When God promises something, there are always alternates for His people that tempt them. We must fully trust His promises and never look into any alternatives. In this post, we will explore three alternate examples of God’s promises provided to His people.

Promised Land

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;

Deut 8:7-8

God is promising the children of Israel with their promised land.

Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: ‘Make [peace] with me by a present and come out to me; and every one of you eat from his own vine and every one from his own fig tree, and every one of you drink the waters of his own cistern; until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive groves and honey, that you may live and not die. But do not listen to Hezekiah, lest he persuade you, saying, “The LORD will deliver us.”

2 Kings 18:31-32

After the children of Israel inherited the promised land, the king of Assyria not only threatened them with force but also giving them an escape that is alternate to God’s promise, an another land of promise.

Promised Son

And behold, the word of the LORD [came] to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

Gen 15:4-5

God promised Abraham with a son from his own body, since the couple was childless.

So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing [children.] Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. … So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.

Gen 16:2,15

But Abraham heeded to Sarah for an alternate, a son that is not of God’s promise.

Promised Life

Then He said to [them] all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

Luke 9:23-25

God promises us with eternal life. But Satan tempts many just like He did to Jesus Himself with a good life in this world (Matt 4:8-9). As Jesus said, we must be ready to lose our life here (Matt 19:29) for us to gain eternal life which is our promise.

Conclusion

Beware of alternate promises.

Blessed [is] the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Jas 1:12

Let us, therefore, endure temptation and look forward to receiving the crown of life which our Lord Jesus Christ promised us.