Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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When and Where Lot was

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On February 6, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 19:1 reads “And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;” Did you notice that the time of the day was evening, when it was going to get dark. Also the expression sat in the gate of Sodom implied that Lot had some authority in Sodom for kings (2 Samuel 19:8) and ruler sat at the gate (Ruth 4:1).

It was in the heat of the day (Genesis 18:1), the Lord appears to Abraham. It is in the evening as darkness engulfs the setting is when the two angels come to the city where Lot is. Abraham sat at the entrance to his tent while Lot sat in a prominent place (at the gate) of a wicked city. Abraham is blessed while Lot is warned.

Points to ponder:
Many a times, like Lot, we also sit in the darkness, in prominent places of wickedness. If we are found at such a time and in such a place, we can expect from God – not a blessing – but a warning. When and where Lot was is one thing; When and where you and I are is quite another? Answer that!

Genesis 19:1 (KJV)
12 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

The Lord does not show up

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On February 5, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 18 gives the account of three heavenly visitors who visited Abraham by the tents of Mamre. Biblical texts and deductions support the fact that one of them was Jesus Christ, pre-incarnate in the flesh (a theophany to Abraham) who remained standing and communing with Abraham as the other two angels made their way toward the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which they were going to destroy (Genesis 18:22). Then after the Lord had finished speaking (communing) with Abraham, the Bible records that the  Lord went his way (Genesis 18:33), but the Scripture records that only two angels came to Sodom in the evening (Genesis 19:1). The Lord does not show up in Sodom, a place that was grievously sinful (Genesis 18:20).

What was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah? The most common answer is homosexuality and that is not incorrect as we shall see from the way, how all (not some but all) of the men of Sodom, both young and old, come to satisfy their carnal perverted appetites. But we must be careful to not write off that the sins of these wicked cities was exclusively homosexuality, which God does not condone and which he detests (Leviticus 18:22). Ezekiel 16:48-50 lists that the sins of Sodom was also pride, gluttony (fullness of bread) and laziness (abundance in idleness) while the poor and needy suffered around it. The people were haughty and committed abominations. Jude also adds to this list fornication and a going after strange flesh (sexual perversion sins again).

The Lord does not show up in such a place such as Sodom and Gomorrah.

Points to ponder:
While it is easy to judge if one is guilty of abominable sins such as the sins of the flesh i.e., homosexuality, fornications and their like, we must be careful to recognize that God finds the other sins of pride, gluttony, laziness, haughtiness, and inhospitability of not helping the poor and the needy, equally grievous and detestable.
Let each of us therefore take stock of our personal life and see if we are guilty of one or more of the following:
– sexual sins (matters of the flesh over the Spirit)
– pride (wanting to be like God, not needing him)
– gluttony (an excessive desire to satisfy our fleshly appetites)
– laziness (not working for the Lord)
– haughtiness (putting on the mind of the devil who wanted to elevate himself above God) and
– inhospitability (not doing what we ought to unto the least of God’s brethren).

Now take note, if we are grievously sinful and guilty as charged of any of these detestable (abomination) sins, then don’t be surprised, if the Lord God does not show up.

Do you want the Lord to show up in your life? If that is an affirmative, the remember, repent and redo what the Lord has chosen you to do.

Genesis 19:1-2 (KJV)
1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

Ezekiel 16:48-50 (KJV)
48 As I live, saith the Lord God, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.
49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

 Jude 7 (KJV)
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Communion with God

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On February 4, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 18:33 reads “And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.”

A few things that we can see from this verse is: First that the Lord went his way. Second, it was as soon as he had finished communing with Abraham. Third Abraham returned to his place.

Abraham is one of the few who you can say bargained with God as a intercessor for not only his loved one (Lot) but also for the righteous among the lost (the people of Sodom and Gomorrah). Such conversation and communion with the Lord is a testament to the closeness and communion (fellowship) that Abraham had with the Lord. When the Lord left, Abraham could have taken matters into his own hands and gone towards Sodom and Gomorrah to warn his nephew Lot and others there, but we see that Abraham simply returned to his place, leaving matters of God for God to deal with.

Points to ponder:
God ways shall always be fulfilled for his thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). If we want to have our ways, the best thing to do would be to seek God’s ways and follow his lead – making our ways his – in which case, it shall always come to pass. Just as Jesus said, that his will was to finish the work of God the Father (John 4:34) and fulfill his will (John 6:38) – so should our prayer be.
Are you and I a close friend of God? Are we in his family so that he would take the time to commune with us as he did with Abraham, bargaining for the salvation of the righteous.
Finally, do we take matters into our own hands or do we let God’s sovereign will be – returning to where we belong and not an impediment to his plans? We must commune with God and know our place in his plan (will and way).

