-19 NASB).

God made an unilateral covenant with HIS PEOPLE and his faithfulness is UNCONDITIONAL, but, for the believer, there is a willful, voluntary, CHOICE, made by human will, to trust in, depend upon, cooperate with and abide with God, the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…[YOU CHOOSE]...  this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV). “…[YOU CHOOSE to]...abide in me, and I in you…” (John 15:4 KJV).

It is the believer’s HUMAN WILL that CHOOSES to TRUST, DEPEND, COOPERATE, and ABIDE with God, the Holy Spirit. “…[YOU CHOOSE]...  this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV). “…[YOU CHOOSE to]...abide in me, and I in you…” (John 15:4 KJV).

CHOOSING to TRUST, DEPEND, COOPERATE, and ABIDE with God, the HOLY SPIRIT is a life-long commitment. “... continue in the faith (continue to trust, depend, cooperate, and abide being) grounded and settled, and be not moved away ...” (Colossians 1:22-23 KJV).

God is COMMITTED to HELPING you.“…He helps me…” (Psalms 28:7 NLT). “…The Lord who made you and helps you says: Do not be afraid …my servant …my chosen one…” (Isaiah 44:2 NLT). “… The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness…” (Romans 8:26 NLT). “…You are my helper and my savior…” (Psalms 40:17 NLT).

Jesus, therefore, EMPOWERS you to be committed to the covenant relationship through the indwelling Holy Spirit. “..Therefore come boldly unto the throne of GRACE, that [you]… may obtain mercy, and find GRACE to help in time of need…” (Hebrews 4:16 KJV). He will “…strengthened [you]… with might by his Spirit in the inner man…” (Ephesians 3:16 KJV). “… [He will strengthen you]…according to the POWER that worketh IN [YOU]…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV). “… God  … work[s] … in … [you] … what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…the Father... [that DWELLS within YOU]… he doeth the works…”(John 14:10 KJV).

“...[Nonetheless]... we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief...” (Hebrews 3:7-19 NASB).

The book of JUDE discusses the HISTORY of those who CHOSE willfully and voluntarily to DEPART from God, the Holy Spirit. “...Dear friends ... some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. So I want to remind you, though you already know these things, that Jesus (the Word) first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, but later he destroyed those who did not remain faithful. And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment. And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment...” (Jude 1 NLT). 

“... These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.  And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day. Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age...” (1 Corinthians 10:9-11 NLT).

“...For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them...” (2 Peter 2:20-23 NASB).

“... it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment ......” (2 Peter 2:20-23 NASB).

“...It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire...” (2 Peter 2:20-23 NASB).

These passages are TALKING about converted or saved believers. After a person is SAVED, they willfully CHOOSE to “….WORK OUT [their]… own salvation…” (Philippians 2:12 KJV).

Becoming SAVED, alone, is NOT a FREE pass to ETERNAL LIFE. Being SAVED IS A PROCESS, which leads you to follow THE PATH to ETERNAL LIFE.

“… Jesus opened a new and life-giving WAY  ... into the Most Holy Place (ETERNAL LIFE)…” (Hebrews 10:19-20 NLT). “Jesus saith…I am THE WAY…” (John 14:6 KJV). “…"This is the WAY; WALK in it…" Isaiah 30:21 NIV). “…THE WAY is narrow that LEADS TO LIFE, and there are FEW who find it…” (Matthew 7:13-14 NASB).

Working out your own SALVATION (the being saved process) includes: “…[Choosing to put]… aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to SAVE YOUR SOULS….” (James 1:21 NASB).

It is actively “…[choosing to] …throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life…” (Ephesians 4:22 NIV).

“…You must [also choose to]…put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor…” (Ephesians 4:25 NLT).

It is “….[choosing to]…let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice…” (Ephesians 4:31 KJV).

“….Ye also [choose to]…put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth….” (Colossians 3:8  KJV).

“…Wherefore [choose to lay] … aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings…” (1 Peter 2:1 KJV).

How can a believer do these things in order to work out your OWN salvation? “…[They]... can do ALL THINGS through Christ which strengtheneth [them]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). .“…it is God (the indwelling Holy Spirit) which worketh in [them]… both to will and to do...” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “….Apart from Me (the INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT), [they]... can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).

Working out their OWN SALVATION is the believer’s CHOICE. “… the God of peace… that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “… [You]… are given...exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be PARTAKERS of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance PATIENCE; and to PATIENCE godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ…GIVE DILIGENCE (attention) TO MAKE YOUR CALLING AND “ELECTION” SURE; FOR IF YOU (choose to) “DO” THESE THINGS, YE SHALL NEVER FALL...” (2 Peter 1: 4-9 KJV).

“...HE (SHE) THAT “SHALL” (choose to) ENDURE UNTO THE END SHALL BE SAVED...” (Matthew 24:13 KJV).

THE SECURITY OF SALVATION IS BASED ON GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL FAITHFULNESS TO THE UNILATERAL COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BELIEVER.

IT IS GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL FAITHFULNESS TO THE UNILATERAL COVENANT WITH THE BELIEVER THAT GIVES  THEM NUMEROUS CHANCES TO GET IT RIGHT, WHEN and IF THEY STRAY AWAY.

THE APOSTATE, WHO HAS BROKEN THE COVENANT WITH GOD, NEED ONLY TO CHOOSE TO REPENT AND TURN BACK TO GOD. “ ... Return ... to the Lord ... [your] ... God... [AND GOD] ... will heal [your] ... apostasy ... [AND] ... will love them freely..” (Hosea 14:1-4 NLT). “… the GRACE of God, and the gift by GRACE, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath ABOUNDED unto many…” (Romans 5:15 KJV). 

