gods-plan

The Unchangeable Purpose of God

The Curious PilgrimLeave a comment

A Devotional Reflection on Hebrews 6:17–7:10

There are days when everything feels uncertain. The news shifts by the hour. Relationships strain. Bodies age. Faith itself can feel fragile. Into that world of instability, Hebrews speaks a steady and defiant word of hope:

“When God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath.” (Hebrews 6:17)

This is not abstract theology. It is medicine for anxious hearts.

God’s Purpose Does Not Shift With the Times

We live in a culture where almost nothing feels permanent. Commitments are provisional. Promises are conditional. Institutions rise and fall. Even our own convictions can waver under pressure.

Hebrews insists that God is not like us.

God’s purpose is unchangeable because it flows from who God is, not from circumstances, moods, or human performance. The promise first given to Abraham was not revised by history, failure, exile, or doubt. It was carried forward—patiently, relentlessly—until it found its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

What that means for us today is profound:
God has not reconsidered His commitment to you.

Why the Oath Still Matters

God did something extraordinary. He not only made a promise; He swore an oath. Hebrews tells us this was not because God’s word was weak, but because our confidence is.

We are people who ask:

  • What if I fail again?
  • What if my faith isn’t strong enough?
  • What if suffering means God has changed His mind?

So God stoops to our level and says, in effect:
“Let me make this unmistakably clear. I am not changing course.”

Two unchangeable things—God’s promise and God’s oath—stand together like pillars holding up our hope.

Jesus and the Permanence We Long For

Hebrews 7 moves the focus to Jesus as our eternal high priest. Unlike human systems that wear out, corrupt, or expire, Jesus’ priesthood is grounded in God’s sworn promise.

That means:

  • Grace is not temporary
  • Forgiveness is not on a trial basis
  • God’s welcome does not expire with age, illness, doubt, or regret

In a world where so much depends on performance, Hebrews proclaims something radical:
Your security rests on God’s faithfulness, not your consistency.

What This Means for Us Today

For modern believers—especially those who feel tired, lonely, or unsure—this passage offers solid ground.

  • When life feels unstable, God’s purpose is not
  • When your past weighs heavy, God’s promise still stands
  • When the future feels unclear, God’s oath has already settled the outcome

You may question yourself.
You may question the church.
You may even question God.

But Hebrews assures us:
God has not questioned His purpose to love, redeem, and hold you fast.

A Closing Prayer

Faithful God,
In a world of shifting ground, anchor us in Your unchangeable purpose.
When fear whispers that we are forgotten, remind us that You have sworn to be faithful.
Teach us to rest not in our strength, but in Your promise,
made sure through Jesus, our eternal hope.
Amen.