BIBLE REFLECTIONS - JANUARY TO APRIL 2021
IF YOU’RE HERE, YOU’RE
LOST, BECAUSE THIS READS LIKE A JAPANESE MANGA.
‘THE LAST WILL BE
FIRST’, HENCE, THE LAST ENTRY ON THE LAST PAGE WILL BE READ FIRST.
ENJOY, AND BE
ENCOURAGED…=)
Because true ministry
is not for fun, for fame, or for the funds... It is that whatever is assigned
to you, officially or by revelation, you do all that you can, diligently,
consistently, faithfully, in order that God alone will be worshipped, His Word
be magnified and His Name be glorified... For even the littlest (until the
biggest) sacrifices you make for His work on earth, trust that He will (because
He always did and He always does) return blessings to you in manifold
quantities, quality and substance, so that your life will be filled with His
grace and peace all your days...
Samuel, whose name,
"of Hebrew origin meaning either "name of God" (שם האלוהים Shem
HaElohim) or "God heard" (שמע אלוהים Sh'ma Elohim)--c/o
wikipedia", was named as the last of Israel's ruling judges, and one of
its greatest prophets, but was actually someone long prayed for, and a
fulfillment of a promise... We learn of his mother--Hannah's faithfulness; of
her patience at as then not being able yet to conceive a child; but when being
harassed and ridiculed by her husband Elkanah's other wife, turned to God in
earnest prayer; was heard eventually; and of her faithfulness in fulfilling her
vow by offering her young child in the service of God... She is also one of our
models of the faith too; that we may know whom to appeal first if we have grudges,
or resentments, or when the world, our enemies, and even friends and loved ones
hurt or abuse us--it is God... For we know and we have seen and proven how good
and faithful He is, as He answers our prayers and give us grace in abundance...
It is indeed easy to retort or get back at the people who hurt us; but when God
said that vengeance is His, we realize why; because for Him to shower us with
more blessings, grace and peace, is a better revenge on our offenders; and a
stronger witness to them that God favors the ridiculed, insulted, oppressed and
the humble in heart...
Now we know how King
David became a man after God's own heart--he took after his great- grandfather
Boaz, who redeemed his great-grandmother Ruth, a Moabite widow and a foreigner
to the people of ancient Israel, from a life of poverty and helplessness...
This foreshadows David's redemption of Israel at the hands of their later
tyrannical first king, Saul, and will mark the start of the golden age of
ancient Israel... This also foreshadows the ultimate redemption of all mankind
by David's descendant in human form, Jesus Christ, who redeemed our souls from
eternal death, even though we are strangers and foreigners to the people of His
Old Covenant... And as we continue reading and meditating on His Word, being
guided by it, and humbly submit ourselves to His will and leading, we will also
receive the blessing the Israelites declared upon our spiritual
great-grandmother Ruth -- that our lives will become fruitful, and full of His
grace and goodness forever...
A bible commentary said that what
Naomi commanded Ruth to do was not man-trapping nor gold-digging, but rather,
because for the time that she worked in Boaz's field, they got to know each
other better, and the mother-in-law believes that Boaz is responsible and the
right person to fulfill the duties of kinsman-redeemer to them, as stated in
God's laws and ordinances for ancient Israel... Ruth is not sexually seducing
Boaz by lying at his feet, but staking the family's claim firmly and humbly,
with the attitude of a servant... Ruth's obedience was rewarded with an equally
firm and gentle promise and provision, because she would have been abused if
Boaz had been a lesser man... The commentary said that these are the proper
attitudes of husbands and wives--the husband is to provide sufficiently, lead
well, protect, care for and maintain the honor and dignity of the family; and
the wife not to be blindly submissive, but to be discerning, to have wisdom and
humility, yet firm in her decisions, to have courage and virtue... May we learn
from these people so that our faith and service to God and ministry to other
people and the rest of His creation be not proved lacking but be filled by His
grace, peace and goodness...
Early spoilers, but we are in fact
reading the Bible's version of Cinderella... Yet this true story actually
happened around 400 to 600 years (6th - 4th centuries BC) before the earliest
folk tale--the story of Rhodopis, according to Wikipedia of which was recounted
by Strabo, the Greek geographer, between 7 B.C. to A.D. 23... Hence, being the
older and quite possibly the more original one, the Word tells us women, as
written in the Book of Ruth, what are the true keys to a successful life and
marriage: faith and trust in God, humility and modesty, genuine and active care
and concern for our parents and elders, hard work, patience, and choosing not a
dashing, seemingly debonair Prince, but a true man of God, who is kind, wise,
generous, a good provider, leader and protector, who is likewise respected by
the elders and people of the land... Unfortunately, only too few ever get
those, for often, most of us look at the outward appearance, and listen to what
our hormones and hearts say--that bodily organ which was the first formed in us
when we were yet within our mother's womb, and for which the Word says to be
deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9)... If we are to follow Ruth's
example (another spoiler alert: who actually became King David's
great-grandmother, and Jesus Christ's human ancestor through his human father
Joseph the carpenter), these should be our standards too... They are not too
high as some people claim, but actually logical, reasonable, wise and humane...
If it is already too late for us to meet our Boaz, well, it is never too late
to become like Ruth too, for who knows, God's Word is eternal, and the
scriptures which the apostle Paul said to be our examples, our learning and
inspiration (Romans 15:4), gives us hope, energy to persist, and right passion
to endure... Strangely yet logically, life everywhere, no matter the person's
race or nationality, follow the same pattern, and are governed by the same
moral and spiritual laws, so that our poor and lonely lives can become like
'Cinderella', but instead of a fairy godmother, we have something infinitely
better, because we have a God who is good, Who provides, Who secures, and if we
love Him enough to be obedient and obey His will, always works out all things
for our good...
This is a kind of relationship I
cannot relate with being yet single, but all throughout my Christian life I
have heard it said to be the ideal one--that between widow Naomi and her loyal
and faithful widow daughter-in-law, Ruth... But the depth of their affection
for each other is something timeless, for at its core, we have Ruth's sincere
and selfless care for her aged mother-in-law, and should be the pattern of
caring for our elders today; there is also Naomi's humility, wisdom and faith
in God, that He will still bless them both, and care for them, who at the
moment are both socially and economically helpless... May we learn that in the
same way that our God cares for us, we too should extend a little more care,
attention and understanding to our elders and seniors, particularly if life has
not been so kind to them, for that in itself is a ministry, something our Lord
has given us to fulfill faithfully as part of our work in His kingdom, that
desires that nobody be neglected or left behind...
And the last Word in the book of
'Judges' sums up what causes people to rise up or fall down--the words that
come out of our mouths: be they promises and oaths, curses, praises,
judgements, opinions, and proclamations... And of how such things when uttered
without wisdom and right knowledge, without guidance of the Truth, come back to
haunt us, humiliate us, expose our ignorance and failures, destroy our
relationship with other people, damage our community, and unmask us from the
pathetic facade of trying to live the great life without obeying the will of
our Lord and Maker... May we learn to weigh our words carefully, and do our
best to be a blessing at every utterance--be they sweet words that encourage,
or harsh ones yet are motivated by true love and that only seeks to build
character...
The gruesome crime detailed in the
previous chapter of the Word has resulted to a bloody civil war and has forever
broken the relations between the tribes of God's people... This is actually a
highly magnified rendering of what happens in people's lives and relationships
even on a daily basis and throughout history... As long as each of us still
wallow in sin and cater to evil thoughts and feelings, as long as we do not
surrender our lives fully to God, repent of our wrongdoings, and strive every
day to overcome our carnal nature and worldly lusts and desires, if we do not
give up our pride and arrogance, if we still continue to think of ourselves as
higher and better than others, to be greedy and selfish and short-sighted, then
even though how we claim to be so strong of faith or religious, and no matter
how we claim to be so talented, smart or knowledgeable, or how well we decorate
or beautify ourselves to be, our deepest sins will even catch up to us--they
will come out of the words we speak, and drive our every action, so that they
mar and destroy our relationship with other people and especially with God...
This pandemic is one of those moments where people's resolves are put to the
extreme test, and where their true nature comes out... May we have the wisdom
and humility to be obedient to God's call, authority and leading over our
lives, so that we can fully receive the ultimate peace and security that only
His presence brings, and the grace He so abundantly showers on those who are
forever and everyday content and confident in His provision and care...
This is one of the darkest and most
gruesome chapters of the Word, which many bible commentators say they hesitate
to read, preach or study in public or in small groups... But in our modern
times, the story is not so strange and all too common for those who watch the
news everyday, or are fond of reading or watching suspense, mystery,
psychological and crime thrillers... Then, and until now, we learn the depths
of the darkness of the human heart which does not have a "King", or
those people who do not recognize and accept God's authority over their lives,
and the extent to which their depravity takes them... At its root however was,
like the Levite (who took back his concubine who committed adultery against
him, yet despite the abundant hospitality her father showed him, sacrificed her
later to be gang-raped by evil men in order to save himself, and later
mutilating and cutting her dead body up, and distributing the pieces to the
twelve tribes to prove his point, thereby desecrating her further even beyond
death while revealing his own psychopathic personality, showing to all that he
too has abandoned his identity as a member of the special tribe whose
inheritance is in serving in God's temple), there are many people who are only
interested in preserving themselves and in what they can gain, and when push
comes to shove, turn cowards, abandon their loved ones and friends, and refuse
to take responsibility and accountability... Likewise, there are many among us
too, who are called, identified and who act holy, righteous, superior, nice and
good in front of others, yet with hearts and minds still darkened by sin and
worldliness... May we let God's spirit and power convict and convert us, that
we may be cleansed inside out, and become truly worthy to be the people He gave
His Son for, a people who have been delivered from the clutches of sin and
evil, from darkness and ignorance, to become a people worthy to spend eternity
with Him in His kingdom...
One man's idolatry causes multitudes
to follow suit, especially since that person built up the appearance of having
some authority by making replicas of what God has ordained... This kind of sin
is strangely prevalent even in our times today; where some people claim
(although they may well be to some extent) to have knowledge on something, and
to have authority and credibility in making those things work in other people's
lives too... One must instead remember that knowledge without godly wisdom and
presence is just vanity. It is like an idol one must preserve, defend and
protect, instead of the other way around. Life, our beliefs and principles can
only be credible if aligned on Something higher than all of us, Something
timeless and eternal, Something whose work, deeds, accomplishments and power
were both proven true and recorded throughout history... And this Something is
more--it is God. Any kind of worship, thought, feeling, principle, or idea that
rejects what nature and history plainly speaks about Him is vain and useless,
much like Micah's and the Danites' efforts to have spiritual and administrative
superiority over their people and nation based on what they feel is right, yet
such will never hold nor last nor have ground because it is never the true
thing... Still...
Spiritual anarchy--when every person
thinks he knows best, chooses to hear only what he wants to hear, interprets
things and even God's Word to feed only his ego and pride, and would not listen
to godly and ethical rebuke--leads to national anarchy and chaos, and their
people's downfall... May we have the eyes to see, the ears to hear, the hearts
to be convicted, to be humbled and to obey His Word and will...
Samson's life shows us great
potential yet gone too soon... However this chapter also teaches us some of
life's most profound truths: because of greed and selfishness, not all honesty
is beneficial, for like in Samson's case, when he divulged his holy secret, it
could lead to our downfall... Samson was pitiful, falling in love again with
another woman, Delilah, but his feelings were not mutual and reciprocated,
showing us once again that wisdom is truly needed to rule the human heart and
emotion... That God was still good to Samson's faithful and obedient parents,
blessing them with more children, his brethren who claimed his body after his
death, and buried him properly in the same place as his father. His father was
spared of more heartbreak due to his torture, incarceration and death, by dying
before him, but leaving behind descendants who will continue to retell God's
miracles in their family's life and to make known Samson's heroism, leadership,
and humanity, and therefore an extremely relevant and timeless life lesson for
us all throughout history...
Samson was God's firebrand, the
igniter and inciter of conflict to get back at their then-oppressor the
Philistines (which modern archaeology has concluded, based on DNA records of
burials at excavated sites, were originally from the Western Mediterranean, a
people related to or even direct ancestors to the Greek people of today, and
who were excellent seafarers who crossed the sea to migrate to the Levant, or
Canaan in Old Testament terminology)... Samson's wild and hot-tempered ways had
this purpose, that despite Israel's weakness as a people when compared against
Philistine superiority, his brute strength could be matched up against the
enemy who history records show were not only skilled in iron weaponry and
warfare on land and sea, but who also had giants among their army too...
Samson's vendetta was dark and violent, as also that of his enemies, but it
shows us that when God has a purpose for one's life, He really fulfills it. And
though one may turn aside or go astray, God will always intervene in that
person's life, so they will realize their nothingness without Him, humble
themselves, turn from their wicked ways, and get back to serving and obeying
Him, even to the point of giving up their very lives... May we learn not to
underestimate God's power, nor misunderstand and reject His will and plan over
us, so that we may live the rest of our days with His protection, care and
sustenance...
I am not an authority on these
things, but a Bible commentary made mention that this chapter talks about
Samson's first failed marriage. And we learn a lot of things and how strangely,
these issues persist even in many people today... He grew up spoiled and
stubborn. He insisted on marrying somebody his parents do not approve of. He
did something forbidden by God, and worse, because he is a Nazirite--he touched
the dead carcass of the lion he killed, took the honey the bees stored in it,
and even gave it to his parents to it, thereby causing them to be unclean too,
without telling them about it. He didn't pause to think if they might get sick
with it. In our time, they could very well be eating contaminated food. He was
well pleased with the woman, but the Word was silent with the woman's feelings,
yet we can understand she did not feel the same way, for she used blackmail and
manipulated him in order to tell the people the answer to his riddle, and after
he left to go to his parent's house, though they were not divorced yet, she was
given to and had relations with his best man... Here we realize that Samson may
indeed be supernaturally strong, yet, he lacks wisdom and good judgment, for he
only cares about his feelings. And sadly, like many people today, he disobeyed
his parents and disrespected them, which led to the curse of his failed
marriage, which, spoiler alert, the next chapter will say, can never be
restored... May we learn that yes, we can be strong, good looking, smart and
successful by our own reckoning, but if lack wisdom and humility, and if we do
not respect or honor our parents, or sin against them, yet do not ask for their
forgiveness, and do not care or provide for them in their twilight years, since
this is God's commandment with a promise, we too will forever live unhappy,
unfulfilled, unsatisfying, miserable lives... Still...
Here we read of the birth of Samson,
the deliverer planned by God for Israel, who would start to set them free from
the oppression of the Philistines; the one promised by God to a barren woman
and her husband Manoah, who both saw the face of the Angel of God and lived;
and whose offering was accepted by God when the flame of the fire from the
altar on which their offering was being burnt, went up into heaven together
with the Angel, in full view of the couple... At this point, and without
spoiling the rest of the story, we learn what is acceptable worship and
offering to God, much like what Abel gave in Genesis 4:4: it is the first and
best portion of what we earn and receive, something pure (a kid of the goats),
with meat (unleavened bread), but all throughout driven by a humble heart that
believes that God will fulfill His promises amidst difficult, seemingly
hopeless and impossible situations, and one that is part of a lifestyle
different (to the point of being polar opposite) from the selfish, godless,
mindless, prideful, greedy, wrathful and ignorant sway of the crowds... May we
look deep in our hearts and examine if we offer and live this kind of worship
and offering too...
This is an early recorded passage in
the Word of the use of passwords, 'shibboleth' (an ear of grain, or a river),
which tradition says Ephraimites pronounce as 'sibboleth', and how it
determined their survival or not, at the hands of avenging Jephthah... And this
is a lesson even for us until today too, where it shows that no matter how good
or smart or talented we are, how nice we present ourselves to the world be,
ultimately the words we speak, and often how we say them, could make or break
us and the people we influence, associate or worse, implicate and
victimize--fame, reputation, careers, relationships, even our very survival
too... May we all learn to rein in our words and weigh them carefully: that
they might always be a blessing and not a joy-snatcher, an encouragement and
not a put-down, a character-builder and not a spoiler or flatterer, a word of
wisdom rather than a promotion of pride and puffiness of the ego...
