13 When God gave Abraham his promise, he swore by himself since he couldn’t swear by anyone greater. 14 He said, I will certainly bless you and multiply your descendants. 15 So Abraham obtained the promise by showing patience. 16 People pledge by something greater than themselves. A solemn pledge guarantees what they say and shuts down any argument. 17 When God wanted to further demonstrate to the heirs of the promise that his purpose doesn’t change, he guaranteed it with a solemn pledge. 18 So these are two things that don’t change, because it’s impossible for God to lie. He did this so that we, who have taken refuge in him, can be encouraged to grasp the hope that is lying in front of us. 19 This hope, which is a safe and secure anchor for our whole being, enters the sanctuary behind the curtain.
Reflection
A friend of mine who loves sailing taught me something recently about anchors. Now anchors aren’t necessarily the most interesting part of a ship – or at least we don’t think of them that way – but they are utterly necessary. And they serve some very useful purposes.
Did you know, for example, that you can use an anchor to MOVE a ship? It’s true. In the days before engines, in shallow water or especially in the harbor, a crew might row the anchor out some distance in front of the vessel. Then they would drop it overboard and sailors would pull the ship forward by heaving on the anchor line.
What my friend taught me is that an anchor does two things well: hold you in one spot and move you forward. It’s for this reason that the anchor has a long history in Christian iconography as a symbol of faith. When the whole world seems to be pulling you in different directions, trust your anchor to hold you fast. When you feel stuck, trust that your anchor will allow you to move to that next place where you’re being called.
Our hope in the promises of God is a safe and secure anchor for our whole being. It both holds us steady and allows us to move forward without fear. Trust your anchor!
By Joe Monahan
For Pondering & Prayer
Can you recall a time in your life when your faith served as an anchor holding you steady in a difficult situation? When has it been the thing that allowed you to move forward into the unknown? Give thanks today for your faith and God’s faithfulness.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are grateful that we can trust you in every situation. Thank you for being our anchor in an uncertain world. Amen.
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