Saints LightDoes God Keep His Promises?
God made promises of friendship with Noah, Abraham and Moses, and He kept every one, getting the world ready for Jesus.
After the first sin, God did not leave people alone. Again and again He made covenants, which are promises of friendship that last. A covenant is even stronger than a pinky promise, because God never breaks His word.
Noah was a good man at a time when many people had stopped caring about God. God told Noah to build a huge ark to keep his family and the animals safe through a great flood. Afterward God put a rainbow in the sky as a sign of His promise to care for the earth (CCC 56). Every rainbow you see can remind you that God keeps His promises.
Abraham trusted God enough to leave his home and travel to a new land. God promised that Abraham's family would be as many as the stars in the sky, and that through his family the whole world would be blessed. Abraham and his wife Sarah waited many years, and then God gave them a son, Isaac (CCC 59-60).
Many years later, Abraham's family, the people of Israel, became slaves in Egypt. God called Moses to lead them to freedom. God brought them safely through the Red Sea, and on Mount Sinai He gave them the Ten Commandments, so they would know how to live as His people (CCC 62).
All these promises were getting the world ready for the biggest promise of all: Jesus. Through the prophets, God kept telling His people to hope, because a Savior was coming (CCC 64).
Key points
- A covenant is a lasting promise of friendship from God.
- God made covenants with Noah, Abraham and Moses.
- Every promise pointed to Jesus.
The Word of God
I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth.
let’s hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.
Catechism paragraphs for this lesson
- CCC 56
- CCC 59-60
- CCC 62
- CCC 64
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
Live it this week
Make one promise this week that you can keep, like setting the table every night, and keep it. If you see a rainbow, say thank You to God for keeping His promises.
Check yourself: three questions
1. What is a covenant?
- A kind of boat
- A big storm
- A secret password
- A lasting promise of friendship from God
Show the answer
A lasting promise of friendship from God. A covenant is a promise of friendship that God never breaks.
2. What sign did God give Noah?
- A shooting star
- A rainbow
- A golden crown
- A burning candle
Show the answer
A rainbow. God put a rainbow in the sky as the sign of His covenant with Noah and the earth.
3. Who led God's people out of slavery in Egypt?
- Noah
- Abraham
- Moses
- Adam
Show the answer
Moses. God called Moses to lead the people of Israel to freedom and gave him the Ten Commandments.
Words to know
- Covenant
- A solemn promise of friendship between God and His people.
More terms in the Catholic glossary. More passages in the Scripture index.
For catechists: a one hour class plan
Goal. The children will know that God made and kept promises to Noah, Abraham and Moses, and will trust that God keeps His promises to them.
Opener. Ask: "Has anyone ever made you a promise and kept it? How did that feel?" Then ask gently: "Has a promise ever been broken?" Explain that God has never broken a single promise.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think Noah obeyed God even when it seemed strange to build a boat on dry land? [He trusted God more than what other people thought.]
- Abraham and Sarah waited a long time for God's promise. Is waiting hard? [Yes. God's timing is good even when we must wait.]
- Why did God give the Ten Commandments? [To show His people how to live in love and freedom, not to spoil their fun.]
- How do these old promises point to Jesus? [God was getting the whole world ready for the Savior.]
Activity. Promise rainbow: each child glues seven paper strips in rainbow colors into an arch. On three strips they write Noah, Abraham and Moses. On three more they write a promise they will keep this week. On the last strip they write: Jesus, God's biggest promise. Add cotton ball clouds at both ends.
Closing prayer. Faithful God, You always keep Your promises. Help us trust You when we have to wait, and help us keep the promises we make. Thank You for the rainbow and for Jesus. Amen.
Timing. Welcome and Sign of the Cross 5 min, promise opener 5 min, read the lesson aloud 10 min, discussion 10 min, promise rainbow 15 min, memory verse 5 min, quiz together 5 min, closing prayer 5 min.
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