Most of us know the Christian story of Jesus coming to Earth to die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins and to redeem the world. It’s a very tangible image of God sacrificing himself. Countless books have been written on the depths of mystery contained in this story.

For this post, however, I’ve been thinking about another way that God sacrifices himself for us – namely, in being a ‘promise-maker.’

The Bible is full of verses that proclaim that God is faithful, that he always keeps his word and that his promises are sure and true. This, in of itself, is staggering.

But think about it, if you had unlimited potential – if all things were possible to you – would you ever want to make someone a promise? Why would you?

I mean, if you’re God, and you, by nature, would be bound by your word, why would you ever even make a promise? Let alone to human beings who screw everything up and are as unfaithful as can be?

Do you see what I’m saying here?

In the very act of making a promise, God severely constrains himself. He sacrifices His potential.

As soon as He makes a promise, He must reject all other possibilities and choose to be obedient to Himself and His word.

We get a little upset that God put the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the garden, right? Like, why tempt us to be disobedient?

Yet, God effectively plants his own Tree with every promise He makes. He says, “I commit to following through with this, and thereby vow to not do that.”

I guess what I’m trying to say is, yes, I am absolutely amazed that God is a God who keeps His promises. It is astounding.

But, the more I think about it, I might be even more amazed that He chooses to make any promises in the first place.