Feeling Betrayed?

If you are feeling betrayed or have been betrayed, you are most certainly not alone. God’s Word reveals that there have been many individuals who were betrayed by their own friends, their own families, and even their own children.  Our own Savior, Jesus Christ, was also betrayed like no one else and He suffered like no one has ever suffered (Isaiah 53).  Please be encouraged and challenged with some thoughts from Scripture concerning betrayal.

1 Corinthians 11:23-24, Paul says, “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”

            Paul is writing to the church of Corinth that Jesus was betrayed for our sake and that He willingly gave of His own body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins.  If we have been betrayed, let’s try to think of the ultimate betrayal of Jesus Christ who was abandoned by everyone (except his mother) in order to provide us with the gift of salvation.  He was rejected and left alone to die but He never retaliated.  

Psalm 37:25, David says, " I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.”

            David writes from a life of experience and from a personal knowledge of God that He will not allow the righteous to suffer or allow them to have to beg for bread.  In that same chapter he encourages God’s people, “He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun” (Psalm 37:6).  In other words, God will ultimately vindicate you.  He also encourages them to, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7).  David’s experience in this life taught him to be patient and to look to the right Person to settle the score.

Deuteronomy 31:6, 8, Moses speaks for God, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them (your enemies), for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.  It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

            Moses was working to reassure Israel of the character of their God and to look to Him for strength, wisdom, and confidence about the uncertainties of life.  God is not like man who changes His mind or leaves when things get tough.  His promises are sure and His words are always safe.  God not only goes with us~~He goes before us as we look to Him into the future.