Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Category: Christian Page 19 of 169

Offering Rest & Refreshment

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On August 13, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 24 records the encounter of Abraham’s eldest servant with Rebekah, the future bride of Abraham’s son, Isaac. Herein, after adorning Rebekah with precious gold jewelry (a earring and bracelets), the servant confirmed that she was of his master’s household (which was a requirement of Abraham) and asked if there was room for him to stay in her father’s house. Rebekah’s response was that they had “both straw and provender (food for the animals) and room to lodge in.” Did you notice, the servant asked for a place to stay and rest, while Rebekah response offered not mere rest, but refreshment as well.

Points to ponder:
Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus also said, that he is the bread of life and whoever comes to him shall not hunger nor thirst anymore (John 6:35). In other words, in him alone is offered, both rest and refreshment. Now we the Church, i.e., the believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the bride of Christ, are we offering to those who seek, the refreshment of Jesus and the rest that is found solely in him? Not only is this a gesture of hospitality as the Bible commands us to (Hebrews 13:2; 1 Peter 4:9), but it is a matter of heaven or hell, to those who are not of the faith. Think about it … Are you and I offering refreshment and rest (in Christ Jesus)? (as did Rebekah)

Genesis 24:22-25 (KJV)
22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
23 And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?
24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
25 She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.

Waiting for confirmation (from the Lord)

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On August 12, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When Abraham’s eldest servant sought out a bride for his master’s son, Isaac, from among the kindred of Abraham, as he had vowed, he had prayed and asked God to show his master kindness. In order to identify the correct girl, he reasoned with God in supplication, that the girl who not is willing to give him some water to drink but also she must be willing to quench the thirst of his camels as well, would be the girl, God ordains for his master’s son, Isaac. The fair virgin damsel Rebekah does just as the servant had reasoned with the Lord. Yet, we see from that account in the Bible, that this servant held his peace, to find out whether the Lord has made his journey a success or not (Genesis 24:21). Though Rebekah did just as the servant had requested of the Lord, there was one more requirement for Rebekah to meet – and that was whether she belong to the kindred of Abraham, which she was. But not knowing of Rebekah’s heritage, the servant continues to wait on the Lord God for confirmation.

Points to ponder: 
Many a decisions are made either emotionally or hastily without confirmation from the Lord and these have in the end been rendered futile or as ones that don’t glorify the Lord God. Are you and I willing to wait for confirmation from the Lord, even if the sign posts of our life’s requests are fulfilled as we have so reasoned. Let us not jump into conclusions, but let us wait for the Lord and his confirmation (in all matters of our life).

Genesis 24:21 (KJV)
21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not.

Willingly, Hastily and Completely Serving

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On August 10, 2015

In Genesis, Through the Bible

Rebekah - ServingWhen the eldest servant of Abraham asked Rebekah, just a little water to drink from her pitcher, the Bible records that she said, “Drink, my lord:” and she hasted and let down her pitcher and gave him drink. She however did not stop there. The Bible records that when she had done giving him drink, she offered to draw water for his camels as well, until they have done drinking and she hasted, pouring the remaining water from her pitcher into the trough there and she ran again to the well to draw water, and drew water for all of his camels.

From this account, we can learn that Rebekah was a woman with a serving heart, but not only was she willing to serve, she hurried (for she hasted and ran) to serve.

National Geographic reports that a thirsty camel can drink as many as 30 gallons (135 liters) of water in about 13 minutes. And for all the camels to have drunk not only was an time-consuming task but an ardous one as well. And from this account, we can also learn that Rebekah was someone who serve not only willingly and in haste, but she served completely – for she did not stop until all of the camels had done drinking.

Points to ponder:
As the Church; the woman to wedded to Christ Jesus (Revelation 19), are we willing to serve not only willingly, but hastily as well and not only willingly and hastily, but completely as well? Will you and I be commended by the Lord, who can say of us, “well done, my good and faithful servant”? Think about it!

Genesis 24:17-20 (KJV)
17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

Running for the Master’s mission

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On August 4, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When the eldest servant of Abraham, who was on a mission to find a wife for his master’s son, Isaac, saw Rebekah, the Bible says that he ran to meet her and asked for a little water to drink. What is of note, is the hastiness in which the servant reacts, to fulfill his master’s mission. He did not wait or walk, but instead ran.

Points to ponder:
The Holy Spirit of God, who is on God’s mission to convict the world of sin (our sin), God’s righteousness (which is imputed on us when we believe in Jesus Christ his son as the only means of Salvation), and judgment (of the devil and his followers) (John 16:8-11) runs to meet with the Church (the woman betrothed to Jesus Christ) (Revelation 19). So the questions to the Church are: First, do we quench the Holy Spirit of God, not his convicting fire, but his thirst? and second, in like manner, are we, the Church running for God, our Master’s mission? Think about it.