What actually happened to Jephthah's
daughter is still being debated today by scholars and clerics, thousands of
years after Bible history mentioned of her life's sacrifice... Many say she was
killed and offered up as human sacrifice; while others believe that because God
prohibited His people from engaging in human sacrifice, that she spent the rest
of her life in seclusion like a monk, maybe sent to the mountains like some
modern-day Ethiopian Christian monks, and died there alone, single and a
virgin, without ever rejoining her family and community again... At its face,
we realise why God mentioned many times in His Word that we have to be careful
of our vows, and not to mention His Name in vain, particularly in making
promises (Numbers 30:1-16, Deuteronomy 23:21-23, Ecclesiastes 5:4-6), because
life always has a habit of making cruel jokes with us and having us eat our
words... This story also foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ,
who, like Jephthah's daughter, died single and childless (Isaiah 53:8), in
order to bring us salvation and reconcile us back to God... And an
introspection and realization too, on the blessedness of singles, and why they
should not be teased, joked with, mocked, looked down upon and insulted (for
indeed, they have happier, freer and more peaceful lives than some of the
so-called 'happily married', but actually emotionally miserable and
unfulfilled); nor should they be oppressed, harassed, taken advantage of or
abused... for often in life's greatest challenges, they are the ones available
to heed the call; they can dedicate their lives to a higher calling, and by
their free and willing sacrifices, they bring blessing and deliverance to the
rest of humanity...
Since ancient times and until now,
good leaders are needed to guide people in the right way, to show them the
proper way to live, to encourage and support them to be the best they can be,
and to protect and keep them from being destroyed by the enemies, the difficult
and tragic circumstances of life, and by their own greed, lust, ignorance and
selfishness... May we all look deep into our hearts and realize that we are all
indeed leaders, the call that beckons to us is higher and larger than life, and
that we need to conquer our baser selves to be able to influence and lead
others in the right way too...
God's Word is brutally honest about
what lies inside the human heart... In here we read about Abimelech, Gideon's
illegitimate son with a concubine, murder his seventy brothers in order to
appoint himself ruler of his people... And Jotham's curse is actually God's
declaration to all the Abimelechs throughout history and even until today, to
leaders and people in positions of power who discredit and destroy opposition,
complainers, critics, and even helpless innocents just to grab hold of power,
preserve their vested interest, retain whatever wealth they have stolen, and
eliminate any blot that would question their legitimacy or performance and
effectiveness... It talks to all of us too, who have innate selfishness and
greed, particularly to those of us who are too honest to be nice and gracious,
in simply getting along and being nice to people who can benefit us, and
abandon them when we think they are of no more use to us... May our hearts
convict us as we take heed of the responsibility that our first elder sibling
Cain abandoned: we are our brother's keeper, and our lives can only be made
full and meaningful when we center our desires on God, and have His heart to
not do wrong to other people, not discourage, hurt or destroy them, but instead
help them meet their needs and realize their full potential among God's
creations and to fulfill their part in His kingdom...
A military leader, not a ruler...
Even with all his exploits and
heroism for the people of Israel, Gideon declined to become their ruler or
king, but lifted up God and His authority over them (v. 23)...
Something which many leaders of
today should think about and emulate, because not a few undoubtedly were
appointed from former military positions to official positions in government
and business (the trend that started after the second world war), with many
seemingly having forgotten that they are mere stewards of God's people and
their resources, and often unfortunately corrupting themselves, stealing and
pocketing for themselves freely from state and corporate coffers, and usurping
all glory, power and authority, with some even thinking they are invincible and
taking or destroying the lives and livelihoods of other people as they see
fit...
May we learn from Gideon's life, and
learn humility, faith and courage from him...
I always wondered why God chose only
300 men to be part of Gideon's attack army against the Midianites, and what is
so special about them... Until I read about the Hebrew meaning of Gideon's
name, and why he is called as such... For most of us with complete limbs,
dexterity is not much of a problem. But if one has a stump for a hand, yet a
man of bravery and courage, Gideon might be adept at using his other hand to
weld a sword well, but to drink with his bare hands from the river, which
necessitates cupping the palms of both hands together, would be extremely
difficult, and so by nature, he would lie prone on the riverbank, his head at
level with the water, and like a dog, lap the water with his tongue in order to
drink it. And for the 300 men who did this too, no matter if surely most of
them have complete appendages and could very well just kneel and cup their
hands to scoop the water and bring it up to their mouths, shows that they
imitate their leader and did it like he did to show respect, support,
solidarity and oneness of mind... This is a powerful message that should
resonate with us today. For a leader only becomes successful when, in spite of
differences of backgrounds and personal convictions, the team members respect
him or her, expresses solidarity and support, and are of one heart and mind to
achieve the group's mission and goal... And the 300 did this with Gideon, and
by God's divine power, they were successful in their campaign and defeated the
much larger Midianite army... May we have the eyes to see, the ears to hear,
the minds to remember, and the hearts to follow in their courage and loyalty,
especially to God's cause...
Some people misunderstand Gideon to
be a fearful man because he was threshing wheat by the wine press, but it was
not so, for he is wise and cunning, doing it to hide it from the Midianites,
whose oppression greatly impoverished his people... And we confirm his innate
bravery when, even before desecrating the idol Baal and delivering God's people,
the angel of the Lord called and blessed him, "the Lord is with you,
mighty man of valor."... This, his immediate building of an altar to God
all by himself, his subsequent confirmations with the fleece of wool of God's
mandate, and his nighttime foray with his assistants to destroy the altar of
the false god Baal and build an altar to God in its place shows instead faith,
wisdom, courage and stealth military strategy... And God was gracious with him,
generous with his requests, and filled him with His spirit (v. 34)... And we
realize the reason why Gideon is brave and wise--he had inner peace, and he
worshipped and believed in the God who is the giver of peace, Jehovah-shalom
(v. 24)... And this is the fruit of God's Holy Spirit, that which marks and identifies
our faith: if we have peace and sure hope, that no matter the difficulties and
challenges of life, there is joy, contentment, and confidence in Him, then the
God of peace will fill us with His spirit too, and make us bear fruit, and go
forth in life with courage and strength... Like Gideon, who was actually
physically handicapped, his name meaning, "hewer, feller (cutter) and who
has a stump (cut-off limbs) instead of a hand", but when we put our faith
and trust in God, no matter what we lack physically, He will deliver, He will
give wisdom, He will strengthen, He will provide, He will fill us with hope,
joy and peace, until we overflow and bless others too (Romans 15:13)...
When life seems difficult and dark,
may we remember that the God who created and inhabits light (Genesis 1:3, 1
Timothy 6:16) is never stingy, always generous and willing to make His light
shine upon us to guide the way, to give us hope and courage: if we earnestly
seek Him and love Him with all that we have and all that we are.. May we remember
the words of Deborah and Barak's song, thus, "So may all your enemies
perish, Lord! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its
strength.” (v. 31a)
Sometimes, even in the fiercest of
battles and challenges, because He does not show favoritism, God gives wisdom,
courage, grace and strength to women and they become decisive forces for
victory and deliverance, leadership and guidance... May we learn from the
lives, wisdom, judgement and bravery of Deborah and Jael, and even women
leaders of the present day, that it takes the humility, creativity and cunning
of a woman to overcome challenges--be they fierce armies, pandemics, mental and
physical health challenges or economic crisis...
The ancient Israelites' physical
battles against the control and influence of the nations around them are our
live examples for today, of our own battles against this corrupted and wicked
world's control and influence over our lives... Like them we need strong,
unwavering faith, wisdom and discernment, cunning and courage, humility and
leadership... And we need not doubt or fear because the God who called us into
battle equips, enables, strengthens and renews us each day...
Like each new generation of the
ancient Israelites, many people today are ignorant of history. But without
knowing the past, we will never learn about the mistakes made and lessons
learned by our ancestors and elders, and so will not be guided on how to handle
today and what to do in the future... Yet, as somebody said, those who are keenly
aware of history now run the world... May we develop a habit and a culture of
always keeping in mind what happened then, especially how good our God is to
us, and how He directs history and current events according to His will,
eternal plan and purpose, so that we may have wisdom to live our lives in the
present, and hope and courage to face the future...
As the ancient Israelites have
shown, despite all the reminders about being brave and courageous, not all of
us could ever be those. The important thing though is that we keep trying and
we keep trusting, and we refuse to compromise with the world's systems and
philosophies that confuse our faith, that muddles the good news and the
covenant we have with God, and that weakens our faith and demeans our identity and
hope in God's healing power, deliverance, mercy and grace...
This was Joshua's challenge to the
Israelites back then, and the ultimate challenge for us today--that determines
the effectiveness of our service and ministry, and the validity of our faith
and principles: if we and our household truly serve the Lord, the One True
Living God...
“Now fear the Lord and serve him
with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the
Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems
undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will
serve the Lord.” (v. 14-15)...
To be very strong of heart and of
good courage; to be careful to obey fully; to be honest, faithful and true; to
not associate in wrongdoing; to hold fast and strongly without wavering and
doubts... Just as God fulfilled His promises and will forever remain true to
His Word, so may these be our response...
Though we may be physically apart
most times and attending different congregations, such that no one should judge
one's self to know more and to be better than others, this ultimately
determines our kinship in the faith, particularly the Spirit that dwells within
us, the kind of heart that drives our motivations, as manifested by our words
and deeds that mark us, and our efforts to live by Joshua's reminder, thus, "But
be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of
the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to
keep His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and
with all your soul”...
A declaration of who our God is, of
what He has done, what He is still doing even today, and what He will continue
doing for all time... This should be our source of hope and strength, the
beacon of our faith, and that which secures our future even through eternity...
May we have the eyes to see, the ears to hear, the hearts to accept and
believe, and the hands and feet to do and live on it all our days...
"Not one of all the Lord’s good
promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. (v. 45)"...
God, our Creator, Savior and Lord,
set for us some lessons in designating for the ancient Israelites cities of
refuge for the unintentional killer: life is too precious to be taken lightly,
yet, for one who has no intention of committing wrong but has done wrong
without malice and prior ill motive, there is mercy... In a kind of reverse
butterfly effect, we apply this to Jesus Christ's words that even hating
another person from your heart is murder, something intentional or by choice
already, and hence, disqualifies the hater from the mercy of a kind of 'refuge'
in God's grace... So we must examine our thoughts, feelings, and motivations,
because the God who is declared our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1) is
actually only available to the pure in heart, which all of us are by nature,
not... May we work to cleanse our lives of impure motivations, that we might
enjoy fellowship with Him, and be able to take refuge from the pressures of
life and the attacks of the enemy...
This chapter finishes the division
of the land to the remaining 7 tribes of Israel, with an extra last portion
given to Joshua, as promised by God, in the place he asked for--the hill of
Timnath Heres, near his brethren, the Ephraimites...
True to his name and ancestry,
Joshua, an English translation of the name Yeshua, had great faith in the 'God
Who saves', and derived good extraordinary courage from it...
Like his kinsmen, he too was humble
and selfless, not claiming preeminence or honor above others, but just doing
his best to fulfill God's mandate, and wait for all God's people to receive
their full and proper share before receiving his own...
Timnath Heres (taken to mean a 'dry
place' due to the earthenware sourced there, or 'the place of the sun' in
remembrance of how the sun stood still, or rather the earth slowed down its
rotation so that there became once in history--as recorded also in many other
cultures around the world--a very long day, as we read in Joshua 10:12-14), was
observed by some Bible commentators and historians to have been renamed Timnath
Serah after Joshua dwelt and built his city there, meaning an "abundant,
extra portion, juicy to the point of becoming overripe"...
Here we learn that if we emulate
Joshua, keep our faith and trust in God's goodness and deliverance, and build
up good courage from reading and meditating on His Word day and night (Joshua
1:8-9), live humble and selfless lives, wait and be patient for God to fulfill
His promises; then God will cause the dry and lifeless areas of our
lives--whether they be our service to Him and ministry to others, our careers,
our relationships, our families, our personal lives--to overflow in abundance,
to the point that we will have more than enough...
In this chapter we learn of Joshua's
reproof of the remaining seven tribes who have not yet settled into the land
allotted for them... A bible commentary believes that they may yet be enjoying
the good times in bonding with their brethren who have already settled in the
land, seemingly not wanting yet to go from free-riding out of camaraderie and
the generosity of their brethren, and going to work to provide for their own
needs and for the future of their children... While the latter and greater part
of the chapter talks about the lot of Benjamin who, even though the youngest, was
given a peaceable land--including Jebus, or Jerusalem itself--bounded by both
Judah and Joseph's shares, the two elder brothers who showed great love and
concern for him during the time of Joseph's physical estrangement and reunion
from his brethren... Much can be learned from this passage too, for it is
telling us that yes, good times are sometimes needed to bond with each other,
but the real reason why God saved us, delivered us from slavery to freedom, is
not to just enjoy and wait for blessings to fall (like Juan Tamad), but to work
to secure for the needs and the future of our families, and to work vigorously
to help fulfill our tasks in His kingdom's work here on earth... Connections
and bonding times with brethren, although necessary to maintain strength as a
family and community, but must not be used as an excuse for laziness and
dependence... And we need not fear striking out on our own or 'taking care of
our lots', for even then, if we are faithful, honest, trustworthy, and
generous, there will always be people whom God will send our way--whether they
be blood-brethren, friends, neighbors or strangers--who will support us, help
us, take time to care for us, and accompany us in our life's journey... Because
being 'alone' does not always mean being lonely; in God's community, alone
times are simply intermissions for Him to send new people our way to whom we
can share His Word, and with whom we can share His goodness and grace...
This chapter talks about the
continued designation and allotment of the promised land; this time, with the
half-tribe of Manasseh, Ephraim's elder brother...
In contrast to the previous chapter,
in which the Ephraimites took after the humility of their patriarch and humbly
accepted what was given them without complaints, Manasseh's descendants
complained of the size of their lots; while Zelophehad's daughters, who made a
request of Moses in behalf of their family which was without sons, made sure of
their share, maybe fearing that the greediness of some of their relatives would
deprive them of it...
While one can never really judge the
motivation and the heart behind Joseph's two tribes, some truths ring clear to
us even today...
Yes, we all have dreams and desires,
and we who believe pray and ask God for them, but we must carefully weigh our
hearts and motives for doing so: are we like Manasseh, whose name means
"Forgetfulness, he who is forgotten, or he who forgets his family and
past", or like Ephraim, whose name means--even when only a stranger in a
foreign land, yet--"fruitful, fertile, and productive"...
Do we cut off and forget old
ties--with people, or worse, with God--when we feel they can no more satisfy
our wants and will only be a hindrance to our ambitions and our moving up in
the rungs of our careers or in society's ladder?
Or do we always keep in mind that we
are all pilgrims on earth, mere stewards of God's creation, and the only way we
can prove to ourselves that we have truly lived, that we have really done and
accomplished the purpose why we are born, is to be fruitful, fertile,
productive--first spiritually, then mentally, then in our relationship with
different kinds of people in all areas of our lives, and lastly to be
responsible talent-stewards of whatever grace have been given us, no matter how
few or small they may be by human reckoning?...
Are we merely moving on with life,
or are we truly moving up as a person, and spreading and sharing the fruits of
God's Holy Spirit around?...
Just as God promised and Jacob
affirmed, Joseph's two children became two tribes... Here, the younger one whom
Jacob blessed above his elder brother, that is Ephraim, the boundaries of his
land was allotted first, without any mention of complaints from his
descendants... Wikipedia stated that rabbinical sources say that the reason Ephraim
was given pre-eminence in the blessing over his elder brother was because of
his modesty and selflessness, a lesson he has learned from his father and
grandfather who in their younger years lifted themselves up above their elder
siblings, yet was brought down low and humbled, and only because of God's
promises and their ultimate transformation into people of humility, strong
faith and courage, were restored to positions of honor... This too illustrates
what Proverbs 18:12 said that, "Before his downfall, a man's heart is
proud; but humility comes before honor"...
