Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Category: Christian Page 24 of 169

On bended knee, your heart guard

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On March 20, 2015

In Christian, Ittai, Reuben and Ittai, Sangeetha

Ittai Aidan PaulOur beloved second son, Ittai turned 3 years old today and here is a poem we wrote for him.

Ittai Aidan Paul, today you turn three
and may you this year be, always, on bended knee
before God, your Creator, who loaned you, to us, as a gift
‘As you grow, may Only His Name, we pray, you lift.’

‘Children are a heritage of the LORD’
and our mission is to teach you to perpetually, your heart guard
against the vices and wiles of this world, and its god.
‘May you always, always, always – Love the LORD’

And his creatures, as you would love yourself.
Running to those in need, we pray you compassionately help
and show that Christ Jesus is Lord of your life, as it should be.
‘You are much loved and appreciated, and will always be.’

We love you Ittai (boo). Happy happy birthday.
Mama, Dada and your brother Reuben wish you a blessed birthday and we seek God’s guidance and wisdom in raising you up in the fear of the Lord. Tons of hugs and tons of kisses. 🙂 God bless you richly! You are a heritage of the LORD (his favor to us).

Psalm 127:3-5 (KJV)
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Behold, here I am

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On March 19, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 22 records the account of the test of faith of Abraham, but before we delve into the account of God’s testing and Abraham’s obedience, let us see how Abraham responds to the call of the Lord. Genesis 22:1 reads “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.” When God called his name, the answer was “Behold, here I am”.

Points to ponder:
When God calls our name, will our response be as that of Abraham, immediately, stating “Behold, Here I am.”

Genesis 22:1 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

The real treaty is …

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On March 18, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

After Abraham agreed to the treaty between him and Abimelech, the Bible records that Abraham planted a grove (tamarisk trees) at Beersheba, and there he worshiped (called on) the Lord, the everlasting God. (Genesis 21:33). A treaty with an earthly king had been agreed upon, but Abraham knew that there was to be more that needed to be done. And what was that? He planted a grove (of Tamarisk trees) and called on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God. Planting a tree is something that is permanent with roots that secure the tree to the ground. In other words, Abraham worshipped God at the end of the treaty he made with man (the king of Gerar).

Points to ponder:
When agreements with men are ratified, take a moment to thank God and worship him, calling out his name. We should be like fruitful trees planted by rivers of water (Psalm 1:3), yielding the fruit of the spirit in and through our lives (Galatians 5:22-23), rooted in Christ abounding in thanksgiving (Colossians 2:7), worshipping God.  The real treaty is the treaty of worshipping the Lord and that of what we make with man.

Genesis 21:33-34 (KJV)
33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.
34 And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.

Colossians 2:7 (KJV)
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Lessons of life from the Treaty at Beersheba

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On March 17, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 21:22-32 gives the account of the treaty made between Abraham and Abimelech, the king of Gerar. Abimelech makes Abraham swear by God that Abraham will not deal falsely with him. Abraham obliges but raises a concern that a well of his was taken away by Abimelech’s servants violently which needed to be addressed. Abimelech informs Abraham that he was not aware of how Abraham was wronged, until that day. Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech and they both made a covenant. Then Abraham took seven ewe lambs from the flock and set them free. Abimelech who did not understand this gesture questions Abraham of the meaning, which Abraham explains that it was sign to indicate rightful ownership of the well as that of Abraham’s. That place was called Beersheba meaning the “well of the oath” or “well of seven” and this is where Abraham and Abimelech made their covenant.

From this account we can glean a few life lessons –
1. Start any treaty or contract with a requirement to not be dealt falsely. This request by Abimelech (Genesis 21:23) was necessary as Abraham had once dealt falsely with king Abimelech, misrepresenting his wife, Sarah as his sister to Abimelech.
2. Address any issues of concern, mainly about ownership, before establishing a covenant (treaty). Abraham brought up the matter of what he owned, a well that he had dug, which was violently taken away from him, by Abimelech’s servants (Genesis 21:25).
3. Establish a timeline as necessary when discussing issues of concern. Abimelech mentioned that he was ignorant of the wrong done to Abraham until that day/moment when Abraham told him. (Genesis 21:26)
4. Lead by offering from what you have, as gesture of setting things right. Abraham offered sheep and oxen to Abimelech and both of them made a covenant (Genesis 21:27)
5. Ratify the covenant by an outward expression, not merely internal thoughts. Abraham ratified the covenant he made with Abimelech, by taking seven ewe lambs and setting them free, as a sign of his rightful ownership of the well (Genesis 21:28-30).

Points to ponder:
1. When God wants us to establish a peace treaty with him, he expects us to not deal falsely with him.
2. We belong to God. He is the rightful owner of our life.
3. Remember the time and more importantly the maker and creator, God.
4. Offer your life up to God for he offered up his for us (on the Cross).
5. God ratified his covenant with us by an external demonstration of his love for us, by sending forth his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Are you willing to express your covenant of love for God by your life (action) and not just by your thoughts (or words) for you are rightfully owned by God.

Genesis 21:22-32 (KJV)
22 And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:
23 Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.
24 And Abraham said, I will swear.
25 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.
26 And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing; neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.
27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?
30 And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
31 Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.
32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.

Is God with you? The evidence

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On March 16, 2015

In Christian

Genesis 21:22-34 gives the account of a treaty being made between Abraham and Abimelech, the king of Gerar (along with Phichol, the chief captain of his army). This treaty begins with Abimelech and Phichol identifying and recognizing the hand of God on Abraham, for they said, “God is with thee (Abraham) in all that thou doest.”
God’s presence with Abraham was evident even to the gentiles who recognized the sovereignty of God and who wanted to make a treaty with Abraham, God’s servant.