Genesis 18:33 (KJV)
33 And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

The righteous shall not perish as the wicked

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On February 3, 2015

In Christian

Genesis 18:22-32 gives the account of Abraham dialoging and negotiating with the Lord to spare the righteous living in the city of Sodom and Gomorrah. He starts out by asking the Lord, if the Lord will also destroy the righteous with the wicked if there were 50 righteous people in the city. He then moves on to ask if there were only 45, 40, 30, 20 and only 10 in the city who were righteous, would the Lord still destroy the city and the Lord respond by saying no.

Points to ponder:
From this account, we can see a few hidden treasures. First, the Lord God will not destroy the righteous along with the wicked. This unfolds the just and righteous nature of the Lord. While he will not punish the righteous, he will certainly punish the wicked, but not the righteous along with the wicked. Second, it also reveals that if we are the righteous (made right in standing before God for believing in Jesus), because of the Lord’s faithfulness to us, we may be the people whom God looks at and stops himself from punishing the wicked around us. Not only shall the righteous not perish as the wicked but they may be the people by whom the wicked are spared as well. If the Lord God was to look at you and me today, would he see us as righteous and spare us and the city where we live? Think about it!

Genesis 18:22-32 (KJV)
22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.
23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
26 And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto theLord, which am but dust and ashes:
28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.
30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.
32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

The LORD checks in

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On February 2, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 18:20-22 reads “And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.”

What is interesting to glean from this text is that not only did the Lord God pay attention and heed to the cries of people, but he responded with action. Though it may seem at times, that the sinful state, rampancy and grievousness of sin has no hope for the better, we see that God does not check out but instead checks in to verify the real state of affairs. He hears the cries of his people even if they are a minority, even less than ten people in a city (Genesis 18:32).

Points to ponder:
When there was no solution to the grievousness of sin, resulting from its wages i.e. death (Romans 6:23), since the fall of man (Romans 5:12), the Lord (Jesus) willingly came down from God the Father (John 6:38) and checked in with man, becoming man (Philippians 2:5-8). God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us and when the state of world affairs may seem bleak and hopeless, you can expect God to check in (to our lives). Have you allowed the Lord God to check into your life?

Genesis 18:20-22 (KJV)
20 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.

Shall I hide (asks God)

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On January 30, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 18:16-18 records God’s introspection as God ponders as to whether he should tell Abraham about the impending judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah or not. Subsequently we learn that God reveals his plan to Abraham. Why? Because the Scripture says that the Lord knew Abraham – that Abraham will command his children and his household to keep the way of the Lord and to do justice and judgment (Genesis 18:19).

Points to ponder:
Can this be said of you and me? If the Lord introspects as to whether he has to reveal to us his plans, would he be able to come up with ” will command his children and his household to keep the way of the Lord and to do justice and judgment.” Will that be affirmative?

Genesis 18:16-19 (KJV)
16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Lying is no laughing matter

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On January 29, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When the Lord asked Abraham as to why Sarah laughed, when she heard of the promise of a child that she would bear, the Bible records that out of fear, she lied to the Lord saying that she did not (Genesis 18:15). To this the Lord does not react angrily but reaffirms that even the hidden laughter of Sarah was not hidden from the Lord. In fact, by denying what the Lord was stating was making God a liar, which Apostle John reaffirmed in 1 John 1:10 which reads “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

From this account we can learn a few things
1. Fear causes us to lie, but since those who live according to God’s spirit have no condemnation in Christ, there is no need to fear, which means that there is no need to lie (to God).
2. One cannot lie to God and get away with it, because he is omniscient.
3. Lying to God and denying that we have not sinned, when we have, makes God a liar (1 John 1:10) and God is not a man that he should lie (Numbers 23:19).

Lying to God is no laughing matter.

Points to ponder:
The Bible states that the father of lies from the very beginning is the devil (John 8:44). Jesus said that he and the Father are One and that he is The Truth (John 14:6). In him, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1) i.e., no need to fear.
Are you living in fear or with a sound mind without timidity? (2 Timothy 1:7)
We may be able to lie to man and get away with it, but we cannot lie to God and get away with it?
Lying to God makes God a liar and since he is God, the personification of Truth itself, he cannot lie and this is no laughing matter.