Genesis 24:17 (KJV)
17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

The Virgin Rebekah

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On August 3, 2015

In Christian

It is highly likely that you have heard about virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, and most unlikely that you have heard about virgin Rebekah, the wife of Isaac. Yet, the Bible makes it explicit in the introduction of Rebekah, that she was a virgin and that no man had known her (Genesis 24:16), after being told that she was a very fair damsel. So what we see here is not only a description of this woman’s external appearance (complexion), but also her inner beauty i.e., she had kept herself pure. But what warrants such details? I believe, the virginity of Rebekah is mentioned, to not only show us her character, but also to assure us that God’s was sovereignly in control as Jesus Christ, the promised Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15), the seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16) was to come from the line of Abraham, as God has promised him, and there should be no question of his lineage.

Points to ponder:
God is always in control and his sovereignty in all aspects of our life is not only evident and explicit, if we seek to see it.

As the bride of Christ (the Church), we ought not to be only observed externally as being fair (spotless and clean) but internally we need to be pure, that is brought about solely by the salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and the sanctification of his Holy Spirit in our lives. As a church, we ought to be like virgin Rebekah, externally and internally pure.

Genesis 24:16 (KJV)
16 And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

Answers before Asking

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On July 31, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

As Abraham’s eldest servant, who was on the mission to find a wife for his master’s son, Isaac, prayed reasoned with the LORD God on how he was going to identify the girl who was to marry Isaac, the Bible records in Genesis 24:15 that “And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.” While our human attention may shift to the identity and description of Rebekah, let us not miss a very important treasure hidden in this account, which is the phrase, “before he had done speaking”. In other words, even before the servant had completed his request of the LORD God, God sent him the answer, in the person of Rebekah, that he has looking for.

Points to ponder:
When God’s plan and purposes are to be fulfilled in our lives, his answers precede even our asking, yet the gesture of praying and seeking out the Lord’s will and purpose in our life’s missions should not be overlooked for the Bible teaches us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). So let us ask God, our Master, without wavering, seeking to find the bride (Church of Christ) for his Only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and let us expect God to answer our prayer, even before we are done speaking for God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think and so if the answer comes before asking, then it is no reason to be surprised. Who are you going to ask God for today?

Genesis 24:15 (KJV)
15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV)
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

What comes before Success (of your mission)?

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On July 29, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

As the eldest servant of Abraham, who had sworn to Abraham to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac, solely from Abraham’s people (kindred), went about his mission to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor, he sought clear cut signs of how to identify the woman who was to marry Isaac. However, before anything else, the very first thing he does is he “prayed”. He prayed that the LORD God of his master Abraham, would grant him success that very day and show kindness to his master Abraham. In other words, he did not only pray for himself, but he prayed for his master (the one in authority) as all. We later learn from this account that God answered the prayer and gave him success, which accentuates a couple of facts:
1. The source of success is not the servant’s (our) hard work or effort, but it is the LORD God (Genesis 9:12).
2. Submission to God’s ways to show us the result/outcome is a precursor to guaranteed success.
3. In addition to total submission to God, supplication (prayer) comes before success (And he said O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee – Genesis 9:12).
4. When we pray, we ought to pray not only for our personal success (send me good speed this day, O LORD God), but also we ought to pray for those whom we serve, including our rulers and those God has ordained over us (show kindness unto my master) (Genesis 9:12, 14).

Points to ponder:
Do you and I recognize that the success of our missions that God has purposed for our lives comes from the LORD God himself, and is not a product of our hard work or effort?
Do you and I submit totally to God, the mission we are tasked with?
Do you and I seek the LORD God in prayer to send us success?
Do you and I seek the LORD God in prayer to show kindness to the people we serve, including our leaders?

Genesis 24:9-14 (KJV)
9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
11 And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.
12 And he said O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

Jesus before us in the Journey

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On July 27, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 24:7 records the response that Abraham gives his eldest servant who is being tasked with the mission of being sent to find a wife for his son Isaac, from the kindred of Abraham. When the servant questions Abraham on the probability of his journey being a successful one, Abraham affirms to the servant, that the LORD God who called him will send his angel before the servant and that he will be able to find a wife for his son Isaac. Abraham’s confidence in the angel of the LORD to provide a wife for Isaac may have been bolstered by the fact that he had heard the angel of the LORD, call out to him and stop him from taking the life of his son, Isaac (Genesis 22:11,15).

But who is this angel of the LORD? What is his identity? Though speculations exist, the Bible does substantiate that the identity of this angel who shall go before Abraham’s servant to ensure success, is the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ himself.

We see that when Hagar encounters the angel of the LORD, she expresses that she has seen God who has seen her (Genesis 16:13). Another clue that identifies the angel of the LORD is recorded later in the Bible in the book of Exodus 3, where Moses encounters a burning bush and when he comes close, he is admonished that he is standing on holy ground (and no one but God alone is Holy). The angel of the LORD also identifies himself to Moses that he is the God of his father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and of Jacob (Genesis 3:6). But the most direct clue from the Bible can be attested from Jesus’ words himself, wherein he said, “Abraham saw my day and rejoiced.” (John 8:56).

