Daily Devotional | A Promise Kept

Have you ever made a promise to someone? Maybe you told your child you would attend their band concert or a friend you would support them through a tough time? Now, think about the sense of satisfaction you experienced when you kept your promise. In the same way, but on a much deeper scale, God made a promise to Eve in the garden of Eden that one day one of her offspring would crush the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15). That promise would span many generations to be fulfilled with the birth of Jesus!

Matthew’s Gospel opens with a genealogy. While this may seem like a long, unimportant list of names, it is a detailed tribute to God’s faithfulness. It shows how God kept His promise through many generations. Jesus comes from the line of Abraham and David, as prophesied in the Old Testament (Gen. 22:17–18; Isa. 11:1).

Matthew’s genealogy is especially unique in that it includes the names of three Gentile women (Tamar, Rahab and Ruth) to show that His promises have expanded to an even wider audience. Even when God might have seemed silent to His people, these verses show that God was present.

In Matthew 1:21, the angel told Joseph: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Jesus, the name that means “The Lord saves,” is the embodiment of God’s promise and presence.

God’s presence is also with us today through the peaks and valleys of our lives. We can confidently trust that God can and will continue to keep His promises to us. Jesus not only has the ability to save us from sin, but He will also keep other promises, such as “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). God always keeps His promises, and His presence is always there for us.

Go Deeper

Why does Matthew begin with a genealogy? What does this teach us about the character of God?

Pray with Us: Jesus, we thank You for the mercy You have lavished on us. When we were far from God, You came to our rescue. Your sacrificial love brought us freedom from sin and peace with God. Thank You for Your love that’s constantly working in our lives.

BY James Coakley

Dr. Jim Coakley is professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute. He earned his BA in Pastoral Studies from Calvary Bible College, his M.Div. and Th.M. in Old Testament from Grace Theological Seminary, and his doctorate from Covenant Theological Seminary. Jim is the author of 14 Fresh Ways to Enjoy the Bible (Moody Publishers). He and his wife, Gayle, live in the western suburbs of Chicago and have two adult children and three grandchildren.