In the old days when someone made a promise to another, the word he gave was good as any written document. His word was sealed by a simple hand shake. Their word was a goldmine. It created trust, loyalty, and shaped their reputation good or bad.
In the Old Testament of the Bible – The men of God (Prophets and chosen Kings) depended on God’s counsel in everything. When they received a Word from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies to fight, they went to battle. When there was a problem amongst the people of Israel, they sought the Lord God for direction. In other words, they knew and understood the integrity of the Word of God from day to day.
The Hebrew word and translation of the word integrity according to the Strong’s Concordance: 8537. tom/ definition: completeness, integrity, also part of the high priest’s breastplate.
Brown-Driver-Briggs/ definition: completeness, fullness, according to their full measure; in his very completeness.
Merriam-Webster/ definition: firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility; an unimpaired condition: soundness; the quality or state of being complete or undivided; completeness.
When we are speaking of one’s character: implies trustworthiness and incorruptibility to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility, or pledge.
The Bible teaches us in John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” God and His Word are One, and the words defining integrity point to God Almighty, Who is pure, Who is genuine, Who is not capable of being false. Also, we learn from the Bible in the Book of Jeremiah 32:27, it ends with Jeremiah prophesying to the people of Israel and poses this question, “…is there anything too hard for me?”
My friends, I believe the Word of God, I have faith in God – not by someone else’s experience or testimony – but simply because, I have called out to Him and He answers all the time – Just like He said He would. I am more than convinced that there is nothing too hard for Him, He is the Creator.
Let me share my testimony with you. A few years ago, we were in a tight spot financially and needed to pay our lease. We tried to borrow the money, but it didn’t work out. Whom we asked said, “Let me see and I’ll get back with you.” But the closer it got to the due date, the more pressure the enemy applied. You know the type of pressure – you start looking to others to borrow from Peter to pay Paul – you try to pray and doubt that He hears – your patience is short with everyone in the house to the point where you don’t even speak to each other – you begin to think
about who or what you can blame for the situation you found yourself in. Yes, fear of not meeting your obligation causes division, depression, oppression, jealousy, and anger.
I began to speak to my Father, like He was my Father. I spoke to Him with a sincere heart, like the Bible teaches in Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” I pleaded my case, I reminded Him what He said about supplying all my needs (as if He didn’t already know that.). I explained to Him that I wasn’t going to ask anyone anymore and He has the right-of-way to fix this. Let me tell you – within two minutes of ending my conversation/prayer with my Father – I received a call from my wife about a check in the mail for four times more than what we needed and not to trouble anyone.
God and His Word are One, so He is watching over His Word to perform it!(Jeremiah 1:12) We can trust in God with all our heart, all our mind, and all of our soul. His integrity speaks for itself through countless times of provision. Rahab said in the Book of Joshua 2:11, “And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD you GOD, He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”
My friend, He is the same God today and He is on our side. I encourage you to make God first – the One who we run to for any and all answers pertaining to life and Godliness. The Book of Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should not lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent; hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” – is another perfect confirmation of the integrity of God and His Word.
So have faith in God and take Him at His Word!