Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Month: March 2016

To the envy of our enemies

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On March 9, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 26:14 records that the Philistines envied Isaac. The Philistines were historically the enemies of the Israelites and they envied Isaac, because Isaac had become not just a great man, but a very great man with possessions of flocks, herds and servants. He had reaped a hundredfold from what he had sowed in the land of Gerar, in that same year. Why, not because of his own doing or efforts, but because the Lord blessed him.

Points to ponder:
When the hand of the Lord is upon you, then what you sow with your hand can reap a hundredfold in a period and not just become great but very great, much to the envy of your enemies. If your enemies envy you, they do so mostly because they are looking at your possessions and it is easy to lose focus for us as well to foolishly look not at our possessions, but instead we need to look at the Lord God, the possessor of all things and praise him alone, for that is an evidence of God’s hand upon you and his blessings are a hundredfold in your life. Do your enemies envy you?

Genesis 26:12-14 (KJV)
12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.
13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

One sin can hurt all

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On March 8, 2016

In Christian

After the discovery of the deception of Isaac by Abimelech, the then king of Gerar, that Rebekah was not Isaac’s sister but his wife, Abimelech confronts him and questions as to why Isaac would lie like he did. Abimelech expresses that one of his men could have sinned by having slept with Rebekah, not realizing that she was his wife, and brought guilt upon them all. Abimelech then gave orders to all the people that should anyone harm Isaac or his wife, they will certainly be put to death.

From this account there are several things that we can learn the concept of one man’s sin (even out of ignorance) cold have brought guilt on all of them. The consequences (wages) of such a sin was fatal – punishable by death.

Points to ponder:
We must recognize that our sin may not only end up hurting us, but it can hurt others as well. Isaac’s lie could have brought about guilt on all of Abimelech’s people. One man’s sin i.e., Adam’s sin brought about guilt on all of mankind. The wages of sin is death but God’s gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord, (Romans 6:23) who paid the penalty for our sin. If we believe in him, we shall be saved from death. Just as one sin can hurt all, just this One Savior, Jesus Christ can save all. Do you believe?

Genesis 26:10-11 (KJV)
10 Then Abimelek said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.”
11 So Abimelek gave orders to all the people: “Anyone who harms this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

Not learning from the Father

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On March 3, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 26:7-9 records the account of Isaac’s sin – sin of lying and deception, just as his father Abraham had done so to Pharaoh (Genesis 12) and Abimelech (the title given to), the king of Gerar (Genesis 20) where he dwelt. Isaac did not learn from his father’s mistake. His father Abraham has made the mistake and lied about Sarah being his sister for fear of his life and that was an example of something that Isaac should have not followed. Instead, to the men of Gerar, Isaac made the same mistake and lied that his wife Rebekah was his sister, for he feared that they would kill him and take her away. The fact that Isaac was a relative of Rebekah, does not still discount the fact that he lied about his marital relationship with Rebekah. But when Isaac is discovered and caught red-handed by the king himself, he confesses that he was afraid for his life.

Points to ponder:
Though this account in no way provides any substance to the doctrine of generational curse, we must recognize that children tend to follow the example of their parents, even when their action is clearly wrong. It is therefore imperative that we live our lives as god-fearing men and women and that our children learn the ways of the Lord God from us. We can learn from God our Father how we ought to live and be, and from us, our children can benefit to be godly as well. This way, no one can tell of us or our children that we are not learning from the Father.

Genesis 26:7-9 (KJV)
7 And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.
8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.
9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife; and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.

 

Because of (my) obedience

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On March 2, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 26:2-6 gives the account of God appearing to Isaac to reassure him that he would bless Isaac and commanded him to not go to Egypt, but to stay in Gerar, where Isaac had gone to seek comfort from the famine in the land, from the king of Gerar – Abimelech. Here we find God tell Isaac to sojourn in the land of Gerar and that he will bless Isaac and his seed and give unto Isaac’s seed all the countries. God reaffirms what he had promised to Abraham, that through his seed (and now Isaac’s seed) would all nations of the earth be blessed. Although God has no need to give an explanation as to why Isaac and his seed would be blessed and be a blessing, God gives a reason. It is because Abraham obeyed his voice and kept his charge (requirements), commandments, statutes and laws.

Points to ponder:
Jesus is the hope of all nations (Matthew 12:21), a blessing to all of the world, that came through the seed of Abraham and Isaac (Galatians 3:16). When we obey God’s voice fully and keep his charge, commandments, statutes and law, not only will be blessed because of his faithfulness, but we will also be a blessing to many. Now complete the sentence, Because of my obedience to God’s voice, …

Genesis 26:2-6 (KJV)
2 And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:

God appears to assure

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On March 1, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 26:2-3 records that when Isaac foolishly sought the help of Abimelech, the king of Gerar, instead of seeking the guidance of the Lord, when there was a famine in the land, the Lord appeared to Isaac. The Lord told Isaac, not to continue South into Egypt, but instead to dwell in the land that God was going to tell him about and then God assures Issac that he would bless Isaac and to his seed, would he give all these countries, as he will keep the promise made to his father Abraham.

Points to ponder:
Even when we take matters in our own hands and not trust in the Lord God wholeheartedly, unlike any man, God is loving and gracious and he appears to re-assure, that he is and will always be with us, no matter what. God appeared to us in the person of Jesus Christ, who promised us that the will never ever leave us.

Genesis 26:2-3 (KJV)
2 And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

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