Genesis 18:15 (KJV)
15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

John 14:6 (KJV)
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

2 Timothy 1:7-10 (KJV)
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Is anything too hard for the Lord?

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On January 28, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When I was a child, I used to sing the song by Kay Chance, relatively more often than now. The song is entitled, “Ah, Lord God” and the words are taken from the Jeremiah 32:17. The lyrics go as:

Ah Lord God, Thou hast made the heavens And the earth by Thy great power;
Ah Lord God, Thou hast made the heavens  And the earth by Thine outstretched arm.
Nothing is too difficult for Thee, Nothing is too difficult for Thee;
O, great and mighty God,  Great in power and mighty in deed,
Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing, Nothing is too difficult for Thee.

These words that were given through prophet Jeremiah, are indeed the answer to the question that the Lord posed to Abraham and Sarah, when he asked them (and through them – us) “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14).

Jesus takes this one step further and makes it evidently clear by not just his words (Luke 18:27), but his works of making the blind see (Mark 8:22-25), the deaf hear (Matthew 7:31-37), the mute speak (Matthew 7:31-37), the lame walk (John 5:1-13) and the dead rise (Matthew 11:1-5; John 11:1-45), expressing that not only is nothing too hard for the Lord, but that there is nothing that is impossible for God.

Points to ponder:
Question: Is there anything too hard for the Lord?
Answer: Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing.
Explanation: The things which are impossible with men are possible with God (Luke 18:27)

Genesis 18:14 (KJV)
14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Jeremiah 32:17 (KJV)
17 Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

Luke 18:27 (KJV)
27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Sarah’s hidden laughter

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On January 27, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When the Lord promised Abraham that at the appointed time, he would return to Abraham and Sarah his wife shall have a son, Sarah who heard this promised laughed within herself saying, “How shall she and her husband (whom she respectfully referred to as her lord) have this pleasure?” since she had gone past the age of child bearing. So for Sarah to have a child would be nothing short of a miracle.

Although some commentaries suggest that Sarah laughed out of astonishment and amusement, the Scripture only gives us insight to the fact that she laughed in a questioning manner – “How can this be?” for the Lord tells Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying shall I of a surety bear a child when I am old?” This is further corroborated by the fact that Sarah denies her laughter for she was afraid. However, you see the Lord question, but not rebuke Abraham or Sarah. Instead the Lord reveals to them a glimpse of his character – that he indeed is a miracle working God – making the barren fertile and that there is absolutely nothing that is too difficult for the Lord. Upon this revelation, I believe that Sarah believed in the promise coming true, for the Scripture records that through faith, Sarah in her old age, past her child bearing age, received strength and was able to bear a child, for she understood that the one who had promised is faithful (Hebrews 11:11)

Points to ponder:
When God reveals his plan for our life, we may find it astonishing, amusing, and even unbelieving, often evoking a natural human reaction and response to laugh within ourselves, but let us not fail to recognize like Sarah, that when God promises, it is an sure deal – a ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’ for nothing is too hard for the Lord. This is not a laughing matter, but a matter of faith. Do you believe?

Genesis 18:10-15 (KJV)
10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

Hebrews 11:11 (KJV)
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Time of (your) life

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On January 26, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Punk Rock band, Green Day’s popular song, “Good riddance (Time of your life)” has the following lyrics repeat quite a bit throughout their song – “It’s something unpredictable but in the end it’s right. I hope you had the time of your life.” While this song was quite popular during its day (late 90s) and its music is kind of romantic, the change I would like to make to the lyrics, is as follows:  “It’s something predictable (not unpredictable) and (not but) in the end it’s right. I know (not hope) that I would’ve had the time of my life” and instead of Good Riddance entitle it Good Relationship (Time of my life). Let me explain.

The Bible states in Genesis 18:10 and Genesis 18:14 that the Lord told Abraham, that the Lord will certainly return to Abraham according to the time of life and that Sarah, Abraham’s wife shall have a son. Sarah laughs in her amusement of what she felt was absurd, failing to realize that when the Lord returns, it will be according to the time of life – as he has planned – and even the improbable is a surety and the impossible possible.

Points to ponder:
When the Lord returns to us, it is Good relationship and it is the time of our life. That is not unpredictable and in the end it is right – I know that with God with us (Emmanuel), we would have had the time of our life. Do you have the time of your life? In other words, is the Lord in your life?

Genesis 18:10, 14 (KJV)
10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
…
14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

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