A brave family, full of wisdom and
love (v. 16-19): amidst further details of the boundaries of the promised land,
this chapter shows us further how Caleb's faithfulness, obedience, wisdom and
courage played out in the next generation...
A commentator said that maybe he
knew beforehand that his nephew Othniel loved his daughter Achsah, yet he still
threw the challenge, which Othniel valiantly accomplished, showing he is a
worthy son-in-law, "not a wimp" (according to the commentator), nor
somebody who is lazy and has no vision or plans for the future; the same
Othniel who later in history, as written in Judges 3:7-11, was filled with the
Spirit of the Lord and courageously delivered sinful Israel from its eight-year
enforced servitude to their Mesopotamian oppressors led by King
Chushanrishathaim, and subsequently judged and gave rest to the land for forty
years until his death...
Caleb's daughter Achsah too, proved
equal to the task, not gullible nor a weakling, not a hopeless victim to
sexism, or damsel in distress, but when her father tested her mettle by giving
them dry, desert southern land (and with Othniel's respectful and humble
reluctance to ask for more favors from his great father-in-law), boldly asked
her father for more, particularly springs of water, for which Caleb granted and
more, by giving her both northern and southern springs, which the Bible
commentator said that these ensure that regardless of the season--be it the
coldest winter or the driest summer--since the spring water source is deep
underground, will never run dry...
Here we see a father's great love
for his child, and his support and encouragement that they be able to know and
work out for themselves, how to secure their sustenance and their future...
This too, illustrates for us the
kind of love our Heavenly Father has for us... He is not a passive Automated
Teller Machine that will give us what we want when we want it, but He will
first make sure we know and understand His will, that we fulfill our assigned
tasks in His kingdom's work here on earth, that we live according to the Name
and the faith by which we are called, that we develop our characters, our minds
and spirits to become more and more like Him, before He gives us abundantly
more than we could ever need and want, out of His provisions that in all
seasons of life, will never run dry...
Caleb's life is our example of how
faithfulness and obedience to God, determines the quality of our lives... He
was the only spy together with Joshua who gave a good and encouraging report
about the land of Canaan during Moses' time, and followed God, Moses' and
Joshua's instructions 'wholly' especially during Joshua's military campaign,
for 45 years (from the age of 40-85), before receiving the land he asked for as
an inheritance, special and separate from that of the 12 tribes... For our
modern fast-paced life today, 45 years is a lifetime, often full of pain,
suffering, difficulties and bodily and hormonal changes that undeniably progress
to worse from active youth to old age, interspersed sometimes with joy and
moments of happiness; yet most of us are often impatient--we want to get to
enjoy life now, to take advantage of even one day breaks or long weekends to
have fun, to go on adventures, with many not caring to think about if our lives
really have substance and meaning, or if beyond the fun and the new experiences
we have gained more wisdom, understanding and acceptance, and spiritual
insight... If Caleb can wait for 45 years before finally receiving the answers
to his prayers and his heart's desire, and to finally find some measure of
rest, peace and enjoyment of life, how do our lives compare?... And so, may we
learn from Caleb's faithfulness and obedience, as we too strive to grasp the
meaning into our lives, for indeed it is not moments of enjoyment and fun that
define life, but faithfulness and obedience to the One who gave it...
The ancient Israelites were our
examples that no matter how poor a family may be, parents and elders always
leave an inheritance unto their children... Because more than material wealth
are the legacy that truly matters: good and godly values, character founded on
good education and strengthened by strong community concern and involvement,
responsible stewardship of our minds and bodies and the environment, wisdom and
God-enlightened faith, peacekeeping and care and concern for the needs of
others, material and financial fairness, faithfulness and accountability... And
this is true success in life: not that we have become filthy rich,
impeccably-attired, well-connected, extensively-traveled, our walls filled
inch-to-inch with diplomas of degrees, medals, trophies and certificates of
achievement, gotten ourselves into perfect marriages, or bore many aesthetically
pleasing and academically superior children; but regardless of whether we have
our own families or not, or whether we have no children of our own, that the
next generation can learn from the lives we live today, and be encouraged and
empowered to become better, to be more responsible and to be more giving and
understanding... Such tall orders for parents and elders, but like Joshua, may
we have the wisdom and courage to respond well...
Some Bible critics (and even some
modern-day extremists still) decry the severity by which Canaan was conquered
by the Israelites, but these passages show clearly some truths about God and
His people: that He fulfills His promises, even to the exact boundaries of the
land He vowed to give them, that He gives strength and unusual courage to His
leaders and people who obey Him faithfully, that He doesn't want His people to
compromise with sin and with lifestyles that are not according to His will, and
that He gives justice and mercy to those who deserve them... Whether historically
accurate or not, we learn from the Word that we have to accept these truths and
principles in faith, for without faith, it is impossible to make sense of the
world around us, and without faith in Him who is above all things, it is
impossible to ground and anchor ourselves in life... May we have the eyes to
see, the ears to hear, and the hearts to obey...
It might be controversial to some,
offensive to many, discriminatory to a few, but one of the stronger realities
of life as demonstrated by Joshua's campaigns is that when we obey God's
instructions faithfully, He gives us victory over those who oppose us, and an
enduring good relationship with those who join with us... May our hearts be
open to this truth, and strive to worship and serve together the One True
Almighty Living Yet Invisible And Everlasting God forever...
In Joshua's holy war, God was with
him in victory, even performing similar miracles as He did with Moses... Some
bible critics argue its accuracy, while some defend its historicity... What
remains real and true for us until today though, is that in all of life's
challenges, there may be times when we are not perfectly obedient or perfectly
good and nice, but if we have aligned our hearts to trust God, to be content
and thankful of all that we have, to earnestly work to better our faith and
service, then, He listens to our prayers, sends grace, deliverance, and
healing, and strengthens and solidifies our hope more and more... May this be
the substance of what we believe in, and help build up the foundation of our
faith...
A bible commentary said that the
Gibeonites, who were called all mighty men elsewhere in the Word (ch. 10, v.
2), showed that they too are cunning and wise in deceiving Joshua about who
they are, so their people would not be wiped out. When they were found out,
they again showed being true to their word (Psalm 15:4), and humility, in
accepting Joshua's "curse" of becoming temple servants doing menial
work. God even avenged for them when King Saul killed them, by sending a famine
on the land (2 Samuel 21:1-9). Even King David praised their station in the
community by saying he would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God, and
spend a day there rather than a thousand elsewhere (Psalm 84:10)... Often, life
is like that too. Most people want to be recognized, to be out in front leading
or on display, and think that daily living and serving God means that we must
have positions, ranks, job items, or definite roles; but the more satisfying
work in God's kingdom, and even in earthly life, actually belongs to those who
are not known, who are on the sidelines, who do the menial jobs and the dirty
work, and those whom most people will never know... That is, to borrow both the
commentary's and King David's thoughts: if we are given this "glorious
punishment" - - if demotion or reduction in income and opportunities mean
that we can have more quite time with God, reading and meditating on His Word,
being more aware of the issues around us and having more time and opportunity
to pray for them, then let it be. For even the briefest mundane moments that we
get to appreciate life itself, the good health and the chances that our God has
blessed us with, are truly the ones that show us clearly how good and great He
is, and how much He cares for our humanity, our rest, that we be free from the
burden of life's rat race, and our being His children, destined for eternal
life with Him...
Modern day archaeologists say that
the records and ruins itself show that Ai, or Et-Tell, 'the Ruin', had already
been abandoned and in ruins, by the time frame of Joshua's conquest... Well,
nobody alive at that time lived until today or at least left copious, detailed,
specifically dated notes and reports, so there is no reliable and credible
witness to certify to its 100% accuracy... But what remains our lesson for
today though, is that even after a disastrous setback, when God's people turn
in humility, obey His instructions, and the guidance of His anointed leaders
here on earth, He will give wisdom and good strategies, so they will still gain
victory, economic recovery, and a secure future... May we have the eyes to see,
the ears to hear, the hearts to believe, and the good courage to obey...
Some Bible critics say that the
punishment for Achan and his family was too harsh... However, when we read the
whole chapter, we learn that he was a soldier who went with the first raid to
Jericho, but in spite of having heard Joshua's instruction to destroy
everything, even the idols of the land and the things dedicated to them, and to
set aside the gold, silver, brass and iron for GOD, he stole some of both the
accursed things and the silver and gold, and brought them home. He also did not
tell Joshua, his commander and leader, what he did, until he was chosen,
pinpointed and revealed... As a result, when the Israelites went to fight the
men of Ai, they lost, and 36 were killed... Those soldiers were leaders too,
and heads of their families, innocent of Achan's theft since they proved
faithful to God regarding the material things, and yet they died needlessly,
leaving their families behind, their wives widows, their children orphaned, and
even their old folks now defenseless, their hopes lost with the loss of their
sons and heirs, and economically disadvantaged, while Achan's family got a
little richer... Sadly, such is life even today. Sometimes we think that we can
get away with a little fun, a little indulgence, a little more profit gained
fast or in tricky underhanded ways, and even a little fling, but as a child of
God, life does not work that way: for every little ounce of pride,
covetousness, envy, selfishness, greed, short-sightedness, impatience,
dissatisfaction, anger and hate we allow into our hearts and minds, would sadly
negatively affect the very people we love and care about; more so, it destroys
our relationship with God and His people, and takes away our peace and His
grace in our lives... May we be careful in these things, and faithful in what
He has blessed us with...
Modern archaeological excavations
attested that the walls of Jericho, which is known otherwise as Tel es-Sultan
or the Hill of the Sultan, was actually damaged many years before the
biblically-recorded storming and invading of the Israelites, and that in fact
even during the time it was standing, it was not made to keep people out but
like a monument, it was originally built as both a shelter from the sun by its
shadows, and a testament to all that a somehow civilized group of people lived
there, although the place has been abandoned by the actual time frame of events
in the Book of Joshua... Yet, one should never miss the lesson that the wall
and the occupation by the Israelites have for us today: when we are obedient to
God's will, He will destroy our reliance on ourselves, our achievements, our pride,
and our faith in human-made systems to rule our lives, so that we now live
lives that are instead a testament and illustration of who He is, what He can
do, and what He is capable of... Such is indeed a scary thing, especially since
the world molds us to be control freaks of life, but it is liberating to know
that God has our lives in His control, and that whatever walls there may be
that exist to make us think less of who we are, He can destroy it so we will
know how greatly loved and cared for we are, and how His will and plan will
make all things work out for our good... May we have the faith to accept this
and believe...
Even in modern times, not all men or
boys worldwide undergo circumcision, for it is a matter of culture acting upon
health and hygiene practices. God specified that it is only to be done on men
and boys among His people, and shouldn't be done on women and girls, as is too
often the rationale for FGM in some nations until this day... Yet, may we not
lose the deeper significance of the rite: that God declared elsewhere in His
Word, that it is to translate to us circumcising our hearts--getting rid of its
natural selfish nature, in order to dedicate it to Him as a special, peculiar,
unique and precious offering... And if we do so in faith, God will surely
fufill His promise of providing for all our needs, and send the captain of His
host to guard and guide us, and protect our souls as we go through the
life-changing and deeply challenging journey of living for Him all our days...
Because this is our life's one great
mission: to declare to the succeeding generations who God is; to remind them of
His love, His power, His goodness and mercy; and to show our obedience to Him
by the way we live... May God give us wisdom and strength to accomplish these
within the short and passing physical life we have on earth...
The second crossing, this time
through the Jordan River, is a reminder to the Israelites, as much as it is to
us today, that if we trust God enough and willingly pass- or cross- over from
our old carnal, prideful and vain ways of thinking and doing, into a new one
that is obedient to His will, plan and purpose for us, that He will go before
us and sustain us all the way... Stepping out of our comfort zone (especially
if it causes us to be too comfortable so that we forget to say thank you to and
recognize that the source of it all is God) is stepping out in faith, from a
life and lifestyle we will always strive too hard to but never be able to
control, into the very arms of a loving Father who will provide all that we
need, who will always make a way, who will work out all things for our good,
and who will be our faithful companion, friend and partner through the rest of
our days...
Such is the duality of life: Rahab,
the innkeeper's treachery of her own people of Jericho in hiding Joshua's two
spies, meant that she has switched allegiance to the God of Israel, and though
marked as a "red" woman by faith (verse 18), yet she became one of
Jesus Christ's human great-grandmothers (Matthew 1:5), and also considered as
one of the greatest women of Biblical Old Testament history... May we learn
that her life and choices hold a lesson for us today too, that allegiance to
God often means giving up our desire to be wealthy and famous by the world's
standards, in exchange for the greater glory to be called His children, a
people worthy of living His Word in our lives, and living witnesses and proofs
of His goodness, mercy, justice and love to the rest of the world...
"This book of the law shall not
depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you
may observe to do according to all that is written in it: for then you shall
make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. Have I not
commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, neither be
dismayed: for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (verses
8-9)...
May we be people of The Book all our
days, and people of good courage...
The Torah or the Pentateuch
fittingly ends upon the physical death of Moses (in Matthew 17:2-3, he appeared
in spiritual form to a transfigured Jesus Christ), but it still showed us the
most important thing to be achieved in life: it is not personal recognition,
wealth or fame, earthly knowledge, or human acknowledgement, but to become
somebody known of God, whom He can see and talk with face to face... And though
that would be physically impossible in this earthly lifetime, yet in our
everyday dealings with other people, if they can see a bright and shining
presence in our countenance, and if we radiate and manifest generosity, wisdom,
understanding, faith and hope, these are reflections of God's glory revealed
through lives lived according to His will and plan; and these are living proofs
to people that God indeed has seen us face to face, though we can't see Him
with our naked eye, and like Moses, that He has shared His glory with us... May
we aspire to live it through until that day when we are proven worthy to hear
Him say, "well done, my good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:23)"
A bible commentary said that Moses'
song and blessing here are different from Jacob's in Genesis, because the
Deuteronomy passages reflect the present condition of the tribes after more
than 400 years from Jacob's time... One notable item is that Simeon's tribe is
not mentioned in the latter passages because they have assimilated into Judah's
tribe... Yet, even with slight adjustments and word changes, what remained
consistent was that God blesses each of His people according to their
personalities, characters, and personal realities... And so is it with us
today: as we go through life, we gain friends and family, and lose some too; we
establish new connections, and in process of time, some people grow estranged
from us... I believe these all happen because life happens, and just as we can
only understand and relate to God based on our need and know-how, so people
will only get attached to us based on their need, each of our capacity to give,
and on faith and trust in what each of us know, and on what we are comfortable
and convenient with... Thankfully, unlike people, God never changes; He is
patient and understanding, and He never gets disillusioned with us because only
He knows us inside out; nothing surprises Him about us; and if we turn to Him
in humility, faith and obedience, and trust Him always, He will never leave us,
abandon us, or forsake us... And on this we can have our ultimate confidence
and self-actualization: that even if the whole world leaves us behind, God will
never abandon us; and if He comes first in our lives, He too will put us front
and center before Him...
Because we have been redeemed by the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, so may we remember the words of Moses'
song: that we must worship and serve the One True God who created, sustained
and delivered us; that we ascribe to Him alone all glory and honor, all worship
and praise, our humility, obedience and loyalty; that we serve and worship Him
in the manner which He prescribed, and not as how the nations worship their
idols; and that we live out the rest of our days showing by our words and deeds
that this salvation, His love and His truth, are truly alive and at work in
us...
Yes, many of us who claim to have
been redeemed and saved still do sometimes err, commit mistakes, and fall...
Too often, our faith is tested, we are tempted, we feel weak, insecure, and we
lose courage, especially when faced with problems and difficult challenges...
But we need not feel guilty or remorseful for long, for we only need to
remember Moses' blessing to the Israelites who are about to enter the promised
land:
(verse 6) "Do not be afraid or
terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never
leave you nor forsake you."
