God’s Double-Edged Promise (Jeremiah 32:40)

I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. —Jeremiah 32:40

In the fight of faith, you never know where the next attack of unbelief will come from.

One moment we face a strike of uncertainty about God’s heart toward us:  “Does he care what I’m going through? Has he abandoned me to this hardship? What if he’s tired of helping me after all I’ve done?” The next moment we face a thrust of fear over our own fickle hearts:  “Is this spiritual dry season really just a slow spiritual death? What if I drift away from God and can’t find my way back? What if I make shipwreck of my faith and just stop believing?”

Knowing these attacks could come at any time from any angle, we need a weapon that’s up to the challenge of fighting back against these twin sources of doubt. What we need is a double-edged weapon. One that can slay our fear of God abandoning us and put to death our fear of our abandoning Him. In Jeremiah 32:40, God gives us that weapon in the form of a promise. 

This isn’t just any promise, it’s a never ending, double-edged promise. He gives us a promise that addresses our fears about His heart toward us as well as our heart toward Him. Here’s how I would restate God’s promise in this verse: “He won’t turn from good, and we won’t turn from God.”

In the first half of the verse, God tells us He’s going to make with us an “everlasting covenant.” In other words, He’s going to make a promise to us that will never end—a promise with no expiration date. There will never be a time when this promise isn’t in effect. It is eternally true.

What’s the first part of his promise? God will never turn away from doing good to us. Never! Feel the wonder and the joy and the safety of that word. He will unceasingly, unrelentingly, persistently, continuously do good to us. This promise means there won’t be a moment when He pauses from doing good to you. 

But God’s never ending promise also comes with a second edge. Not only will He not turn from good, He will put the fear of Him in our hearts so we won’t turn from Him. He will keep us. He will work in our hearts such that the joy-filled fear He places there will act like a compass needle being constantly drawn to God as our north pole. Whichever way we turn, our hearts are magnetically drawn back to Him and His grace. He will not let us wander away and be lost. He will keep us trusting and treasuring Him forever.

How is this double-edged promise ours? Through the blood of Jesus, the guarantor of our everlasting covenant with God. On the cross, Jesus received the bad from God we deserve for all our turning away. Now, in Him, we will ever and only receive good from God.

In the fight of faith, doubts and fears are sure to come. When they do, fight back with God’s never ending, double-edged promise that He won’t turn from doing you good, and by His grace, you will never turn from Him.

---

For Reflection

1. What do you fear more, that you'll turn from God or that He'll turn from you?

2. How does the cross and resurrection give you power to fight your fears?

3. Ask the Lord to increase your faith in His everlasting covenant as you memorize this passage.

---

Dan Weller  is Lead Pastor of Chapelwood Baptist Church in Indianapolis, IN. Prior to Chapelwood, Dan served as a pastoral resident at College Park Church and graduated from Bethlehem Seminary. He also serves on the Board of Indianapolis Theological Seminary. Dan is married to Emily and they have two beautiful daughters.