ENGRAVING GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

In the Old Testament, the walking stick—the staff—wasn’t just a tool for walking because they were nomadic people. They engraved the moments of God’s deliverance on their staff to remember what God had done. It was their way of saying, “This far, God has brought us.” It became a living story, a record of God’s faithfulness.

When Moses stood at the edge of the Red Sea, with the waters blocking the way and the Egyptians chasing behind, he didn’t just hold up a stick. He lifted up a reminder of God’s faithfulness. That staff carried the memory of God’s promises—the plagues in Egypt, the miracles, the wonders. Moses was saying, “God, You’ve done it before. You delivered us from Pharaoh’s hand, and I know You’ll do it again. Open the way!” And God, faithful as always, parted the sea.

That’s what we do in our prayers, too. Have you noticed that in our church services, we often remind God of His past works? Our Church Fathers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote prayers that recall the miracles of old and only then we present our requests. Why do we do this? Not because God forgets but because we need to remember.

When we remind God, we’re also reminding ourselves. We’re saying, “God, You’ve been faithful before. You’ve carried us through hardships, through trials, through seasons of uncertainty. And if You did it then, You’ll do it again!”

Even the Armenian word for God— Աստուած (Asdvadz)—holds this truth. In Krapar “Asd-eadz” means “He brought us this far.” Every time we speak His name, we declare His faithfulness. We say, “God, You didn’t leave us in slavery. You didn’t abandon us in the desert. You didn’t forget us in exile. You brought us through every trial, and You’re still with us today.”

Friends, the God who brought you this far will not leave you. He will carry you through. He will make a way. So, engrave His goodness on your heart. Write down the moments when God delivered you. Keep them close. When life gets tough, when the waters seem too high, lift up your staff and declare: “God, You’ve done it before, and I know You’ll do it again.”

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
November 22, 2024