Because an empty life is like the
empty tomb 2,000 years ago: it can never be filled with physical beauty and
vanity to earthly perfection, human affirmations and recognitions, degrees and
achievements, knowledge and know-how, experiences and adventures, seeing and
going to more and farther new places and events, and romantic relationships
whether platonic or intimate; it can only become full and complete with a
relationship with God, and having His presence inside... For He is our
strength, our life, and the length of our days; He who Created is He who
sustains; He who died and was resurrected will resurrect our parched and dried
souls today, and will secure our tomorrow even through all eternity...
#ItsBlackSaturdayButRainbowColoredIfInGodAloneIsYourHopeAndTrust
We who claim to belong to the faith
called by the Name of our God and Savior, are bound by the terms of this
covenant too: that we love and serve Him above all, no matter our gender, skin
color, profession, physical race... For we were not designed and created at
random, nor who and what we are products of millions of years of minute
changes; but each one of us (even if some of us feel that we have some
imperfections--whether physically real or mentally conceived) were created with
specific, definite plans and purposes... And this plan and purpose are for us
to discover, as we go through life, overcoming its challenges, molding our
characters, based on the things we learn, the things we are made to know and
are enlightened of... And though the secret things--including the specific
details of our future--belong to God alone, still we can trust that He who
never changes, will always remain faithful and true in making all things come
and work together for our good... And so shall this our legacy for our
descendants be: not material wealth, not deep knowledge or profound
philosophies, not connections or positions of power and authority, but faith
and trust in a God who is all good, a God who always provides, a God who always
listens, a God who always cares, and a God who will forever be faithful and
true...
These are the blessings that come
with serving God and obeying Him, like Jesus Christ, even unto death, and the
curses that come if we do otherwise... May we have the wisdom to choose life,
the life which Jesus Christ bought for us on the cross, and with His
resurrection 2,000 years ago... May we have the eyes to see, the ears to hear,
and the hearts to obey...
This might seem like a dark chapter,
but it simply calls on us to be thankful to the God who created us, who
provides for us, and who saved us from an eternity without Him... And should we
fail in that, along with failing to respect other people--our parents and
elders, our siblings, our children, our brethren and neighbors, and even
strangers--life itself will not agree with us, and bring us only
dissatisfaction, regrets, deep and silent loneliness and pain, unreleased guilt
and remorse, and overall misery and desperation... Therefore, we must exercise
some wisdom and choose the better way...
Just as God freely gave us His Son
Jesus Christ to suffer and die on the cross 2,000 years ago as the ultimate
Passover Sacrifice for our sins; and just as He remained faithful and true
throughout the ages with His provisions and promises; so may we be faithful and
true in giving Him the best that we have, and the right portion from all our
increase and labor... This is a truer testament to the faith and the covenant
He has given us: that we participate in laboring to earn our keep and be
stewards of His creation and grace, and to give Him His proper due out of what
our hands have made and received...
Image from: dulcineadivinevision.com
Some of these rules may seem strange
to modern eyes, but one has to remember that God gave them to the ancient
Israelites considering the time, place and culture they were in... But through
the eyes of faith, one can see the heart of the same God we worship today... He
doesn't want us to oppress and take advantage of the weak and vulnerable; we
must be faithful, steadfast and true in our dealings with other people; and we
must uphold the sanctity of marriage, and the strength of the family as a basic
unit of society or institution, that will fulfill His plan and His kingdom's
work on earth; so that we must stop thinking only of how we feel, how we like,
how we want things to go our way; but be more considerate of how other people
feel, how other people would envision their lives and futures to be, and what
we can do to keep the peace and make sure everyone lives a dignified, humane
existence here on earth...
How much better off life for
everyone would be if we would take heed of these laws and rules from our Maker,
which He had given to the ancient Israelites: to have respect for women and
their rights; to not enrich one's self at the expense of the less privileged;
to observe proper personal hygiene especially in times of illness; to give to
hired persons just and humane wages in their right times; to have each person
accountable for each of their faults and wrongdoings, and not to let the next
generation bear the consequences; to render proper judgment, especially to the
socially disadvantaged; to provide out of the fruits of the land, something for
those who have less in life, that they too may have a chance to earn a
living... Such long narrative for actually very simple acts, but ones that
require humility in acknowledging that we do not own anything in life, because
we are mere stewards... And these need a grateful heart too, in making every
thought, word and deed, a manifestation of how thankful we are to our God who
gave us life, who always provides, and who will always fulfill His promises...
One would think that maybe God has
something against PWDs and illegitimates, but what the chapter actually refers
to, according to a commentary, is that those who have undergone genital
mutilations and those who are unable to trace their parental ancestry are still
welcome in God's community but cannot actively participate in political
affairs... When seen through modern eyes, these might still seem
discriminatory; however, the rest of the chapter points us to cleanliness in
thoughts, words and physical deeds, as a requirement to a right relationship
with Him, and for the fulfillment of leadership positions in the community...
Most of these are still applicable today, in that thousands of years before
science upheld the importance of proper hygiene and solid waste management;
before human rights advocates decried human trafficking; before economic laws
forbade usury and stealing or profiteering; before treaties and political,
economic, and cultural alliances were formed; and before civil laws were
written upholding the sanctity of vows and pledges, God already laid them out
for His people to hear, understand and take heed, if they want to live well in
the land He promised... And so should we do today, who call ourselves by His
Name; for indeed, we have a God who does not change, and with the same Spirit
that He had when He laid down His ordinances to ancient Israel, that same
Spirit is with us today, guiding us in the proper healthy lifestyle, in our
physical bodies, in our thoughts and emotions, and in our relationship with Him
and other people... May we have the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the
hearts to obey what is only for our own good...
Some of God's ordinances to the
ancient Israelites are both applicable during the time and place they were given,
and even for us today; particularly that of instead being finders keepers, that
we be our brother's keepers, and return whatever we find our brother or another
person has lost... This is faithfulness in material things, the absence of
covetousness and greed... We can also learn that in making things, or taking
care of animals, or in agriculture, there are appropriate practices to be done
in order to ensure strength and integrity of the work, and to prevent
extinction and permanent damage... We learn too that God demands sexual purity,
integrity and accountability; and especially today, because the scriptures show
us elsewhere (1 Corinthians 6:18) that this is directly affecting our bodies,
the ones we all receive at conception as a gift from God, and that faithfulness
in such matters is directly related to our faithfulness to Him... Some harsh
and heavy words maybe, but worth pondering on and taking heed, if we want to
live peaceful and fulfilling lives... Still...
Some of God's ordinances to the
ancient Israelites may seem harsh and brutal by today's standards; yet one must
remember that there was still no forensic science or psychological discipline
then... Every action is judged not by the motivations or what goes on in the
mind of the offender, but by its effects on the relationship among the
community, and that between God and His people... What we must take note
though, is that even then and until now, God does not show favoritism; and
renders to each person choice, freedom, respect and material reparation or
inheritance, whether they be lesser-favored offspring, or foreign women taken
in captivity... And such lessons still hold true especially for our leaders
today... For any person in position or authority can buy votes, enforce
obedience and allegiance, but without setting a good example by following the
laws and the proper polite conventions themselves, will only lose their
credibility and the people's respect, and ultimately, their effectiveness and
reason for being... May all of us have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to
be sensitive and aware...
Unlike in the time of the ancient
Israelites, our battles today are not anymore against other people, to grab
lands and settlements as directed by God, but against the challenges of life
and the pull of our baser nature... And what remain true for us today are to be
of good courage, for God will still give strength and victory; to be
peacemakers instead of warmongers; to protect and take care of the environment;
and to protect our souls and not conform to the selfish and prideful patterns
of this world; but to live a life of wisdom, generosity, integrity and faith...
May we ponder on and do what we can each day to be so...
Sometimes, in desperate and troubled
times, some people cling on to this belief, especially if they feel wronged or
deprived... Yet, when God said, 'an eye for an eye', it simply means that each
person's life is equally valuable to Him, and taking it away demands a
commensurate punishment on the offender, to give justice to the victim, and reparation
of damages to alleviate the suffering of those left behind... And so, in such
cases, God also set out the need for solid evidence and reliable, consistent
and confirmed witnesses and statements, as a manifestation of compliance to His
commandment against bearing false witness... Even in seemingly ordinary and
peaceful times, may we keep in mind too, that everything we say and do can have
great consequences on us and others, even sometimes costing lives and
connections... May we be mindful of such things every time life gets too
difficult for us, so we can avoid offending, wounding, or hurting others
physically and emotionally, and thereby keep our heads, literally and
figuratively too...
Even today, God holds religious and
secular leaders to the same standards: that they live off what the people has
given (in tithes, offerings, or taxes) but do not enrich themselves out of it;
that they abide by and always speak His truth, that they be not corrupted by
greed and lust for power, and that they be perfect examples to the rest of
humanity that the best way to live, no matter the situation, is to live in
faith and faithfulness... It doesn't take a leadership position for one to live
these truths, but it does take living by these for a leader to truly be called
one, and for our Creator, Savior and Lord to say, "well done, my good and
faithful servant"...
Many people today are convinced that
corporal punishment or death penalty for idolatry, sorcery, witchcraft, or just
plain disrespect and unfaithfulness to God and the faith He has left us with,
belong to a less enlightened time... What remains true however, is that we
worship and serve a Jealous God, who does not want to share His glory and honor
with another, whether they be created things, or intellectually-developed
ideologies, theories, belief systems and lifestyles... And so, it is a true
mark of faith and wisdom for a person to let God be the ultimate ruler and
leader of that person's life; and it is the height of nobility and education
for a person in authority or a position of leadership to both be accountable to
those whom he has responsibility for, and to God, who should be that ruler or
leader's true Leader... Without these principles in action, there can only be
chaos, confusion, despair, and suffering; which is where the world is now,
actually... May we have the wisdom and humility to change our ways, before
everything gets worse, and before we are all destroyed by our pride and
stubbornness... Still...
We are now people of the New
Covenant, and yet we will always learn from the ancient Israelites in that at
set times every year, there will be seasons when we have to afflict our souls,
repent of our wrongdoings, and spend time with our Maker in solemn assembly...
And there will be times of worship, praise, fellowship and rejoicing too... But
in all of these, we are to present to Him our bodies as living sacrifices, and
to not come empty-handed, but to offer and give to Him the best out of our
income and labor... But our offerings are not limited to those times alone, for
being living sacrifices, every day we are to continually live out justice,
fairness and truth, generosity, wisdom and love, and show to the world that no
matter how dark and desperate life may become, His way will always be right,
and that there will be deliverance from bondage to slavery from sin, idolatry,
ignorance death and fear... May God enable us to fulfill our calling...
As long as human civilization
exists, so there will be people who will have more need than others, who will
be in more desperate situations than most... It might be them today, it could
be us tomorrow... And so, as God's people, we need to obey Him when He says to
give to the poor and needy without expecting anything--not even a word of
thanks--in return, to lend without usury, and to release bonds and give freedom
to surety, collateral, or security... Good measures, pressed down, shaken
together, always return until our cups run over... For indeed, it is a fruit of
wisdom and love, for each of us to uphold the dignity of others by helping them
achieve economic freedom and independence... For at the very basic core of all
human labor is the virtue to be free and unbound in our efforts to support
ourselves and the people we care about, to be able to set aside for the rainy
days, and to prepare for life's uncertainties, downturns and twilights, in
faith and faithful giving, and living below our means... And being good
stewards of these is a louder declaration of faith than verbal religiosity but
physical and emotional greed... And I myself am convinced that a true believer
is one who is generous, transparent, faithful, trustworthy and one who is
financially and economically wise...
Though many of us today may have
different dietary preferences and practices as the ancient Israelites, yet what
remains true as God tells us how to live happy and abundant lives is that we
eat healthy, nutritious and clean or hygienic food; that we do not subscribe to
the world's ways and systems in how to exploit nature so that it can contribute
to our wellness and well-being, which are actually just fuelled by pride and
greed... But the best way to make life healthier and more abundant is first to
have a good relationship with Him, to give Him His just due in our tithes and
offerings, to dedicate all that we have and all that we do to the glory of His
Name, and to treat other people equally and with respect, as we are all His
children, all deserving of His mercy and salvation, grace, provision,
protection, healing and love...
Unlike in the time of the ancient
Israelites, idolatry today is not anymore meted out with corporal punishment;
but its consequences are no less severe... For any time we put any other thing
before us, aside from God and our relationship with Him, that we treat with
more time, care and concern--whether this be convenience, fun, camaraderie with
friends, affirmation from people, intimacy with a significant other, material
wealth, food, entertainment, a desire to always be in the know no matter how
senseless may be the update, to always keep up with the latest trends and
fads--we will soon realize that life itself, which is in fact God's greatest
gift to us, would never anymore give us satisfaction and peace... May we learn
to anchor our priorities in Him, be content with every day and every moment
getting to know Him through His Word, talking to Him in prayer, and giving Him
time to respond by keeping still until we hear that gentle whisper that is His
Voice... Only then will we be able to live the rest of our days in truth, in the
right way, and for life eternal...
Though many of us have different
dietary practices as the ancient Israelites, but because we are human, though
created in God's image, but still mortal and fallible, our dichotomous
connection with Him still remains true today: we can only relate to God based
on our need, yet we cannot serve and worship Him any way we please or on our
terms but His... May we be blessed with wisdom so we may know each day how to
go about living a life that pleases Him and blesses the people around us, and
may we have the humility to learn and be corrected as we seek to better
ourselves day by day, and strive to conform to be more like Him, and be
witnesses and proofs on earth, of His glory and goodness...
In virtually every occasion, we are given
choices... And these choices are almost always about things or situations that
will lead to a blessing--one that may seem like an inconvenience or a burden at
the moment, but will actually be beneficial to the molding of our character,
the enlargement of our minds and upliftment of our spirit, and the
strengthening of our moral resolve and person... The alternative is a curse,
that is, one that may seem to be convenient, fun, that will give us good vibes
and feelings at the moment, but will ultimately make life more miserable and
desperate for us... May we learn to be humble and ask God for the wisdom to
discern, so that we may able to choose only what is lovely and noble, what is
good, true, just and fair, and what will bring us life and lead us to eternal
life...
Because God is God, He is Creator,
Savior and Lord; may we only render unto Him holy fear, to walk in His ways, to
love Him and to serve Him with all that we have, to give Him praise, and to
love, care for and be considerate of the stranger and the people around us...
May this be our inheritance and identity...
Like the ancient Israelites, many of
us today are still short-sighted, greedy, selfish, impatient and stubborn. We
want quick fixes, instant miracles; we want to be the first, to receive the
best; we cannot be bothered hunkering down and keeping out of the way to keep
others safe; we have to be out there, we have to be constantly moving, to
always be well-fed and entertained; we want to get whatever we want when we
want it--regardless of whether it deprives others of their chance, irrespective
of whether it is just, and true, and fair... May we learn to leave such base
nature behind, otherwise, it will become our golden calf, one that God will
soon destroy, grind to powder, be blown like chaff in a desert storm, or like
desert streams, will fade into thin air... Surely, life and eternity are worth
much more, for us to simply ignore living rightly, and in faith... Still...
May we remember that as a father who
truly loves his children, God disciplines us sometimes to teach us to be
humble, to appreciate all that He has done to us, and to lead us back to the
right path... May we also remember that He deserves our love, praise and
respect, and that like our own human parents, He will always make sure that we
are safe and preserved, that we are amply provided for and everything in our
lives, whatever the situation, will turn out for our good... How great is this
love for us to think that we can do things our way, and still ignore His call and
leading?... May we be wise enough to choose what's right in order that we may
experience (today and all the days and years of our lives)...
Whether to the ancient Israelites or
to all of us today, may we always know and remember that the Lord our God, He
is God, the faithful God, and that He keeps His promises and shows mercy and
love to all those who love Him and keep His commandments, up to a thousand
generations (v. 9)... May this be our hope and joy, a source of our strength
and inspiration, and a reason for us to hold on and keep the faith...
