" . . . I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the

In God we are dealing with a personality like none other. All our transactions with other people--spouse, siblings, children, neighbors--are marked by dereliction and aborted hope. We routinely let each other down through incompetence, unfulfilled promises, and human obstinacy. We give up on each other as a result. But God does not give up on us. Despite human unfaithfulness, he does not abandon his promises. Instead he strengthens them.