Great is Thy Faithfulness: Divine Faithfulness Found in Exodus

By: Michelle Johnson | August 30, 2021

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

This is the opening verse of a hymn published almost 100 years ago. Thomas Chisholm penned the words and William M Runyan composed the tune. Chisholm found his inspiration in the Bible. Lamentations 3:23 says “They (God’s mercies and compassion) are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.”

Life can be hard. The last 18+ months has reminded each of us that this is true. A pandemic, unrest and tragedies, wars, famines, and divisions have left us weary to say the least. But God is faithful. A few days ago, the words from the hymn’s refrain washed over me with a force that can only come from truth based on scripture:

Great is Thy Faithfulness! Great is Thy Faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided –

Great is Thy Faithfulness

What is faithfulness? Merriam-Webster defines it as steadfast allegiance, loyalty, firm adherence to promises, true to the facts or a standard, true to an original. The idea of faithfulness can be expressed in words like constant, devoted, good, loyal, steady, and true.

While the entirety of the Bible reveals God’s faithfulness, I want to point to a particular place I have found reminders of God’s faithfulness. Recently, I have been reading the book of Exodus. Exodus is the second book in the Bible and documents God’s faithfulness to the Israelites as He led them out of slavery in Egypt and on toward the Promised Land. Genesis 12:2-3 and Genesis 15 record a promise God made to Abram (later known as Abraham). God promised to give Abram a land, a great number of descendants, and make him a blessing to the other peoples of the world. The book of Exodus begins with the descendants of Abraham having grown significantly in number and living in Egypt as slaves. Great is God’s faithfulness. God was true to His word to Abraham and had increased his family exponentially and was now going to lead them out of Egypt toward the land He had promised. God called Moses and Aaron to lead the people in their journey out of Egypt.

The Bible tells us the Israelites had been in Egypt for 430 years (Exodus 12:40) when the time came for them to finally leave. Their exit followed 10 plagues that God brought upon the land and people of Egypt, all which demonstrated He was the one true God. The evening of the final plague, God had instructed the Israelites to eat what would become known as the Passover meal (Exodus 12:1-13). God provide specific directions for what to eat, how to prepare it, with whom, how and where to eat it. A lamb was to be sacrificed for this meal and its blood was to be brushed on the exterior door frame. The presence of the blood would provide protection from the tenth plague for those inside the home. God was faithful. Each home with blood on the door frame was spared while the rest of Egypt was not. That very night, Pharaoh told Moses to take the Israelites and leave. God was faithful. I imagine the excitement and buzz that must have prevailed among the throngs of people finally exiting the land of Egypt. They were on their way to the land God had promised their ancestor Abraham.

Exodus 12:14-20 records God’s command to remember this event by celebrating the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Israel was to remember, regularly, God’s faithfulness. Verses 26 and 27 adds additional instruction: “When your children ask you, ‘What does this ritual mean to you?’ you are to reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, for He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and spared our homes.’” The annual festival was to remind the people of God’s faithfulness. When their children inquired “why do we do this” not only would the Israelites instruct the next generation but by rehearsing the events for themselves they would be reminded of God’s faithfulness.

Great is Thy Faithfulness! Great is Thy Faithfulness!

How is it possible that the Israelite people would forget what God did for them as He led them out of the land of Egypt and on to the land He had promised Abraham so long ago? Well, I encourage you to read the remainder of Exodus. It isn’t but a handful of days before the people of Israel are anxious and afraid, fearful of the approaching Egyptian army and the circumstances they see around them. Once again, God is faithful. God promised to bring them to the promised land, and He provided a way through the Red Sea for the Israelites while bringing an end to the Egyptian army. Proceed a bit further in Exodus and you will discover the Israelites are saying it would be better to be back in Egypt than where they were in the wilderness.

The lessons I have learned through my recent time in the book of Exodus are twofold. First, God is faithful. Second, I, like the Israelites, am so very prone to forget God’s faithfulness. God’s command that the Israelites remind themselves regularly of His faithfulness through the Festival of Unleavened Bread reminds me to cling to God’s word. It is through time each day in the Bible that I am reminded of God’s faithfulness repeatedly. The story of the Exodus is just a small portion of all the Bible offers. The pages of scripture are filled with evidence of this truth – Great is Thy Faithfulness. The opportunities to share what His word says with others is another way for me to not only encourage them but to be reminded again, God is faithful.

In the midst of a crazy world – be confident in the faithfulness of God. Remind yourself repeatedly by spending time reading all the Bible has to declare about His faithfulness. Rehearse the evidences of His faithfulness to others around you – they will benefit, and you will be reminded. May your heart repeatedly sing and rest in the truth:

Great is Thy Faithfulness!

About the Author

Michelle Johnson is a Ph.D. student in the Theology and Apologetics program at Liberty University. She also earned her M.A. in Theological Studies and her M.Div. in Professional Ministries at Liberty University. Michelle graduated from the University of Minnesota with her undergraduate degrees. She and her husband Steve live in Mankato, Minnesota, where she also serves in women’s ministries. In addition to her love of theology and apologetics, Michelle also has a passion for historical studies, particularly the theology of the Patristics. When she is not spending time reading or writing, Michelle can often be found dreaming of her next travel adventure or enjoying a great cup of coffee.

Articles for Further Reflection

“What is Doctrine and Why Do We Need It” by Michelle Johnson. https://bellatorchristi.com/2021/06/21/what-is-doctrine-and-why-do-we-need-it/

“Ignatius of Antioch–Letters of the Essentials” by Michelle Johnson. https://bellatorchristi.com/2020/06/11/ignatius-of-antioch-letters-of-the-essentials/

“Comforts Found in the Moral Attributes of God” by Brian Chilton. https://bellatorchristi.com/2014/09/21/comforts-found-in-the-moral-attributes-of-god/