One other common explanation of the identity of the angel of the LORD is that it was the LORD God (the Father) himself who had manifested himself to Abraham as the angel of the LORD, but this contradicts the Scripture wherein we learn that “No man can see God and live” (Exodus 33:20) which Apostle Paul reiterates in his letter to Timothy that God dwells in inapproachable light, whom no man can see or has seen (1 Timothy 6:16). So it is not the LORD God the Father but it is Jesus Christ, God the Son, who himself affirmed that whoever has seen him, have seen the Father (John 14:9).

In other words, Abraham was assuring his servant that because Jesus (the angel of the LORD) would go before him, he can be assured of the success of his mission.

Points to ponder:
In our life’s journey, do we let Jesus go before us? Do we let him lead the missions of our life? If Jesus goes before us, we can be assured of one thing for sure – and that is – whatever God’s purpose and mission that we are tasked to do – all of that would come to be a success. Let us let God’s messenger (angel) of the covenant (Malachi 3:1), Jesus Christ go before us!

Genesis 24:6-7 (KJV)
6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
7 The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

Unto thy seed will I give this land

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On July 24, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

As Abraham responds to his servant’s question as to whether he should take Abraham’s son, Isaac from the land where he was dwelling, should the woman whom he sought as the bride of Isaac, refuse to come back with him to their land, Abraham, tells his servant that the LORD God who took him out of his father’s house, from the land of his family (kindred) had promised to give unto him the land and that the LORD God would send his angel before his servant so that the servant will be successful in his mission.

The Seed of Abraham is identified to be non other than Jesus Christ himself (Galatians 3:16) and the Bible records that the LORD God made Jesus ruler over all (the lands – not only in this world but in the world to come) and put all things under his feet (Ephesians 1:22). The promise to Abraham comes true in Jesus.

Points to ponder:
Unto the Son of God, the Seed of Abraham, is given all the land and his commission to each one of us who believe is, “Go ye therefore, into ALL THE Land (for it is his), and preach the good news of the gospel of Salvation, found in no other name, except in his name – the Name above all names, the Name Jesus Christ.”

Genesis 24:7-8 (KJV)
7 The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.

Hand under my thigh

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On July 22, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

As the well aged Abraham sought the assistance of his eldest servant to find a wife from his own kindred, for his son, Issac, he made him swear, by what would seem odd in this day an age. He requested his servant to place his hand under his thigh and take the oath. (Genesis 24:2). The same gesture is requested of Joseph by Jacob, to place his hand under his thigh and swear that he would bury Jacob in the promised land of Canaan and not Egypt (Genesis 47:29-31).

According to studies of ancient customs, to place one’s hand under the thigh is a very euphemistic way to describe the gesture, as it literally meant to place one’s hand under the loins or testicles. In fact, such customs were observed even to the day of the Romans and has been observed in the animal world amongst primates (Baboons in particular), as more of a social than sexual gesture, as well. In fact, the etymology of the word “testify” which means “to witness” can be traced to the word “testicles”. So what’s it with what we would deem such a weird custom?

The two most plausible reasons for Abraham’s request are: 1. Abraham was making his servant swear by the “seed of Abraham” that was promised, so Abraham in a sense was trusting his servant, with his very life (lineage) i.e., to ensure the continuity of his seed. 2. Today before we testify, we are asked to place our hand over the Bible that shows God’s covenant with man. In the days of Abraham, before the Bible was canonized, the sign of God’s covenant with man was the circumcision, so to place one’s hands under the thigh, could have similar meaning. I believe, the latter to be more plausible due to the request of Jacob of Joseph. Secular and traditional explanations of this custom tell us that this was a sign of submission and obedience to authority, which is not implausible.

Points to ponder:
Irrespective of whether, one’s gesture is as a swearing by the covenant or as an indicator of submission to authority, what is of importance to recognize is that “Truth” is held up in our testimonies (witness). The Apostle Paul writes of the full armor of God and starts out by asking us to gird our loins (under the thigh) with the belt of Truth  (Ephesians 6:10-18). Jesus is the very personification of Truth himself (John 14:6) and we ought to be girded by him. The Bible teaches us that we ought not to swear by anyone, anything or anyplace, but let our ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and our ‘no’ be ‘no’ (James 5:12). In other words, the words we speak and testify with, should be as good as an oath which precludes the need for any customs or gestures, odd or not. In other words, symbolically to place one’s hand under the thigh is to bear witness of the truth and to hold it high for God, our Master (as was Abraham to his servant), our Father (as was Jacob to Joseph).

Genesis 24:2-3 (KJV)
2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
3 And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

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