Points to ponder:
Is the presence of God in our lives evident to those around us, even to the who not believe in Jesus Christ, the one true God? If someone was to look at your life today, would they be able to say, “God is with you in all that you do”?

Genesis 21:22 (KJV)
22 And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:

God opened her eyes …

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On March 13, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The Bible states that when the water in the bottle, that Abraham had sent Hagar and Ishmael away with, was over, Hagar could not bear the thought of her son dying in front of her eyes in the wilderness and so left him under a shrub and  went a distance and sat there. The Lord God heard her cry and the cry of Ishmael and an angel of the Lord called to Hagar out of heaven and said “What aileth thee? Fear not for God has heard the voice of your child. Arise lift up the child and hold him in your hand for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the bottle with water and give it to the boy. God was with Ishmael as he grew and he became an archer.

Points to ponder:
God opened Hagar’s eyes and she could see water in the wilderness – water that brought life to Ishmael. The god of this world, i.e., the devil has blinded the minds of many, lest they see the glorious truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ ( 2 Corinthians 4:4). We must pray that God opens their eyes, as he did of Hagar, and all see Jesus, the source of living water who brings life – life eternal.

Genesis 21:15-21 (KJV)
15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

Obedience over Own

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On March 12, 2015

In Christian

Genesis 21:8-14 gives the account of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Ishmael and Hagar. On the day that Isaac was weaned, Abraham made a feast in celebration. At this time, Sarah, Isaac’s mother sees that Ishmael, whom her servant Hagar had borne to Abraham was mocking Isaac. So she told Abraham to cast out Hagar and her son, so that Ishmael would not share in the inheritance with Isaac. Abraham was grieved with Sarah’s request for he deemed Ishmael to be his son as well. God told Abraham, not to be grievous on account of Ishmael or Hagar and to hearken to the voice of Sarah, for in Isaac shall his offspring be named. God then promised Abraham that out of Ishmael he shall make nations come as well, recognizing Ishmael to be Abraham’s son (though not the promised one as was Isaac). Abraham woke up early the next morning and gave Hagar bread and a bottle of water and sent her and Ishmael away. The next time we read of Ishmael in the presence of Abraham is at Abraham’s burial where Isaac and Ishmael bury Abraham in the cave at Macpelah (Genesis 25:8-9). In other words, for the rest of Abraham’s life, he was deprived of a relationship with Ishmael, his son through Hagar.

The banishment of Ishmael and Hagar may seem harsh to us, but we must not fail to recognize that God recognized the sonship of Ishmael with Abraham and even blessed Ishmael, despite the fact that Ishmael was the seed of Abraham, come about, by Abraham’s own doing, and not God’s plan.

Points to ponder: 
What is of crucial importance in this account is that Abraham obeyed God even over his personal concerns for his own family. He chose following God’s commands over his child and the child’s mother. God is seeking us to follow his commands even if that means we need to give up our own self interests and loved ones. Will you obey God over your own …?

Genesis 21:8- 14 (KJV)
8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

God has made me to laugh

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On March 11, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The words of Sarah when Isaac was born is “God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.” as she wondered as to how impractical and impossible, the miracle of child birth was for her and her husband, because of their old age (Genesis 21:6-7). God takes her barrenness away and replaces it with blessedness (laughter) – but if you notice Sarah’s declaration, it is not only she who is the recipient of such joy and laughter, but all who hear of God’s goodness and greatness in her life, will also be able to join with her and rejoice, glorifying God.

Points to ponder:
God can take away the barrenness from our lives and make us to laugh, but when he does, let us recognize that God gives us laughter so that others who hear of God’s goodness and greatness in our lives, can also rejoice with us and give him the glory.

Genesis 21:6-7 (KJV)
6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

Uniquely Set Apart

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On March 10, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Imagine for a moment, if everyone around you had your name as their own. There is no uniqueness in such a situation and one would have to resort to a numbering scheme to avoid the confusion and identify individuals that bear the same name. In that sense, to name someone is to set an unique identity on that person.

Genesis 21:3-5 records the account of Abraham naming the son whom Sarah bore to him as Isaac and the circumcision of Isaac when he was eight days old as God had commanded him to. Abraham was a hundred years old at this time.

As you can see, although Abraham set a unique identity of the son borne to him by Sarah as Isaac, he recognizes that his son is not to be set up for his own self, but instead his son is to be set apart for the Lord, which he expresses by fulfilling God commandment of circumcising Isaac.

Points to ponder:
When God who calls us by name (Isaiah 43:1) gives us a new name in Christ (Isaiah 62:2), making us unique as his sons (and daughters), he sets us up not for ourselves but instead sets us apart from this world, for him (Isaiah 43:1) and his glory. Are the allegiances of this world circumcised from our lives? Are you and I uniquely set apart?

Genesis 21:3-5 (KJV)
3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

Fruitful at God’s set time

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On March 9, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 21:2 reads “For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.” This verse not only speak about the miracle working nature of God but also gives us insight into his timely nature. He took Sarah, someone who was barren and miraculously made her fruitful, at a time that he set for Abraham and Sarah.

Points to ponder:
As men and women, we may toil extremely hard to be fruitful – in our personal and our professional lives. Yet, it is only God who can make us fruitful and when he does it is in his set time, not ours – which makes it the best time that it can be. Look to the Lord with eyes of faith, for even out of the barrenness of our lives, he can make things fruitful, when he deems it is time.

Genesis 21:2 (KJV)
2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

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