Loving God takes all our heart,
soul, and might... It needs a teachable and teaching heart, for no other legacy
is worth passing on to our children, but our faith, our obedience to God's
will, and a lifestyle that lives with a right relationship with Him and
others... May we nurture this legacy, and make sure such inheritance does not
go to waste in our lifetimes...
When Moses reminded the Israelites
of God's commandments, God Himself expressed His deepest wish that they may
have the heart to obey, because obedience is not for Him, but for His people
and their descendants to have a secure life forever (v. 29-33)... And indeed,
this is true success in life: His brand of righteousness; not feeling holy
because we regularly attend church services; not feeling powerful and
all-knowing because of our degrees, licenses, our age or social status,
experiences, honors, achievements, or that we attend lots of seminars and
revival conferences or healing sessions; not feeling invincible because we can
have all material things money can buy; not feeling confident and secured
because we have perfect families, or of the size of our bank accounts and the
extensiveness of our insurance coverages; but having a right relationship with
Him (v. 7), with our parents and elders (v. 16), and with other people (v.
17-21)... May we have this heart, the only kind of heart our Creator, Redeemer
and Lord needs, the kind of heart that leads us surely to His kingdom...
Because faith is not what we say,
but what we do... Because with it we are called to be different from the rest
of the world... Whereas the rest of humanity worships convenience, fun,
enjoyment, quick fixes, high social status, fast cash, keeping up with fads and
trends, and the belief that pleasure is a right; we are instead called upon to
obedience, joy in the simplest things, mindfulness, sobriety, humility,
patience, generosity, hard work, perseverance, endurance, and the conviction
that life is not about seeking pleasure but godliness, not promoting how good
and successful we are, but how good and merciful our God is... May we
constantly seek Him, and not the adulation of many, for people's praises are
fickle, and would soon be a breeding ground for envy, far removed from our God,
whom "we will always find, if we seek Him with all our heart and
soul"...
We are not anymore called today to
take over and seize physical lands and possessions but as what our Lord and
Savior has done, to overcome an entire world--that is, to start a battle
against ourselves and influence others and even the whole world too--to subdue
hearts, minds and spirits led by the adversary, that are awash in pride, greed,
vanity, idolatry, selfishness and fear... And yes, we can overcome, not by
might, nor by power, but by His Holy Spirit... For indeed, we need not fear, we
can keep our peace because, "the Lord our God, He shall fight for
us"...
God's Word tells us, and indeed
recorded history has shown the end of people who are abusive, corrupt, selfish,
greedy, short-sighted, blindly ignorant, wrathful but expressing their rage on
the innocent and those who did them no harm: they will be utterly destroyed,
and whatever they have left for their descendants will be taken away from them,
and be given to those who are more worthy stewards of God's blessings... May we
be wise and humble, and faithful and true, so we can avoid this fate, and
secure to ourselves and our posterity, whatever blessings we have
received--from God's hands and His great mercy...
God always gives us choices, and He
promised to go before us and to fight for us... May we have faith, wisdom and
humility to choose life--the kind of life that He has planned for us, since the
dawn of time...
Because our God is good, He makes
sure women's civil, economic and political rights are secured and not abused...
May we learn that it is not in His Word to treat them second class or lower,
but that these abuses come from the hearts of selfish and insecure men,
characters and emotions that are not part of the nature of His people, but
something that they have to overcome, convict and convert to become more like
Him...
Thankfully, we are now under grace,
so that revenge, "an eye for an eye", is out of our hands, but in the
hands of GOD... May we learn to appreciate and value each human life, and not
consider anyone deserving of abuse and therefore dispensable, especially if
they do not look like us, think like us, feel like us, or believe in the same
things we do... For we are all made in His image, each accountable to Him who
has ultimate power over our own lives and the things and people we hold dear...
Still...
Modern Israel is militarily mighty, yet one of the world's
most contentious lands... But we know from God's Word that as illustrated in
their history, clearly defined boundaries and borders are necessary for
nationhood, and is a hallmark of civilization... To defy such, to encroach upon
others, to interfere politically or economically, to dump trash, to disregard
or to bully others just to cater to greedy expansionist whims or just to show
who's mightier is a ticking time bomb of war and conflict; and when done to
people who are just trying to live day by day, will only bring wrath and God's
curses on the bully and the offender, for He opposes the proud, but gives grace
to the humble... Still...
The ancient Israelites were not
unique among the peoples of the world to travel far and wide, and settle in or
claim lands already occupied by others; there are many even until our
generation too... Yet, theirs is a unique journey, because their true leader is
God Himself... And they will never forget His goodness and power because
everything is carefully written down, and passed on to their next generation by
oral tradition, in their feasts and gatherings... May we too, share in their
duty to always remember how good God is in our lives, and may we teach them to
our children and succeeding generations too, so they will in turn pass on the
legacy of remembrance, mindfulness, faithfulness, obedience and praise to those
who will come after them...
Oftentimes, impatience with God's
promises and trying to do things our own way, excusing it as us trying to help
God fulfill His will along, could be a breeding ground for compromise with the
world, that would result only to pain, suffering and failure... May we learn to
be patient and wait in faith, because we are not reckoned by what we have
achieved, but by how our characters have grown and developed in the waiting...
Here is one more passage which is
difficult to accept by many people in today's globalised, pluralized
civilization: we have a Jealous God, who at one time in the history of His
people, was vengeful and merciless against those who oppose Him, and waged
carefully orchestrated bloody holy wars... Thankfully, the New Covenant
modified not only His Testament or Agreement and Will with us, it also renewed
and changed Him from One Who went mad with anger at those who reject and
disobey Him, to One with unlimited grace and mercy for the salvation of all...
May we all remember that we would have been powerless and pathetic against such
mighty display of Divine Wrath, were it not Jesus Christ redeemed us so we can
confidently enter into the presence of The Father, like a beloved child and
worthy heir... May we have the heart and faith then, to accept His salvation
and His presence into our lives, so that our lives would not be reduced to a
meaningless, senseless, immaterial existence, but one that clearly shows His
faithfulness, love, goodness and glory...
The old Mosaic Israelites were given
these rules on making vows, particularly detailing the obligations of
men--unconditional, and women--some of which are conditional, and may be
subject to veto by fathers and husbands, which according to a Torah scholar
does not mean a deprivation of economic rights but something that has to do
with their financial or economic independence... But what resonates to us until
today is that God still demands that we be faithful in our vows, pledges and
promises to Him... And this only illustrates how merciful God is: He allows
people to bargain and reason with Him, and because we have seen that He is
faithful and true, He demands that we be likewise... So whatever we have
committed to do for Him, whether regular prayers and devotions, worship,
fellowship, sharing His word, tithes and offerings, pledges and
contributions--may we have wisdom, strength and faith to fulfill them all the
days of our lives...
As one of the cardinal tenets of the
Christian faith, forgiveness is something we believe our God has done to us, as
a requisite to the salvation of our souls, and which He taught us to do unto
others... Sometimes however, because of selfishness, greed, pride and a feeling
of superiority owing to fallible human nature, others have used it as a tool of
abuse, repeatedly offending and abusing other people they think are lesser or
weaker than them, because anyway, they will be forgiven... And sadly,
throughout the history of humanity, many of us grew up in the culture that we
must repeatedly forgive, because we would be seen as good, virtuous, and
desirable, even if the abuses we have received have inflicted on us untold
suffering and mental anguish, resulting to repressed emotions, distorted
psychological development, and often, literally, nervous and physical
breakdowns, and even death... But God is just... In His Word, as in here, He
commanded the day of atonement, the affliction of our souls, where the offender
has not only to feel remorse and actively seek forgiveness from those he has
hurt, but at great expense to his livelihood, energy and time, offer up
sacrifices in keeping with the magnitude of the sin or offense... Yes, civil
laws provide moral damages for victims, but judgements on these are a minuscule
minority, compared to what should be repaid and restored to anybody and
everybody, anyone and all of us have inflicted throughout our lives--whether
they be bullying, insult, harassment, libel, slander, betrayal of trust and
faith, physical or sexual abuse, and mental and emotional pain... May we live
the rest of our lives living deliberately, so that we may avoid inflicting upon
others the same pain we do not want to be given to us... For as Jesus Christ
said, 'a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be
given', how much more severe will be our punishment and how much greater will
His wrath be poured on us, if we inflict suffering on other people who did not
do anything to harm or abuse us?... Still...
For a largely pastoral and
agricultural people who are still living in the wilderness and yet to enter the
promised land, the regulations on animal sacrifices may have proven too
challenging, and indeed, considering the changes in seasons, and the
fluctuations in the state of health of the animals, they are nothing short of
sacrificial, bordering on impoverishing... Yet, when Jesus Christ offered the
perfect sacrifice, and the animal sacrifices stopped sometime after, and
especially even today, many of us seem to have forgotten the essence of giving
to God what is due Him out of our income, and to support His kingdom's work in
our lives... May we not forget that this life is a gift, all that we have in it
are favors, our time is borrowed, we own nothing, and can bring nothing when we
die... May our hearts remember to give and to offer, in recognition of the God
we worship, in acknowledgment of who and what we are among His creation and in
the greater scheme of His plans, and give out of hearts that love, and faith
that believes in His goodness and faithfulness in His promises...
By this we know how faithful and
good our God is, and that He is the Ultimate Leader: He clearly lays out
responsible leadership for His people, without discriminating as to gender, and
He provides the most ideal guidelines on proper succession too (considering
character and spirit)... May we apply the same to how we live and work: how
have we prepared the next generation to lead after us? Have we been builders of
character and developers of potential, rather than holding on so tightly to
whatever position we have, demanding that we be respected and honored in every
way, and penalizing those who won't? More importantly, have we been good
examples, rather than sorry, painful mirrors of misdeeds?... Still...
God remembers: both our obedience
and disobedience to Him... God is just: He does not hold the children
accountable for the sins of the parents, but gives each person a choice, and a
chance to mend our ways... God is the greatest equalizer: He recognizes the
roles of both men and women in the family and in the tribe, and gives them
equal recognition in leadership and honor... God is generous: He knows each of
our needs and issues, and makes sure that no matter how many or how few we may
be who do His will, we are amply provided for, not just in our lifetimes, but
even in our succeeding generations... And God is faithful and good: He fulfills
His promises, and He secures our future...
In here, like in many passages of
the Old Testament, it seems that God's punishment for idolatry and compromise
can be quite brutal and heartless... Yet, when we consider how even today,
there are some of those who flagrantly ignore God, His presence, and what He
has to say to us in His Word, even when His wisdom, power and glory can be
obviously seen in the tiniest elements in the natural world here on earth, and
even until the farthest reaches of the universe, we can somehow understand the
insult and hurt a Jealous God will feel at being unaccepted and ignored... And
we can understand too, why Jesus Christ emphasized in the New Testament, that
we should be careful of our hearts and minds, particularly whom we love and
dedicate them for, because all that we do are the results of what we think and
feel... May we have the wisdom to know how to change our sinful and ignorant
ways, and the humility and faith to live accordingly...
What Balaam prophesied is still true
for us today... When God promised to bless us, heal us, keep us safe, He will
surely fulfill it; and no matter what the enemy does to keep it from happening,
it will happen, grace will be showered on us, and our breakthroughs will
come... May we have the faith to believe and accept this...
"God is not human, that He
should lie; not a human being, that He should change His mind. Does He speak
and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?" (v. 19)...
may we have the wisdom to believe,
the heart to accept, and the faith to live by this...
Sometimes, no matter how hard we try
to do, achieve or get something, if it is against God's will for us, even the
natural world will conspire to thwart and fail our plans and bring our efforts
to waste... May we submit ourselves in humility to His leading, so that life
will be more satisfying, meaningful and abundant for us...
Here is another passage which a
backslidden former minister said he couldn't accept because he felt that God
sanctioned land-grabbing and massacre... Unfortunately, thousands of years
later, even under the grace and salvation from the New Covenant, people are
still doing these, with flimsy and dubious pretenses of spiritual, moral, and
political legitimacy... Sometimes it is hard to fathom God's words and
commands, and we can only obey and move on in faith... What we need to learn
and accept though is that nobody owns the land but its Maker, nobody can claim
lordship over other people because we are all equal in the eyes of God, being
made in His image and likeness, and we do not even own our lives but the One
who breathed life into us... May we learn to live each day with His leading,
taking care to be good stewards of all that He has given to us; otherwise, even
the little that we have could be taken away and given to those who can be more
responsible in their management... (Like what Jesus Christ amplified in the
'parable of the talents', but hopefully, not the things we worked so hard for,
nor the people we cherish, and not our very own physical existence)... Still...
Because faith is not manifested in
what we eat or drink, but in what comes out from us...
Centuries before modern science, God
already spelled out for His people the proper disinfection measures,
considering the resources, knowledge and manpower available during their
time... And strangely, many--if not most--of these are still true and
applicable today... Just as we believe there is a world in a grain of sand, and
countless universes out there in the cosmos beyond, so also it is logical to
accept (because it has been scientifically proven, time and again) that there
is a universe inside each of the tiniest droplets around us that can barely be
seen even if magnified hundreds of times, yet can have great impact on our
health and survival... We need faith to accept these things, even if we say we
are too smart and accomplished to be religious or spiritual, because truly,
imagination is but a vessel in making our life more meaningful; it is fueled by
faith, and by the hope that the faith we profess to have has some substance,
and is reasonable...
This is sometimes a touchy subject,
especially for people who are both too selfish to give and those who are too
greedy to receive: God's tithes and offerings should be given to those who
minister to do His kingdom's work on earth; they are not just that person's
personal property to dispose of as they wish, but their inheritance, that they
have to properly manage and do stewardship of, in precise careful manner like
what God ordered Aaron to do; because their purpose is two-fold: to enable His
people to come to worship and develop a close relationship with Him, and for
God's Name to be proclaimed and glorified, not only in the state and health of
His church, but in the life and lifestyle of His earthly ministers... May we
all be found faithful and trustworthy in such aspect--whether we be the giver
and the receiver--for we are indeed all stewards of such inheritance and tasked
to keep it all our lives 'that there may be meat in His house'...
Admittedly sometimes, we do not
understand the direction or position where God is leading and placing us, but
we can rest assured (and we need not feel envious, insecure or awkward),
because that place or situation is where we need to be; it is the right spot...
Just as some of the ancient
Israelites never learned from the experience of Miriam, when they once again
complained out of envy, and so received God's wrath and punishment but on a bigger
scale since it involved their whole families, so also many of us today never
learned our lesson and still persist in our discontent and complaints about
life... This pandemic should have made us realize that life henceforth demands
a 'radical yet real' way of thinking... That because experts expect this
disease to accompany us the rest of our waking lives, that this is no more time
to be vain, to lift ourselves up above others, and to overestimate ourselves...
Now more than ever, in greater emphasis and need than before, faith in God
should dominate our thinking, our hope in His promises and eternal kingdom
should power our motivations, living His will should drive our efforts...
Because once again and always, 'meekness trumps self-promotion; humility, patience,
and obedience to Him will save and secure our future'...
This chapter which contains both
God's judgement that a man gathering sticks on Sabbath day be put to death, and
provisions on what to do in case someone sins unintentionally, once again shows
us that He judges the intentions and motivations of a person, not their outward
acts... It seems that God knew that to gather sticks on the Sabbath is both a
direct violation of His command to rest on His day, yet the offender seemed to
hope that such is not technically work because he was gathering just sticks,
and not firewood or timber... Yet, it is actually an expression of contempt,
and the person's attempt to bargain with God, as to how far He can go, and to
what extent will He consider and tolerate... This too holds a powerful lesson
for us today, in thinking that for example, God would not consider half-truths
as lies; that hatred is not murder as long as it is not acted upon (homicide?
Maybe, but still in homicide the life of a person made in His image was taken,
and unintentional or not, it is still murder, while in hatred, a life and
relationship is often corrupted and destroyed); that colloquializing words and
names or modernising how we address Him is not taking His name in vain; that
looking at pornography is not adultery or fornication; that keeping up with the
latest trends and fads is not covetousness; and that disrespecting and
dishonoring our parents will not earn for us their commensurate curses because
we pay them lip service... Sin is sin, it is still a violation of His
commandments and covenant and trust with us... May we learn to tread lightly,
in life and in our faith, and be deliberate and sincere, honest and
transparent, faithful and true...
