God never files for divorce! He has given us permission to initiate divorce in the event that our partner has been unfaithful to the marriage vows, but even when His people are unfaithful to Him–even when His people are repeatedly unfaithful to Him–He never exercises that right Himself. Breaking off the relationship between God and man is always initiated by mankind, never by God.

God’s promise to His people has always been,

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5.

In the history of Israel we see almost unlimited opportunity for God to choose to leave His people. They were unfaithful to Him time and time again. They not only broke the commandments spoken from Sinai and written by His own hand, but they became involved in the worship of other gods, forgetting the one true God who had brought them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.

The Old Testament account of their history records over and over again the wickedness and rebellion of kings and people. The Desire of Ages, page 28, says,

“From the time of their entrance to the land of Canaan, they departed from the commandments of God, and followed the ways of the heathen. It was in vain that God sent them warning by His prophets. In vain they suffered the chastisement of heathen oppression. Every reformation was followed by deeper apostasy.”

By the time of Christ,

“sin had become a science, and vice was consecrated as a part of religion. Rebellion had struck its roots deep into the heart, and the hostility of man was most violent against heaven.” – Ibid., p. 37.

The devil rejoiced that he had done his work so well, that finally God’s patience would cease and mankind would be destroyed. But God had a better plan Instead of destruction, He sent a Saviour. Jesus came to earth to offer reconciliation in person, to try to bridge the gap between mankind and his God.

The offer of mercy that the nation of Israel rejected is still offered to individuals, and every person living on this earth can still accept that offer. Not until every individual has made a final choice for or against God will the offer be withdrawn.

When Christ leaves the heavenly sanctuary and probation closes, God’s long-suffering will finally come to an end. And even then, God does not arbitrarily leave us; He reluctantly accepts our decision to leave Him. See *The Great Controversy, p. 614.***

Have you ever worried that you are taking too long to learn the lessons He is trying to teach you? Have you ever prayed, “God, please don’t give up on me?” You can be assured that He never will. Perhaps a better prayer would be, “God, please help me not to give up on You.” For when it comes to the gift of salvation and our relationship with Him, we hold the majority vote. Only our stubborn choice can prevent us from coming into His presence and receiving what He longs to give.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:35, 37-39.