Topical Encyclopedia The theme of God's concern for His people is a central thread woven throughout the narrative of the Bible. From the creation of humanity to the promise of eternal life, Scripture consistently reveals a God who is deeply invested in the well-being, spiritual growth, and ultimate redemption of His people.Old Testament Foundations In the Old Testament, God's concern is first evident in the creation account, where He forms humanity in His own image (Genesis 1:27). This act of creation signifies a unique relationship between God and humankind, marked by care and intentionality. God's concern is further demonstrated in His provision for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, where He provides everything necessary for their sustenance and well-being (Genesis 2:8-9). The covenant with Abraham is another profound example of God's concern. God promises to make Abraham a great nation and to bless all the families of the earth through him (Genesis 12:2-3). This covenant underscores God's long-term commitment to His people, a promise reiterated to Isaac and Jacob, and ultimately fulfilled in the nation of Israel. Throughout the Exodus narrative, God's concern is vividly displayed as He hears the cries of the Israelites in bondage and raises up Moses to lead them to freedom (Exodus 3:7-10). The giving of the Law at Sinai further illustrates God's desire for His people to live in a way that reflects His holiness and justice (Exodus 20:1-17). The Psalms frequently echo God's concern for His people, portraying Him as a shepherd who guides, protects, and provides for His flock. Psalm 23:1-3 declares, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in paths of righteousness for the sake of His name." Prophetic Assurance The prophets also affirm God's concern, often calling His people back to faithfulness while assuring them of His steadfast love. In Isaiah 49:15-16 , God reassures Israel of His unwavering commitment: "Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me." Jeremiah 29:11 offers a message of hope and future restoration: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope." New Testament Fulfillment In the New Testament, God's concern is most fully revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The incarnation itself is a profound expression of God's love and concern, as He enters into human history to redeem and restore. John 3:16 encapsulates this divine concern: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Jesus' ministry is marked by compassion and care for the marginalized, the sick, and the sinner. He embodies God's concern through His teachings, healings, and ultimately, His sacrificial death and resurrection. In Matthew 11:28-30 , Jesus invites the weary and burdened to find rest in Him, demonstrating His deep care for the individual: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." The Church and Beyond God's concern continues through the establishment of the Church, where believers are called to care for one another and to be a light to the world. The apostle Paul emphasizes this in Galatians 6:2 : "Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." The New Testament also assures believers of God's ongoing concern through the presence of the Holy Spirit, who comforts, guides, and empowers the Church. Romans 8:26-27 highlights the Spirit's intercession for believers: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." Ultimately, God's concern for His people culminates in the promise of eternal life and the restoration of all things, as depicted in Revelation 21:3-4 : "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.'" Subtopics God for Other Anthropomorphic Scriptures by Israel God for Other Anthropomorphic Scriptures: Saul God in the Banishment of John to Patmos God in Turning the Heart of the King of Assyria to Favor the Jews God is Declared to Be: A Consuming Fire God is Declared to Be: Compassionate God is Declared to Be: Eternal God is Declared to Be: Faithful God is Declared to Be: Glorious God is Declared to Be: Gracious God is Declared to Be: Immortal God is Declared to Be: Immutable God is Declared to Be: Incorruptible God is Declared to Be: Invisible God is Declared to Be: Jealous God is Declared to Be: Long-Suffering God is Declared to Be: Merciful God is Declared to Be: Most High God is Declared to Be: Omnipotent God is Declared to Be: Omnipresent God is Declared to Be: Omniscient God is Declared to Be: Only-Wise God is Declared to Be: Perfect God is Declared to Be: Righteous God is Declared to Be: Unsearchable God is Declared to Be: Upright God Loving all of his Children God: Appearances of To Abraham God: Appearances of To Ezekiel God: Appearances of To Jacob, at Beth-El God: Appearances of To Moses and Joshua God: Appearances of To Moses, at Sinai God: Appearances of To Moses, in the Flaming Bush God: Appearances of To Solomon God: Delaying and Destroying Pharaoh God: Delivering the Israelites God: Feeding Elijah and the Widow God: Fighting the Battles of Israel God: Preserver in Delivering from the Oppressions of the King of Syria God: Preserver in Exempting the Land of Goshen from the Plague of Darkness God: Preserver in Exempting the Land of Goshen from the Plague of Flies God: Preserver in Giving Peace With Other Nations God: Preserver in Preserving Their Cattle from the Plague of Murrain, God: Preserver in Saving the Firstborn, when the Plague of Death Destroyed the Firstborn of Egypt, God: Preserver in the Wilderness God: Preserver: As he Journeyed in the Land of Canaan God: Preserver: Daniel and the Three Hebrew Captives God: Preserver: Deliverance from Egypt, God: Preserver: Delivering Israel by Jeroboam Ii God: Preserver: Delivering the Kingdom of Israel from Syria God: Preserver: Delivering Them from the Army of the Assyrians God: Preserver: Jeremah and Baruch God: Preserver: Jesus and his Parents God: Preserver: On Account of Samuel's Intercession God: Preserver: Paul and Silas God: Preserver: The Ethiopian Host God: Preserver: The Wise Men of the East God: Preserver: To Abraham and Sarah, in Egypt God: Preserver: To Hagar, when Abraham Cast Her Out God: Preserver: To Jacob, when he Fled from Laban, his Father-In-Law God: Preserver: To Joseph, in Egypt God: Preserver: To Lot, when Sodom Was Destroyed God: Preserver: To Moses, in his Infancy God: Preserver: To Noah and his Family, at the Time of the Flood God: Preserver: To the Israelites, in Bringing About Their Deliverance from Bondage God: Preserver: To the Kingdom of Judah: in Delivering from Egypt God: Preserver: Under Jephthah God: Preserver: Victories Over the Canaanites Under Joshua God: Preserver: when he Met Esau God: Protecting Abraham, Sarah, and Abimelech God: Protection of Homes While at Feasts God: Providence of, Mysterious and Misinterpreted God: Providence of, Overruling Interpositions of The God: Purifying the Waters of Marah God: Rebuilding the Walls of Jerusalem God: Restoring Manasseh After his Conversion God: should be Worshipped in Spirit and in Truth God: Special Grace: To Abraham God: Special Grace: To Solomon God: Supplying Manna and Quail God: Supplying Water at Meribah God: Symbolized by the Darkness of the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle God: Symbolized by the General Structure of the Most Holy Place, See God: Symbolized by the Pillar of Fire God: The Revolt of the Ten Tribes God: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To God: Warning Pharaoh About the Famine God: Warning the Wise Men from the East Sarcasm: God Reproaching Israel Related Terms |