It is rebellion to still not believe
in God, His words and promises, even when we have experienced His miracles, His
grace and mercy in our lives... To do so would only earn us His wrath, plagues
and pestilence, and a life of spiritual and emotional wandering and
restlessness... May we have the heart to live in faith, so that we may enter
into His glory, and find our rest and restoration in His kingdom...
Only Caleb out of the 11 spies with
Joshua had a vision of success in entering the promised land (then peopled by
ancient nations with great civilizations and fearsome warriors)...
Unfortunately, this is human nature, where only 1 of 11--in most cases--see the
good in every problem, the victory in every challenge, the blessing in every
difficulty, the opportunity to learn and grow in every uncertainty... Or maybe
Caleb is just living out his tribe's name: Judah--Praise God... Maybe this is
what we need too: to have a heart of praise and an attitude of thankfulness, so
we can witness the silver lining in every cloud, receive an unlimited supply of
God's grace, and experience ever greater and mightier breakthroughs in our
lives...
Even if God warned the Israelites
against marrying into foreign cultures, He allowed Moses to marry an Ethiopian
woman, and even punished Miriam who complained about it with leprosy for a
week, which He likened to the punishment of a daughter who has disgraced or
disrespected her father, and the father spitting on her face... Such a serious
and dreadful penalty indeed, for one who incurred the triple threat sins of
envy, discrimination, and pride... Yet, the punishment had a time limit, for
His plans of bringing His people to the promised land, and giving them a good
future could never be stopped... This just shows that God is never against
inter-marriage or relations and connections between people of all races, for
indeed, we are all His children... What we should be careful about so that we
may not offend Him is to adapt to lifestyles and cultures that disregard Him
and His words, that we may not consider ourselves better than others who do not
have the same skin color, educational attainment, physical features and social
status as us... Indeed, meekness trumps self-promotion, and humility and
patience can save and secure our future...
Because discontentment and
complaints don't do any good, but they only sow confusion and bring
destruction... May we learn to choose our words wisely, and to act with wisdom,
patience, humility and grace...
When the silver trumpets were
sounded, ready or not, God's people gathered for the assembly and/or moved
forward... Meanwhile, our time today is getting ripe for the great trumpet call
that we have all been waiting for since the beginning of time... May we find
ourselves ready every day to hear it and take heed...
Just as in gratefulness to God who
set them free from slavery in Egypt, such that the Israelites did not move
without the leading of God's cloud covering, so also may we (whose salvation
has been perfected by Jesus Christ's death and resurrection) live our days only
with His guidance... The alternative is scary and miserable: if we choose to go
our own way because we feel that we are missing out, that the rest of the world
are doing great and achieving things while we are left behind, (not realising
that they may be in situations lonelier and more miserable than ours) then, all
our choices will only bring pain and hurt, all our decisions will only lead to
failure, and all our actions will only lead us nowhere... Still...
Even God adjusted the qualifying age
of the Levites to minister actively inside the Tabernacle, from a minimum of 30
down to 25, yet retirement from active service is still 50... This too, holds a
lesson for us today, because it might be that in generations that come after
us, the requisite knowledge, skill and talent, and even wisdom, could be gained
earlier because of life circumstances and advancements in technology and
civilization... So too on leadership of people, one must be vigilant, observant
and open to change, because whether we like it or not, our positions and authority
must be passed down to those whom the times call to lead in the moment and
towards the future... We should recognize it when it is our time to step back
and be willing and supportive to let the succeeding generations take charge...
Put together, the names of the sons
of Jacob represent his creed and statement of faith... Now, in the offering at
the Tabernacle, where they offered not in the order of the eldest to the
youngest, the new progression is God's declaration of His relationship with His
people then, until today, and for all time:
1. Judah - He deserves all our
praise;
2. Issachar - He will give us His
reward,
3. Zebulun - If we give Him all the
glory and honor;
4. Reuben - He is the God who sees;
5. Simeon - He is the God who hears;
6. Gad - He will bless us with good
fortune, connection and leadership of people;
7. Ephraim - He will make us
fruitful,
8. Manasseh - if we let go of our
past and move forward with Him;
9. Benjamin - He is our
righteousness, and He will make us His children of righteousness too;
10. Dan - Because God is our
Righteous Judge,
11. Asher - our lives will be
forever happy and blessed;
12. Naphtali - and amidst all our
struggles, with Him, we will prevail and have the ultimate victory...
Friends and scrollers, let me
declare upon you the universal, eternal blessing:
"The Lord bless you and keep
you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
So they will put my name on the Israelites [physical and spiritual], and I will
bless them.”
(v. 24-27, because
"Israel" means striving and ruling with God, and
"Israelite" then, in the spiritual sense, means a people who lives
life with God on their side)
Some of these commands and
ordinances may have been among those used as basis for the Codes and Laws seen
by European explorers in our lands 500 years ago, attesting to their
far-reaching influence, universality and endurance; albeit a bit cruel,
sometimes illogical, somewhat discriminatory and at times unnecessary... What
remained true until the modern times however, is that whenever we offend or
hurt somebody, especially God and the people who trust and believe in us,
whether unintentionally or by betrayal, and unless we ask forgiveness, renew
our minds and hearts, and pay back what is due, we slowly and surely, die
inside too... Still...
In a time before reading glasses and
vitamin supplements, but strangely true even until today, God set the age of 30
to 50 as the years of service for the Levites in the more active and strenuous
work of the Tabernacle, being years of peak strength, just enough wisdom and
proper knowledge... But this doesn't mean their work stops at retirement
though, for they are still lifetime guides and advisors to those who come after
them... This has something to say to us today too, who often strive too hard to
retire as late as possible for various reasons, except the most feasible one
which God has established centuries before modern man realized its logic and
reasonability... Yes indeed, if one wants to enjoy life to the full, 50 is the
proper retirement age from strenuous, physical work according to God's Word,
regardless of the size of our bank accounts, but wisdom work should never end
but increase all the more until our twilight years...
Just like the Levites of old, there
are people in modern times whom God appointed for the work of His kingdom here
on earth... May we give them their proper due--in respect, and in financial,
physical-, mental-, emotional-, and spiritual--support... And because they serve
and lead us all to worship and serve in lieu of all the firstborn of God's
redeemed people, like Jesus Christ, may we also consider them as family and
accord them proper recognition and honor as befits firstborn rights...
Like the Israelites of old, may we
encamp our tribes around the Tabernacle of our God... May we align our
philosophies and principles, our beliefs and convictions, our morals and
choices, our plans and dreams, with the will of God in our lives...
When God has something for you to
do, He calls you by name (so you can be sure of its certainty and authority and
will not doubt or feel insecure), and He numbers you (so you know that even if
you feel lacking or unqualified in your eyes and in the eyes of other people,
He will pour out His unlimited grace and favor in your life, so that whatever
you have will be more than enough)... May we have the eyes to see, the ears to
hear, and the hearts to obey His leading...
Even until today, God demands that
when we dedicate ourselves to Him, or whatever we have, that we give Him a
proper accounting and in correct measure... And because He is just and true, He
deserves that we be faithful and trustworthy... Likewise, whatever we promise
to other people should not be broken or diminished in measure, like the cliched
very nature of humanity, but that we live with the higher standard, that we be
consistently faithful, just, and true to our very words...
Image from : digitallycredible.com
In reading these passages, some
people think that God is the ultimate autocrat: not giving His people a choice
other than to serve and worship Him, because, otherwise, His wrath and curses
will be poured out on them... But one should remember that this is one
character most of us are not born with--GRATEFULNESS, and expressing it to our
Creator Who is truly deserving of it is indeed a choice, and something we must
all grow and be mature enough to develop and practice... For truly, how
ungrateful would we be if we forget God's goodness in our lives, His salvation
freely given to us through the death and resurrection of His Only Son Jesus
Christ, and His unending mercy and grace poured out to us everyday when we wake
up and until we fall asleep--if we ascribe such honor and recognition to
immobile, created idols, who can neither hear nor speak, and those which we
have set up only to cater to our specific selfish wants, desires and expressions
of pride?... May we dedicate the rest of our lives in worshipping and praying
only and directly to the One who created us, who redeemed us from a miserable
existence and a terrible eternity, and One who will continue to sustain and
keep our souls forever...
Although we are people of the New
Covenant, this is something all of us missed in addressing climate change,
environmental management, poverty and inequality--the matter of GREED... God is
saying that we should not be too greedy in extracting the resources of the land
and allow it to rest a full year for every seven, and a jubilee every 50th, and
He will provide more than enough for our needs... He is saying that we should
not be too greedy of possessions and property rights that we hold on to them
forever, and even with such laws as agrarian reform in modern times, we
stubbornly refuse to give up a part of the wealth that we have gotten to help
sustain our less privileged brethren... He is telling us--and this applies not
only to our next of kin or countrymen but all people--that we should not be
greedy for people by thinking of them as mere properties; that we should not
enslave anybody because essentially we are all brethren around the world,
having been all made in the image of God, but instead uphold freedom and
liberty; and if in cases that we must employ another, to pay them proper,
generous wages, and give them suitable, humane working conditions... He is also
cautioning us against greed for money, and warning us not to charge at usurious
rates or do business at excessive, fraudulent, dishonest gains... May we all
recognise that we are mere pilgrims in this journey called life, we own nothing
and we can bring nothing, we can only work and do business to keep with the
earth, and therefore have no right to hold on to anything or to be greedy and
selfish with anyone or anything...
God is merciful and kind; but since
He is our Creator, Savior and Lord, He deserves our utmost respect and
reverence... And just as He commanded the Israelites of old to keep His
statutes and the light of His tabernacle burning forever, so may we too, keep
His Spirit alive in us; absent that, and with our innate pride and selfishness,
we can only bring pain and hurt to God Himself and to the people around us, which
we have to spend the rest of our days paying back in folds and draining us of
every last ounce of goodness... But if we live according to His will, in holy
fear of Him, and in obedience and faith, no storm, no pain, no hurt, no
illness, no rejection or abandonment or persecution or discouragement can move
us; for He is faithful, and He will always hold us securely in His arms...
Most people believe that the feasts
detailed in this passage by God to Moses are just Jewish feasts, but for us who
believe in and worship the same God and for which Jesus Christ has perfected
the sacrifices in the New Covenant, we are to write these laws and the Spirit
behind them into our hearts--that we live unleavened lives, where we do not let
our thoughts and ways be influenced by the dictates and empty philosophies of
the world around us; that we rest one day in seven and dedicate it to Him in
praise, worship and celebration with like-minded and like-spirited brethren;
that we dedicate to Him the firstfruits of our land and labor; that out of its
increase, we add to our offerings the meat--or the tithe thereof; that we
provide out of what we have, something to supply the needs of those who are in
more difficult situations than us; that we heed the call of God's human
trumpets to meet, declare His Word and His goodness, to proclaim His glory and
salvation to all, and to live each day in faith and trust in His promises; that
we afflict our souls from time to time, to ask forgiveness for our wrongdoings,
to meditate upon how we could live like Jesus Christ more; and that we remember
that our lives here on earth are fleeting and we live in temporary tabernacles
(which we cannot bring with us when we die physically), but in living for God's
glory and obeying His will, we can have a permanent place in His kingdom, for
all eternity...
Because God did not withhold His
only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins, a sacrifice more
perfect than all the offerings mentioned in these passages, and because He is
the same God today as He was then, He deserves only our best, what is fair and
just out of the fruits of our labor and the work of our hands... May we not be
remiss in giving Him His due, for everything indeed belongs to Him, and we are
only offering back to Him not the material itself, but our hearts that give
thankfully, prayerfully, generously and with unending praise...
We thank God that Jesus Christ, our
eternal High Priest and God's perfect sacrifice, has broken the veil of the
most holy place with His death, and with His resurrection has given us the
chance to approach confidently God's throne of grace and mercy seat, whether we
be physically whole or not, when we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior,
and in humility, we live in obedience to His will...
Central to a life of true health and
wellness is a strong relationship with God and good and proper relationships
with other people, which is actually realised when we do not follow the mindset
and timeline of the world, and we are not led by the philosophies of those who
say they know a lot (when in fact they should have known better), but only by
the guidance of the Word of God... And we know in our hearts that this is true,
because we may have experienced it ourselves, or seen others whom we know,
being stubborn and hard-headed in trying to live by their own ways, and yet,
continuously failing in the process (or they may win at times, but lose many
times more)... And though we may not be meted out with capital punishment like
in the Old Testament times, yet we know that continuing to live in such
prideful attitude is no less damaging and destructive to us and the people and
things we care about... Still...
These passages are among many where
God's Word tells us that pornography, sexual immorality and perversions are
offenses against God and destroys our relationship with Him; for indeed, one
can only properly relate to God and other people with a clean heart and mind,
devoid of malice, but full of grace, mercy and truth... May we all be filled
with these three gifts...
Here is another passage from Mosaic
law which is controversial, particularly for modern-day believers whose culture
includes dishes that contain pork blood, and many may even say that the God of
the Old Testament is racially discriminatory... However, when viewed from eyes
that saw the completion of the Covenant with Jesus Christ's death and
resurrection, and the abolishment of animal sacrifice because of His perfect
offering, one comes to understand that these passages only emphasized a proper
manner of worshipping God... Where one must not slaughter animals to be
sacrificed by themselves outside of the tabernacle, but it should be done by
the Levitical priests: we should understand that our tithes and offerings too
have a proper recipient, and that is, they must only be given to the church
where we attend services, so they can be properly and fittingly prayed over and
acknowledged in contributing to the fulfillment of God's kingdom work on
earth... That we should not eat blood, or non-kosher food: but in the New
Testament, we know that the same God of Moses is now also the God of the
non-Jewish people, and we take it to mean that regardless of what we eat, we
should instead offer all that we are and all that we have to Him and not to
idols, and that we should thank Him for these, and not invoke the name of
others in our worship, prayers and praise... Our God is reminding us that all
life came from and because of Him: He is timeless, yet He lived as a human,
died for our sins, and now lives again forever; He is author of history, yet He
is concerned with every moment of our lives, even taking care to remind us to
eat healthy foods and take care of the bodies He has blessed us with, for it is
His living temple, and our care of it is an outward reflection of how we take
care of our relationship with Him and others too...
This is the origin and true essence
of scapegoat-ing... It does not mean one who will take responsibility for all
the faults of others like how we understand it today; but unlike the goat
offering which was killed, it was presented alive to God as a form of
atonement, and rather set free, sent away whole to live and wander in the
wilderness... May we realize that God has made Jesus Christ our perfect scapegoat,
and because of His death and resurrection, we who should atone or ask
forgiveness for our sins and accept Him into our lives, are accepted by God and
now in a state of AT-ONE-MENT with Him; so that though we fall again, we have
no more right and we have already forfeited the chance to blame our misery and
failures on circumstances or other people, but we should already take
responsibility for our actions and its consequences, with the wisdom that God
has given us... We can be confident in this because even in the wilderness of
our lives, even in the face of our enemies and accusers, even in the valley of
the shadow of death, our Shepherd will be with us to sustain us and give us
strength to endure...
This is another part of God's Word
that shows its being ahead of its time, being universally applicable throughout
the ages--when God Himself mandated proper hygiene and disinfection on human
bodily discharges, instructing people to carefully identify what's normal and
not, and thousands of years before modern day science, gives us an awareness of
how to prevent the spread of disease... It also again reinforces His Word that
cleanliness is an outward expression of a right relationship with Him and with
other people, because in these passages cleansing and maintaining hygiene is
tied to being in a healthy state to worship Him and to do His assigned ministry
for us, and preventing other people from being infected or sickened too... It
also reminds us that on a deeper, more spiritual level, if we do err, make
mistakes, sin, or offend Him and others, that we should actively participate to
make reparations, to reconcile and to heal... May we heed His Word and let it
guide us every moment of our life, that we may be protected from the deadly
darts of the enemy, and strengthen us in our difficulties...
