Nigeria, June 29 -- "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:2-3).

In all this, God is the doer of the work.

But His promise to Israel was conditional:

"If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:5-6).

If God makes a promise, and the fulfilment is conditional upon the action of a man or nation, it means the promise cannot be fulfilled. Only God can fulfil God'...