“…God is able to make all GRACE abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things…” (2 Corinthians 8:9 KJV). “…My GRACE is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness...” (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV). “..Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of GRACE, that we may obtain mercy, and find GRACE to help in time of need…” (Hebrews 4:16 KJV). “…where sin abounded, GRACE did much more abound…” (Romans 5:20 KJV). “…They which receive abundance of GRACE … shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ…” (Romans 5:17 KJV). “….mercy triumphs over judgement…” (James 2:13 NASB).

God is“... RICH IN MERCY…” (Ephesians 2:1-5 KJV). “…The Lord is ...of great mercy…” (Number 14:18 KJV). “…The Lord God, [IS] merciful …” (Exodus 34:6 KJV). “…Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY…” (Micah 7:18 KJV). “…Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13 NASB).  

Therefore, “…He helps [his people]…” (Psalms 28:7 NLT). “…The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him…” (Psalms 37:40 NLT). “…Blessed are those who wait for his help…” (Isaiah 30:18 NLT). “…The Lord who made you and helps you says: Do not be afraid …my servant …my chosen one…” (Isaiah 44:2 NLT). “… The Sovereign Lord helps me…” (Isaiah 50:7 NLT).  “… The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness…” (Romans 8:26 NLT). “…You are my helper and my savior…” (Psalms 40:17 NLT). “..Therefore come boldly unto the throne of GRACE, that [you]… may obtain mercy, and find GRACE to help in time of need…” (Hebrews 4:16 KJV). “….Then you will know that I am the Lord your God…’” (Exodus 16:12 NLT).

GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL FAITHFULNESS TO THE UNILATERAL COVENANT IS THE APOSTATE’S “ONLY” SAVING GRACE. “ ... Return ... to the Lord your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity (YOUR apostasy). Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity And receive us graciously, That we may present the fruit of our lips. “Assyria will not save us, We will not ride on horses; Nor will we say again, ‘Our god,’ To the work of our hands; For in You the orphan finds mercy.” [THE FAITHFUL GOD SAYS:] ... I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from them...” (Hosea 14:1-4 NLT).

Even if you have a healthy communal self, the covenant relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, is UNIQUE and MIND-BLOWING.

The believer is bonded and connected into a covenant relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, where they are ONLY required to trust in his everlasting present and good, divine nature, depend upon his eternal power, accept his spiritual gifts, receive and expect his provisions for every need, and keep his commandments.

God, the Holy Spirit, is in the ROLE of contributor(caregiver) in the covenant relationship and the believer is in the ROLE of recipient.

God’s ROLE is unconditionally, but HIS PEOPLE’S ROLE is NOT. The covenant relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, makes with HIS PEOPLE, will NEVER be broken by him.

God, the Holy Spirit is the ONE always trying to KEEP or FIX the covenant with his people? “…Great is his love toward [HIS PEOPLE], and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD” (Psalms 117:2 KJV). “… [GOD] remembered his covenant with [his people through Abraham]  …” (Psalms 106:42-48 NLT).

What covenant did God remember he made with Abraham? “ ...On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates...” (Genesis 15:9-21 NLT).

God, REMAINS FAITHFUL. “…If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT). “… [God has]... loved [his people]...with an everlasting love….” (Jeremiah 31:3 KJV). “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV).  

He keeps his part of the covenant through thousands and thousands of generations. “…Showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments…” (Exodus 20:6 NIV).

Even when God’s people don’t keep their part of the covenant relationship, God faithfully continues to keep his WORD to them. God says, I “…am WATCHING over my word to PERFORM it…” (Jeremiah 1:12 NASB “…So shall MY WORD be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it SHALL NOT return unto me void, but it SHALL ACCOMPLISH that which I please, and it SHALL PROSPER in the thing whereto I sent it…” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV).

God is a FAITHFUL GOD. “…If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT).  Because of his faithfulness to the Abrahamic covenant EVERYBODY – Israel took possession of the land. “…So the Lord gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies. Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true. …” (Joshua 21:43-45 NLT).

God’s FAITHFUL love and commitment to his covenant vows survived the continual and repeated abandonment of his people as witnessed in biblical history. Yet, God has “….loved [them]... with an everlasting love….” (Jeremiah 31:3 KJV). “….neither death, nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate [his people]… from the love of God which is “in” Christ Jesus our Lord…” (Romans 8:38-39 KJV). “... [God’s]…love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV).  “…not that we loved God, but that he loved us ...” (1 John 4:10 KJV).

God’s FAITHFUL LOVE endures the CHRONIC rejections and apostasies of his people. “..When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols. I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him. I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him. “But since my people refuse to return to me, they will return to Egypt and... They will destroy them, trapping them in their own evil plans. For my people are determined to desert me. They call me the Most High, but they don’t truly honor me. “Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you …My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows. No, I will not unleash my fierce anger. I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy. For someday the people will follow me. I, the Lord, will roar like a lion. And when I roar, my people will return …And I will bring them home again,” says the Lord….” (HOSEA 11 NLT).

“...And now, O our God, what can we say after all of this? For ONCE AGAIN we have ABANDONED your commands!” (Ezra 9:10 NLT).

“….They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them…” (Nehemiah 9:17 NLT).

GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL FAITHFULNESS TO THE UNILATERAL COVENANT WITH HIS PEOPLE WON’T LET HIM, GIVE UP ON THEM!  WHEN THEY STRAY AND REPENT; HE WILL TAKE THEM BACK!!