Here is another chapter which, if
one is not familiar with the culture, one would have difficulty understanding
the relevance of...
In Mosaic law, God ordained three
things to be used in the act of cleansing--from leprosy and mold or
mildew--hyssop, scarlet and cedar wood...
According to an article in Blogos.org, HYSSOP is
used as a detergent or scrub (outward cleansing) and laxative (internal bodily
cleansing); SCARLET is the blood from the coccus ilicis female worm, which lays
eggs in the bark of a tree, then covers them with her body as she dies a slow
death by being consumed by her own larvae--the blood that comes out of her
stains the tree, which is then extracted to create the red or scarlet fiber
dye; and CEDAR, a branch from the juniper bush, which is medicinal, but when
burnt, is also hallucinogenic, inducing a trance in shamans, and a symbol of
the Eastern pagan goddess Ashera, hence considered in Jewish tradition as a
symbol of human pride...
From this we understand that healing
and cleansing go hand-in-hand and foreshadows the great redemptive sacrifice of
Jesus Christ...
Especially during these times we see
that no amount of disinfection can cleanse the human heart of fear, ignorance,
bias, prejudice and pride; unless the person has accepted the salvation bought
by the precious blood of Christ, and allowed this gift to cleanse the person
down to the innermost parts of their being, and to put down their pride at
their own vain efforts to save and secure themselves...
May we learn our lesson then and
allow these common middle eastern items to remind us all our days what gift and
confidence we can hold on to throughout the different seasons of life (if only
we claim it) ...
Some of the world's main models on
quarantine or isolation, regular testing and disinfection... Scientifically
speaking, I believe there is wisdom and logic behind all these, but what lies
between the lines is the necessity of proper hygiene... May we not forget that
indeed, cleanliness comes next to godliness, especially if we care enough about
our families and communities, and we do not want to bring them illness and
harm...
In a short 8-verse chapter, God
instituted universal maternity leave; with the "uncleanness" of
which, we who should know better should be aware, does not mean that a woman is
sinful, unworthy, filthy or second class; but a stronger warning against anyone
who might abuse and harass her who just actively participated in God's greatest
miracle--bringing forth life--by giving her body time to heal and recover, and
bond lovingly and solemnly with her newborn child... Seen through wiser,
humbler, more vertically aligned eyes, may we recognize our Creator's love and
care for new mothers, and even old ones and the never-dids--like His constant
reminder to His people to respect their mothers, to care for widows, and to
respect and honor the chastity and purity of singles... May we realize too, how
great a love is this for us to trade it with the world's approval to the point
that we conform our body image to what the world wants... May we learn that, in
equal status with men, God cares for the welfare and well-being of women, for
we too are fearfully and wonderfully made, whose existence is necessary for man
to come to be, to survive, to endure life's journey, and to enjoy eternity in
His kingdom...
This is one of the most contentious
and misunderstood passages of Scripture, from that time, to the time of Jesus
and the apostles, and even until now, when God designated
"cleanliness" in animals, and consequently in the people who eat
them. Some may even say that God was discriminatory Himself... And yet we learn
elsewhere in the Word that Jesus Christ clarified things when He said that it
is not what goes inside the body that makes a person unclean or unacceptable to
God and even the general community, but what goes out of it-- physically (human
waste) and spiritually (words, thoughts, acts in disobedience of Him and in
offense of others) (Matthew 15:11)... And when He called from heaven to Peter
to accept Cornelius, an Italian centurion (who obviously eats pork) (Acts
10:15), and saying that what He has made clean should not be called unclean...
We are made to understand that this concept of eating what should be against
what should not be is a cultural thing, and not a strict literal interpretation
of a person's identity and worth... May we then have the eyes to see, ears to
hear, hearts to feel and hands to act out the mercy God has given to us, in
treating everyone fairly and with respect, for after all, we are
all--regardless of skin color, educational background, gender, profession,
status, physical size and dietary preferences--made in God's image and worthy
of respect and love...
Some may think that God is cruel for
striking two of Aaron's sons dead when they offered 'strange fire', for after
all, they were Levites, and that was their appointed duty. But then we get to
know the reason why when we read in the 9th verse where God warned Moses that
those who do the priestly office should not be intoxicated while doing their
duty in the Tabernacle. And so, this became a law even in secular society
today, where being intoxicated is a big 'No No', an illegal act even, for one
to be in while performing official tasks. And so should it be in our relations
with God and other people. We cannot treat God and others by our own terms and
convenience and sense of fun. Being drunk doesn't do anybody any good. May we
learn to live clean and healthy lives so we can think soberly, act with wisdom,
keep well our physical bodies that were just entrusted to us for our
stewardship, and maintain dignity and grace; no matter how life treats us, no
matter how people handle us, and no matter the season and place...
It is a marvelous and fearsome
experience to be in the holy presence of God; and yet we learn from elsewhere
in the Word that because of Jesus Christ's perfect sacrifice and offering on
the cross, we can enter boldly into His throne of grace... May we remain
grateful and humble as we live out this truth and confidence through the rest
of our lives...
To the uninitiated, these might seem
like strange, outdated customs... But they are actually another mirror by which
we can hold leadership up to even until today... A leader reconciles people: in
the case of spiritual--to the God Who created us and Who wants to develop an
eternal relationship with us; in the case of the secular--between the person
that is, to the greater and better person who will become, and to family and
community... And this calls on the leader to be 'consecrated' or set themselves
apart for all to see--to right manners and ethics, to a higher moral standard;
and to live and abide by truth, diligence and faithfulness--in order to be a
worthy influence to everyone around them...
Even until now, when we trespass or
offend someone, there is always an erosion of trust and faith, a breakdown of
relationship, and a disappearance of peace... These passages teach us that
whenever that happens, as modeled by the "offerings/oblations", we
have an obligation to ask for forgiveness, to reconcile and set things right
(trespass offering), so that we can take back the peace we have lost (peace
offering), and so that good relationships and meaningful connections (wave
offerings) will be restored... May we have the humility and wisdom to live
these out...
What remained unchanged in the old
patriarchal, physical covenant to the new, spiritual, eternal one, is that in
dealing with other people, we must always be true, faithful and trustworthy...
Likewise, in our worship and relationship with God, that we remain humble and
not to think so highly of ourselves... These call for innate humility and deep
wisdom, which all of us don't have, but which God Himself promised that we can
pray and ask Him for, that He will give them generously with a heaping of His
grace and strength, and for which we can work to make them come true in our
lives...
Because of Jesus Christ's perfect
redemptive sacrifice on the cross, these animal sacrifices and sin offerings
have been rendered unnecessary... But it doesn't change the gravity of
offending God, other people, and the rest of creation with the words of our
mouths, and our sometimes-arrogance but often-carelessness-and-thoughtlessness
in the things we do... May we realize that our Maker wants us renew instead our
thoughts and our feelings, so that whatever we say and put our hands into will
be a blessing, and a reflection of His glory and image in us...
In about a month and a half,
Christendom and Judaism will celebrate humanity's enduring, life-changing, and
eternally defining death anniversary and holy day... May we always remember
that because Our Ultimate Passover Sacrifice--the precious life of our Lord and
Savior--was offered up perfectly for each and every one of us, to always be
grateful and humble, to stay strong and true to the life and the lifestyle He
has called us to, not just once a year, but in all of life's seasons...
We know from elsewhere in the Word
that this part of the Mosaic law on animal sacrifice has been done away with by
the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ and by history itself. And yet, may we
realize that this is a mirror of how we must worship the same God today: that
He has a part in all that we have and all that we have gained; that we should
not misappropriate or malverse His portion for ourselves; and that He desires
that we worship and offer to Him not just from the words of our mouth, or from
external acts to be seen by other people, but from our innermost beings--the
fat being "faith more than skin deep", even from the "liver and
kidney" - - those that drive us to live and work each day; those that must
filter and constantly renew our minds, our spirits, and our lives so these
become a pleasing, fragrant aroma of praise for Him...
Even from of old, God requires that
our offerings to Him be "unleavened and salted"... As believers, we
know what these mean... May our lives then, be freed from pride and arrogance,
selfishness and greed... May we spend the rest of our days being a cleansing,
flavorful and preservative influence to the world around us...
Even in His demand of offerings, God
knows that each person can only give out of his means, capacity and ability...
And yet in faith and obedience, may we give to Him only the best--something
that comes from good, honest labor; something that is unblemished by
selfishness, envy, greed and pride...
If there is one thing this pandemic
should have made us realise, it is that like the Levitical priests during
Moses' time, no amount of disinfection and cleansing or material wealth and
high social status in life could insure against us succumbing to sin or this
disease; unless we put our hope in the salvation God has given us through the
sacrifice of His Son... For then, even if we do fall, or get sick and
eventually have our physical days on earth cut short, yet we have hope... We
can be confident in Jesus Christ's promises that a much more awesome future is
waiting for us beyond this physical lifetime...
May all that we do and all the work
of our hands be done according to His will and plan, that our lives may be set
apart and pleasing to our God and Creator, lives fit to become 'Holiness to the
Lord'...
Just as even the pins used in
building God's temporary tabernacle on earth are fully accounted for, so may we
also be faithfully accountable for every thing our Heavenly Master and earthly
masters have entrusted to us...
Bezaleel--the Renaissance man of
Exodus 37... May we learn that though we may not be as gifted and brilliant as
he is as a Master Craftsman, but the things that we do everyday, by the honest
and faithful work of our hands, are products of a mind perfectly attuned to
God's instructions and a heart humbly obedient to His will, and that no matter
how simple or lowly our individual work may be, these are still deserving to be
done with the best that we have, and the most that we can give, for they are
our work offerings to our Creator, our participation in His great creative and
redemptive work in our lives...
Just as God's earthly tabernacle,
and later His temple built by King Solomon, were intricately and marvelously
made, so are our bodies (Psalm 139:13-14), which the Word elsewhere says are
God's true temple on earth (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)... May we keep it healthy,
clean, decent and modest, pure and holy, a worthy living sacrifice and offering
to our Creator, Savior and Lord...
May our hearts be stirred up with
wisdom, and our spirits always be willing to bring the best of our offerings to
God, in all our workmanship, and all the work of our hands...
The Lord is Merciful and gracious,
patient and good; He is Truth, He is trustworthy, He is faithful and just...
May we find our life's satisfaction and measure of success in Him alone...
When God calls us to do something,
He makes a way for us... We only need to approach His tabernacle and seek His
presence and guiding Word, instead of having our ways and means with things, so
that we will be assured that what we do is according to His will, and will
bring a blessing to us and the people we are related to...
It is often our impatience with and
misunderstanding of God's promises that cause us to stumble and make wrong
decisions that we will regret for the rest of our lives... Still...
Because God calls by name all those
whom He has planned to do His work on earth, and because to all the
wise-hearted who follow His will and leading in their lives He has put wisdom,
may we learn to uphold His everlasting covenant with us and live out His sign
of being His people--that we keep His Sabbaths, that we dedicate one day in
seven to fellowship and communion with Him and with the people He has blessed
our lives with...
All that we give to God (in tithes
and offerings, vows and pledges) are the atonement for our souls--a kind of
union, reconciliation, an "at one" - ment between our Creator and us,
His creation; we do it not for show but to acknowledge His lordship over us,
and our partnership with Him in all the work we do on earth, giving Him first
entitlement to the fruits of our labor... As such, God demands that what we
give to Him should be based on a just and fair accounting...
Because God has redeemed us from
eternal damnation with the sacrifice of the life and blood of Jesus Christ, and
because He desires to have an intimate relationship with and to dwell within
us, may we dedicate to Him: our ears to hear His Word, our hands and all the
work that we do, and our feet in walking through the way He has opened and led
us to...
As they say, "clothes make the
man/woman", hence may we, like the Levitical order of Aaron and his sons,
dress and attire ourselves in modesty and humility, that we may be reminded of
our responsibility to reflect God's glory and grace, and not our own vain form...
And so, it would be demeaning for a believer to strive for "sexiness"
as the world dictates, for we were created and molded to be infinitely much
better than that--to a higher calling, to a deeper wisdom, to a stronger
character, to a more abundant and substantive life... For indeed, true beauty
is of the spirit, the mind, the character; it is not a matter of size, height
or weight, but the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives, that enables us to
influence others and lead them in the right way, to truth, and eternal life...
As He declared elsewhere (in
Habakkuk 2:8), God owns all the gold and silver (and obviously, all other
metals) in the world... May we remember this when we are tempted to wrongly put
our hope and joy, and sense of security, in these shiny things... And like that
which is preached and kept by another ancient faith, may we instead keep the
light of His Spirit, wisdom and glory continuously burning in our lives, to
light our way and keep us in the right path...
Each of us have things we are good
at, and things we may not be good at initially but if we persevere in doing
them, by God's grace and guidance, we may ultimately become better... These are
our talents, and if we put them in the perspective of something greater than
what our senses can perceive at the moment, these give meaning to our lives...
May we then remember to dedicate to God whatever work our hands find to do, for
in this we have hope; that no matter how difficult life gets, we are amply
provided for, and we will be equipped with the smarts and skills to survive and
thrive... May these too give us strength to endure, and remember that though
physically we are made of organic, decaying matter, yet the Spirit within us
will enable us to go on and persist, even through the long haul...
#InEarthlyTabernaclesYetOfHeavenlyCitizenship
Because God desires to dwell among
His people, He requires that we offer up and dedicate to Him all that we have
and all that we are... This is not a trivial thing because He is not a trivial
God... And though we may approach Him with much love and adoration, and much
trembling and holy fear, we are assured that because He cares for us, He will
hear us, and be attentive to our cries and all that we need...
A covenant sealed in blood, like
when Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross for our sins, should become part
of our DNA... May we always remember that in all His glory, God wants to
fellowship and commune with us, even here on earth, and until that time when we
can see Him face to face... That should motivate us to persevere in life, and
strengthen us amidst all its trials...
Some may see in these passages that
God is sanctioning unlawful land-grabbing for His people... But we should look
at it with the eyes of Jesus Christ, for under the New Testament, God's laws
and promises on establishing a place for His people on earth have been
amplified... We have our own spot on His blue-green earth if we are obedient to
Him and live in peace with those all around us... Along with honesty, truth,
justice, generosity and faithfulness, God demands that we take out of our
lives--and we stay away far from--anything and everything that takes His place
in our hearts...
Some of stealing's earlier
punishments may seem too harsh, but when viewed in the light of Jesus Christ's
words in the New Testament, we realize that God not only wants to impose
punishment on the wrongdoer, but also restitution for damages to the
victim...He is going deeper than the act, to the motivation and the heart
behind it. For indeed, there is nothing trivial in taking away what is not
yours, whether they be personal belongings, public funds, opportunities,
careers, positions, relationships, attention, and even source of joy... And it
is but right not only to return it back, but to pay more for the emotional and
mental anguish of those whom it was taken from in the first place...
Some of the ordinances given by God
to Moses after declaring the Ten Commandments show Him also in the process of
dealing with and treating humans the way He thinks and feels...
Some of these may seem
discriminatory with our modern reckoning, for we know that both men and women's
lives are of equal value, that women are not properties to be sold or
exchanged, that there can be no license for human trafficking, especially more
evil if done to family members, that slavery of human beings is a sin because
of its affront to the dignity, worth and personhood of the individual who are
each made in the image of God, that even animals have more value now than before...
But we realize that even since then
and until now, God speaks to us that we must indeed put a premium on
life--ours, that of others, and even the rest of creation, and that we have
moral and actual responsibility for whatever we do, and whatever may happen
because of our negligence... May these lessons not get lost in our time
today...
