And he went on to say: ‘Surely they are my people, sons that will not prove false.’ So it was to them that he came to be a Savior.

Isaiah 63:7-

16. (a) What viewpoint did Jehovah have when he made his covenant with Israel? (b) How does God deal with his people?

¹⁶ Following the Exodus, Jehovah brought Israel to Mount Sinai and made this promise: “If you will strictly obey my voice and will indeed keep my covenant, then you will certainly become my special property . . . And you yourselves will become to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5, 6) Was Jehovah being deceptive in making this offer? No, for Isaiah reveals that Jehovah said to himself: “Surely they are my people, sons that will not prove false.” One scholar observes: “The ‘surely’ is not the fiat of sovereignty or foreknowledge: it is the hope and confidence of love.” Yes, Jehovah made his covenant in good faith, sincerely wanting his people to succeed. In spite of their obvious shortcomings, he displayed confidence in them. How wonderful it is to worship a God who places such trust in his worshipers! Elders today do much to strengthen those entrusted to their charge when they manifest similar confidence in the basic goodness of God’s people.​—2 Thessalonians 3:4; Hebrews 6:9, 10.