Most of us know what it seems like to be alone or to have people leave us. It is painful to experience friends or members of the family turning away from us, the very people we thought we could depend on. During these times, we feel forsaken.
According to the Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, the word “forsake” means “to resign or turn away from entirely.” To forsake is to desert someone or something, to show away and desert them.
When we encounter situations by which family members forsake us, we will find comfort in knowing that our Lord has also experienced this. More than anyone else in history, the Lord God knows what it’s prefer to be forsaken, by His chosen nation, friends, and by His Father.
Yet the One who was forsaken by His people, and separated from God on the cross, is the One who never forsakes others. He won’t ever leave, even when others do.
The dictionary gives us many words to precise what it means to forsake and be forsaken, but the most effective approach to understand the word is to see it utilized in motion. We find such examples in Scripture, especially regarding the Lord’s relationship with others.
Example of Israel Forsaking God
The people of Israel made a covenant with God. If they followed His Law in obedience, they might live securely within the Promised Land (Leviticus 25:18).
However, in the event that they turned away from the Lord and His Law, the land could be taken from them, and they might be sent into exile (Leviticus 26:14-39). Despite these warnings, Israel repeatedly forsook the Lord God to chase after idols.
Elijah witnessed the nation turn their backs on the Lord. He lamented this, feeling as if he were the just one who had not forsaken God.
As he told the Lord on Mount Horeb, “I actually have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, they usually seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:10, ESV).
Although many others along with Elijah had remained faithful to the Lord, Israel as a complete had forsaken Him (1 Kings 19:18).
Later, through the time of Jeremiah, God repeatedly told the prophet about how Israel had turned away from Him. They selected to worship other gods, bowing right down to worthless idols (Jeremiah 9:13-14).
Since they’d deserted Him, He would turn away from them and permit judgment to fall on the nation (Jeremiah 5:19; 16:10-13).
Their judgment of being taken into exile was just and right, which is why the Lord repeatedly told Jeremiah to not plead for the people or to wish for them (Jeremiah 7:16; 11:14; 14:11). They could turn to the prophet and God but Jeremiah was not to show to them (Jeremiah 15:19).
Yet although the people of Israel had abandoned the Lord, He wouldn’t forsake them endlessly. He wouldn’t break His covenant with the people He had chosen (Leviticus 26:44-45).
He promised to revive them to the Promised Land, to bring them home from exile (Jeremiah 29:10; 32:44). The prophet Daniel read this promise while a member of the diaspora within the Babylonian empire (Daniel 9:2).
He offered a prayer of repentance and asked the Lord to recollect the individuals who bear His Name (Daniel 9:4-19; compare with Leviticus 26:40-42).
Unlike the Israelites who had deserted the Lord of their unfaithfulness, God remained faithful and would restore them to their land.
Example of Jesus Being Forsaken by His Friends and Father
During the Last Supper, Peter and the opposite disciples swore that they might die before disowning Christ and that they might stand by Him irrespective of the situation (Matthew 26:33-35).
When Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested, nevertheless, all of the disciples, including Peter, fled. As some versions say, “Then all of the disciples forsook him, and fled” (Matthew 26:56, KJV; Mark 14:50).
Although this fulfilled Old Testament prophecy, it still hurt the Lord Jesus (Zechariah 13:7). At the painful times of His trial, flogging, and crucifixion, His friends had left Him.
Even worse than that was the Father turning away from Jesus. On the cross, Christ bore the sins of the world. In that dark moment when He who knew no sin became sin for us, the Father turned His face away, temporarily leaving Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).
The Son felt this separation acutely. With a cry of anguish, He asked, “My God, my God, why have you ever forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46, NIV; Psalm 22:1). Not only had His friends forsaken Him, but so had the Father.
Jesus is conversant in suffering and the pain of being abandoned (Isaiah 53:3). As a result, those that encounter abandonment by others can never say that the Lord doesn’t understand. He does, for Christ experienced the worst and most painful abandonment of all when His Father turned away.
Yet, despite the pain of betrayal and separation, He achieved His mission. Jesus died for the sins of all to supply salvation to those that consider, including to the very ones who had fled from Him.
Example of Demas and Others Forsaking Paul
Paul also experienced what it felt prefer to be forsaken. In a letter to Timothy, Paul described how a former fellow employee deserted him (2 Timothy 4:10).
Demas, the person who forsook the apostle, had worked to spread the gospel up to now and was mentioned multiple times in Paul’s letters (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 1:24). However, a love for the world had gripped Demas, causing him to abandon Paul.
Others had also forsaken Paul during a hearing before his trial, not coming to his defense (2 Timothy 4:16). Despite the pain he probably felt at the moment, he prayed that their abandonment of him wouldn’t be held against them.
He knew that although he was physically alone, the Lord was with him. As he wrote, “The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength” (2 Timothy 4:17, NIV).
Paul found hope and luxury knowing that the Lord was at all times faithful. Though life was hard, and he was persecuted, the apostle knew he was not forsaken (2 Corinthians 4:9).
The Lord Who Doesn’t Forsake Us
Scripture teaches us that the Lord won’t ever leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He has promised to be with us at all times, to the top of the age (Matthew 28:20).
This promise stays true even when we’re faithless and switch away from Him, for Christ cannot disown those that belong to Him (2 Timothy 2:13).
Believers can find comfort on this promise, just as Paul did. Although others may leave and we’re left alone, God will at all times stay. He won’t leave our side. Knowing this could strengthen our trust in Him, making us more committed to walk in faithfulness.
We also can find comfort in knowing that the Lord empathizes with us. He knows what it’s prefer to be forsaken and left alone. Our Savior has experienced abandonment and may support us once we encounter faithless friends.
People in life will leave us: friends, members of the family, and spouses. At other times, we will be the unfaithful ones, turning away from family members and even the Lord.
Yet, even when we abandon the One we love most, God never leaves. The testimony of Scripture shows us that He stays faithful no matter His people’s alternative to go astray and desert Him.
The God who was forsaken on the cross is the God who never forsakes us.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Daniel Christel
Sophia Bricker is a contract author who enjoys researching and writing articles on biblical and theological topics. In addition to contributing articles about biblical questions as a contract author, she has also written for Unlocked devotional. She holds a BA in Ministry, a MA in Ministry, and is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing to develop her writing craft. As someone who’s obsessed with the Bible and faith in Jesus, her mission is to assist others find out about Christ and glorify Him in her writing. When she isn’t busy studying or writing, Sophia enjoys spending time with family, reading, drawing, and gardening.