The IRR of these Commandments is for
us not "to use our tools" on it, like in building the altar God
commanded; therefore, we are not to add or subtract or change any of it to suit
our own preferences... When God said He will "visit the iniquity of the
fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation", it means
that whatever faults we may have should be corrected by our generation and not
to be passed on to our children, because God's "visit" is to check if
we have mended our own ways and left this world a better place for the next
generation... These words are never archaic nor obsolete, neither are they
racially discriminatory or culturally specific, because as timeless as our
Creator is, so are His commandments, and His covenant to bless forever those
who seek after what makes His heart glad, those who are obedient to His will,
and those who are humble enough to accept that they do not know or are in control
of life, because only God does...
These words are still for us today,
who claim to worship and serve the same God that Moses did... Our spiritual
priesthood does not come from an appointed office, degree or human
ordination... It talks about our moral responsibility to uphold the Truth and
God's Word, to lead people closer to God, and to intercede with Him in behalf
of a lost and darkened world... Our holiness comes not from outward acts of
religiousness and piety, but from a life lived according to faith, being a
light and salt of this world, showing people that there is an infinitely better
way than their selfish and corrupt systems... May God give us strength and
wisdom to live our days, being willing at every turn, to give ourselves to this
cause and calling...
Blessed are those who have in-laws
as God-fearing and wise as Jethro, for they are indeed good leaders,
knowledgeable guides and worthy inspirations... And, no offense meant, but I
honestly believe that this is one prime consideration when one decides to enter
into marriage... One does not only take a spouse, but a whole set of new
parents, elders, siblings, friendships, community and clan... If one can be
choosy with simple gadgets and other trivial and material things, one must
therefore more carefully choose and decide on the people one shares the rest of
their lives (and for women, surnames) with...
May we learn not to test God's
patience and quarrel with others to vent our frustrations and anger at life;
because time and time again, God has proven that He is our living water, He is
our spiritual and physical source of nourishment and provision, He is our
Banner... And as we continue to lift our hands to Him in surrender and worship,
in community and fellowship with our brethren, He will give us the victory...
Sometimes we may feel stuck, or
dissatisfied, or that things in life seem to have plateaued for us, and we
complain and murmur... But God hears our complaints and murmurings, and still
provides us with more than enough for our needs... The miracle is not that we
can endure such periods of wilderness in our lives, be they short or long. The
miracle is that despite our dissatisfaction and complaints, God sustains, He
always makes a way, and day by day, develops our patience, perseverance and
character, until the time is right, and He brings us to our next
breakthrough...
"The Lord is my strength and
song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an
habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt Him... Who is like unto thee, O
Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in
praises, doing wonders?... Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which
thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation."
(v. 2, 11, 13)
"... Do not fear, stand still,
and see the salvation of the Lord... The Lord shall fight for you, and you
shall hold your peace." (v. 13b & 14)
When we follow God's will in our
lives, dedicating all our best for Him, and being careful to obey His
commandments with the heart and mind like that of Christ, He will guide us in
the right path... He will enlighten us, provide for our needs, protect us and
keep us safe and sane, encourage us and give us hope, and be our peace, comfort
and source of joy...
A foreshadow of Jesus Christ, our
ultimate passover sacrifice; of how we must not take Him and His salvation for
granted; that we may live lives unleavened by the materialism, foolishness,
greed, pride, darkness, narrow-mindedness and vanity of this world; and of how
it is to be our eternal responsibility who claims to be called to a church
which bears His name, to hand over this legacy of faith to our children and to
all of our future generations...
Before there was a 'Midnight Clear',
there was a 'Midnight Really Dark and Tragic'... and the lesson is still for us
today, when it would be better for us to humble ourselves and dedicate our
children to God everyday, for Him to guide us and them in the right way through
life, rather than having our way with things, following our own urges, desires
and schedules, and seeing the very things some people I know say the reason
they entered into marriage at prime early ages for--families ruined,
relationships broken, children left behind or abandoned or going through
miserable, destructive paths... Still...
Image from: www.calendarbuzz.com
As long as we continue to believe that because of our
degrees and achievement, wealth, knowledge, fame, connections and status in
life, that we are entitled to all the best that material life has to offer,
that the rest of the world are obligated to make way for us, to not offend our
preferences and sensibilities, to give in to whatever we want and not to
inconvenience us in any way... Then the very little things in life can mentally
and psychologically destabilise us, physically and spiritually impoverish us,
take away our peace and hope, and leave us in the darkness of ignorance and (in
reality,) unbelief... But blessed are the humble, the patient, those who are
willing to gain more godly wisdom, and do not promote themselves and flaunt
their pride, for theirs will be true eternal love and immeasurable joy, in any
situation...
May we always be humble and not exalt ourselves above other
people, thinking that all we have achieved in life are by our own efforts
alone, believing we are invincible, self-made, and feeling ourselves to be in
pedestals, even putting ourselves in the place of God in terms of ruling our
way and having our way with things... For then He will strike down and destroy
everything we think we are masters of and have control over, but which actually
we don't: our source of food and livelihood, our health and physical
appearance, and the climate... Still, Happy Sunday, and...
In and by itself,
every living creature is a source of wonder and learning, for each one is
marvelously designed and intricately made... However, they become a burden and
a plague to us once we refuse to acknowledge and honor their Great Designer and
Maker, the One who is Creator of all...
When we hear God's
voice, may we harden not our hearts... Otherwise, He might consume us in anger,
make us swallow our pride, and demand from us blood and life, for all our
disrespect of Him, all the hurt and pain and oppression we inflicted upon other
people and the rest of creation... Still...
Sometimes, even though
God has done so many things in our lives and blessed us abundantly and without
fail, many of us doubt and refuse to believe... But blessed are those who still
trust and keep faith in Him... For they shall see God do greater and more
wonderful things through them...
Sometimes, life gets
more difficult and complicated as we go through the process leading to our next
breakthrough... But blessed are those who will endure faithfully and patiently,
because they will personally see and experience God's miracle and power poured
out over their lives...
For GOD is...
-- Creator and Lord of all creation
-- Great Physician and Healer
-- Judge and Avenger
-- Enabler and Teacher
-- a Jealous, Zealous and Loving
Father
-- the Good Shepherd, our Protector
and Guide
-- the Source of Joy, Hope and True
Love
-- Redeemer, Savior, and Friend
... He alone is worthy of all praise
and adoration...
... And whomever He calls, He
blesses abundantly without burden, and more than qualifies...
Because Moses' mission
and the realization of his name is still for us to fulfill today: to help to
"draw out" people from ignorance and slavery to the world and its
corrupt systems, to enable them to see the Truth, lead them in the right Way,
to bring them to a better Life, all while working with them in gaining a deeper
knowledge of God and His Word, and entering into a more meaningful relationship
and fellowship with Him and His family here on earth...
Even in the midst of
their suffering, GOD will hear His people cry; and He will draw them out from
it...
The more God's people
are afflicted and made to suffer, the more abundant His grace and favor are
poured out for them, and the more their lives multiply and grow...
Because we are known
by our words, including the 'how' and the 'why', and we are established by what
we communicate...
Spiritual blessings and godly
prophecies and admonitions are the ultimate legacy...
Unlike in human terms,
God's favor is not favoritism; it is not burdensome to all, and rights many
wrongs...
Of how, in hunger and
poverty, the borrower and the have-not are slaves and servants to the lender
and those who have; but God's mercy, grace and favor will abound on those who
are rightly connected with Him, who makes Him their partner in all the
struggles of life...
The ultimate
immigration and family reunion... Because God is faithful, and as He fulfills
His promises in our lives, like this, He will accompany us each step of the
way, to remind us of His words, to lift us up when we're down, to give us hope
and cheer us on when we feel weary or discouraged, as He makes sure that we are
on the right track, the one He has planned and willed for us to follow...
How the lives of God's
children will turn out to be: when all things that happen to us, whether good
or bad, and all the things given to us, whether visions, resources or talents,
will result to us reaching our full potential and becoming a blessing to all
people whose lives we are connected with, or those whom we touch, no matter how
briefly...
This chapter is also for Judah, who
did a complete turnaround at his advanced age; who, when he was younger,
suggested selling his younger brother as a slave (ch. 37, v. 26-27) but then in
turn, losing his first two sons to death (ch. 38, v. 6-10) and unwittingly
committed incest and had sons with his own widowed daughter-in-law (ch. 38, v.
15-30)... may we also learn that to those of us who have been given much in
life, for every offense or pain or hurt we inflict upon others, life punishes
us double and more, even inflicting on us personal and family tragedies, until
we are brought down to our knees for our comeuppance and in surrender...
Still...
Forgiveness and
reconciliation are a process, and as such, they require a change of character,
mindset, personality and conviction on all parties concerned, because truly,
nobody can be forgiven and saved just as they are...
Because too often, the
bad things that happen to us, or those inflicted by other people, are preparing
us to be much greater than who we are today...
Zaphnath-paaneah:
"When God speaks
and reveals life's deepest mysteries and secrets, there is salvation and
deliverance for all."
A good turn today is a
key to tomorrow's blessing...
To the person who
trusts in God, and who is careful to live according to His will, even though
bad things happen, God's grace, mercy, protection and favor will always
abound...
In pivotal moments of
history, strong-willed women rule... In this case, were it not for Judah's
widowed daughter-in-law, Tamar's daring and ingenuity, Phares/z, who was Joseph
the carpenter and Jesus Christ's human ancestor, wouldn't have been born...
One lesson to learn in
this chapter of Joseph's life is to be humble, particularly with God's
blessings, favor, promises and revelations... Another is to remain strong and
not despair or get discouraged when people put you down and step all over you,
for that is a sure sign that God is going to bring greater and more amazing
things into your life...
Though Esau may not have taken his
birthright seriously when he was just a young hunter, but in growing older,
becoming more mature, and settling down to a pastoral life, one can see, marvel
and be blessed by God's faithfulness in His promises to create nations out of
Abraham's descendants... Esau bred 'Dukes' ('dux' in Latin, or leader) as sons--ancestors
of modern-day Arabs--who were leaders, sheiks, phylarcs, or chiefs of their
tribes... And like the Israelites, their descendants are still with us today...
Of families,
pioneering, migration and power dynamics... When every deed, every word, every
thought will have consequences lasting beyond our physical lifetimes...
Something in here that
still resonates in our present times:
"A wrong is never
corrected with another wrong; and rage, because it is devoid of wisdom, only
conflagrates and destroys."
There is forgiveness
and reconciliation here; and though in this life we live in temporary booths,
yet we are assured that someday, we will have a permanent place forever in
God's kingdom, for He is God, the God of Israel, and He is faithful and true...
When we struggle in life on our own,
we will be full of fear and worry; but when we wrestle with God and never let
go, He will bless us, and we will prevail with Him in victory...
Wealth gotten by
deception and dishonesty will always be burdensome, but God will always protect
and secure the one who works patiently, honestly and faithfully...
Sometimes people think
that they have become great by their own schemes and manipulations; but God is
actually the One working behind the scenes...
Sometimes, whether we
deserve it or not, life treats us unfairly... But in patience, persistence and
faithful endurance, with hope and love, God will see, God will hear, and He
will draw close to us, as we offer up ourselves to Him in prayer and praise...
One can never truly be
blessed, and not tithe... And since God's promises are true and sure, so too,
may our giving to Him be faithful and pure...
Sadly, far too many of
us try to deceive and selfishly manipulate around things in order to get what
we want... Thankfully, God doesn't have poor vision or hearing, His promises
are true and sure, and His blessings for us are appropriate, on point, and more
than sufficient, with plenty left over to share and bless others too...
Sometimes, God's
people turn cowards, and maybe for convenience or selfishness or safety's sake,
deny the truth or blame others... But in repentance and obedience, and living
faithfully and truthfully, there is deliverance, and God's sure promise that
wherever life takes us, He will always make room for us... "Rehoboth...
Open spaces... God will make room and a way for us"...
May we learn not to
take for granted what is ours by birthright, and to respect and give value and
reverence to that of others too...
Indeed, good and godly
marriages are built on earnest prayers, obedience to God's will, humility and
generosity, faithful keeping of promises, willingness to learn the new, and
courage to embrace the unknown...
Though seemingly strange, such means
of bargaining is still widely practiced especially in the Middle East until
this day as a form of intangible cultural heritage... If people could be so
eloquent and witty in bargaining for even such a thing as a burial ground, how
much more should we be humbly reverent in asking God for what we need according
to His will, rather than stubbornly demanding from Him what we want thinking
that we are entitled to them and that God is just a convenient ATM machine and
blessing-and-miracle dispenser?... Anyway...
Just as Abraham did not withhold his
only son from God's challenge of sacrifice, and God the Father did not withhold
His only Son Jesus Christ from dying on the cross for our sins, so it is not a
difficult thing that whatever we need, or whatever issues we may have in life,
He will see to it that we are amply helped and sufficiently provided for...
"Jehovah-jireh... God will see to it Himself" (verse 14)...
God is a promise
keeper... and so should we be, who claim to believe in Him...
Sometimes because of
pride, fear, selfishness or just plain misunderstanding, even people of God can
lie, deceive, hurt, inflict damage, or bring about tragedy, misfortune and
curses on others... But there is deliverance, freedom and salvation in telling
the truth, no matter the consequence, and in paying the price for its
reparation and restoration...
When calamities and
tragedies strike, obedience to God's Word and warning is the only means of
escape...
Is anything too hard
and difficult for GOD? And yet, He needs at least 10 truly committed and
faithful to change His judgment...
He who walks properly
before God, makes Him his friend and remains faithful to the end, will have the
last laugh... "Isaac... Let there be joy and laughter"...
Even when we are
disobedient, yet when we return and submit to God's will, He will hear...
"Ishmael... God will hear"
Because righteousness
or rightness with God is more than skin deep, and goes beyond the here and
now...
We who claim to be
descendants of Abram by faith should live by his creed--in loyalty, bravery and
wisdom, in humility and generosity, in worship and faithfulness...
Sometimes, the grass
on the other side that looks greener may not be all that it seems (it's
actually just a matter of light projection and angle of view)... Yet, in both
plenty and want, in the midst of life's great and small challenges, may we be
like Abram who never failed to worship God...
Until God's promises
are fulfilled in our lives and even beyond, He will always bless, guide and
preserve us...
Out of confusion and chaos--whether
through a multitude of languages, clashing personalities, competing ideologies,
cultures and lifestyles, God will always show mercy and wisdom, and lead His
people in the right way...
God has indeed ordained physical
boundaries among nations and peoples, and to ignore that and encroach into or
take away from others what is rightfully theirs is to go against His will...
For GOD, ALL life is
sacred and worthy of respect... Who do we think we are then, to just take it
for granted?
Jewish tradition believes in these
six seasons of life (seed time, harvest, cold, heat, summer, winter--verse 22),
as well as two parts of the day (day, night)... And from them we can learn too,
that God has ordained for us to experience these seasons personally and
spiritually so we may grow in faith and character, as we offer our lives to Him
in praise and as a sweet savor, and make Him remember to lift the curse and
pestilence all creation goes through because of our sins, and again bless and
heal our land...
The Great Flood was recorded not
just in the Holy Bible but in other ancient literatures too, and verified by
current Earth Science and Archaeological findings... But like what Jesus Christ
said in Luke 17:26-37, may we not lose its lessons in our times too... For it's
a good time as always to settle our affairs, set our lives in proper order
according to God's will for us, and be ready to heed our Lord's call...
Faith and obedience
are the keys to salvation...
Whether we live such long lives as
these or such short ones as ours today, the only thing that can give our lives
meaning is our walk with God (v. 22, 24)...
Remembering that the
source of sin and destruction lies at the core of the human heart; that is,
desiring to be lord, ruler and master of the world, instead of being
responsible stewards of it; and so, refocusing our vision and realigning our
perspective to living out the rest of our days fulfilling what we were ordained
to do, properly managing what should be rather than stressing ourselves much
over what we want...
Going back to how
everything began, and how they came to be, and so remember what we are tasked
to do, and what is the meaning, reason and purpose of life...
Image from: betacalendar4u.com
Image from: www.abc.net.au
(Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
(COVERING THE BOOKS OF GENESIS, CHAPTER 1, TO 1
SAMUEL, CHAPTER 2 - KJV)
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