Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Tag: Chariots of fire

What’s the reason for (your) running?

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On August 20, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

People run – they run toward or from something or some goal, they run for a cause like to be fit, they run by opportunities…

My good brother and believer in the Lord, Patrick Pitchappa, was a member of the Goldman Sachs Mixed running team that won the gold medal in the prestigious Puma Urban stampede event in August 2015. He was also named the running Ambassador in the 2012 Hyderabad Marathon. I asked him the question, “Why do you run?” and his response was in addition to the obvious physical health benefits, when he runs, he feels that it connects him closer to our Creator God. He quotes one verse after all his runs from Psalm 139:14 which states, “I praise you (God) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” In other words, Patrick was expressing that not only was he running to be physically fit, but more importantly to be spiritually fit, as well. Eric Liddell, Scottish missionary to China and winner of the 400 meters event in the 1924 Olympics in Paris, refused to run his more favored event of 100 meters because it was going to be on a Sabbath, choosing God over gold. As an heptathlon athlete, I ran during my high school years in several intra- and inter-school events, sprinting in individual events, winning the gold medal or in relay races with a team, enduring to win. I now run to be physically fit and for conditioning the body to be fit to do Shaolin Do Kung Fu with our beloved firstborn son, Reuben. So while there may be many reasons as to why people run, the fact of the matter is people run.

In the Bible, we see accounts of people running as well. The Father of the prodigal son ran toward his returning son (Luke 15:20). Elijah, God’s true prophet ran faster than king Ahab’s chariot (1 Kings 18:44-46) when God’s power came upon him. David ran toward the giant Goliath before winning the battle for Israel in the Name of the Lord (1 Samuel 17:48,51). Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok the high priest ran irrespective of what the outcome could be (2 Kings 18:19-28).

In the account of the eldest servant of Abraham, seeking a wife for Isaac, his the master’s son, we see that the servant ran to fulfill the master’s mission (Genesis 24:17), while Rebekah the wife-to-be ran to serve the servant (Genesis 24:18-20) and her brother Laban ran to invite the servant into their household (Genesis 24:29-30).

Cursorily it may seem that Laban the brother of Rebekah was an extremely hospitable man as was the custom of that day and age, however, with the Bible completely canonized by the Holy Spirit of God, with deeper scrutiny, we have more insights into Laban’s character. Laban beguiled his nephew Jacob by giving Leah his first daughter in marriage instead of Rachel the second daughter as promised (Genesis 29). Laban agreed quickly to Jacob’s proposal when he felt that it would be more favorable for him in the distribution of the sheeps and goats (Genesis 30-31). These accounts, in addition to the record that Laban ran after he saw the jewelry (earrings and bracelet) that the servant of Abraham had given to his sister Rebekah indicates that he was likely driven to run for selfish gain instead of a sense of serving or hospitality.

Points to ponder:
You and I may be running toward, or from, or for, something or someone. What are we running for? Are we running to fulfill our Master’s mission (John 13:13) i.e., God’s mission? Are we running to serve as people of God? or Are we running for personal gain? What is the reason for (your) running?

Genesis 24: 29-30 (KJV)
29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
30 And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Winning Wars :: Supernatural Vision

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On October 14, 2010

In Christian, Winning Wars

When David fought the giant Goliath, while the Israelite armies fretted seeing a  man, taunting and defying the armies of the Living God (1 Samuel 17:24), David saw the Creator God who had made him and the giant. This we can perceive from what he tells Goliath, that he came to battle in the name of the Lord of hosts and that on that very day, the LORD shall deliver Goliath into his hands whom he shall smite so that the earth may know that there is a God [in Israel] (1 Samuel 17:45-46). David trusted that the Lord who had promised to be with Israel when they went to war (Deuteronomy 20:1) was there on the battle field alongside him and is the One who prevails over all his enemies (Isaiah 42:13).

When the king of Syria went to war against Israel and sought God’s prophet Elisha, the king sent horses, chariots and an army that compassed around the city of Dothan in which Elisha was. When the servant of Elisha, saw the army with horses and chariots, he fearfully asked Elisha as to what they should do? Elisha assured him that those who were with them outnumbered those who were in the Syrian army and prayed that the Lord open the eyes of his servant so that he may see. When the Lord granted His prophet’s request, the servant’s eyes were opened and in supernatural vision, he saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.

Winning the war is not about seeing what/whom we have to win over, but it is about seeing THE ONE with whom we are, who wins the war for us. We must pray that our eyes are opened so that we may see the armies of God fighting with and for us in our Spiritual warfare. The battle is in heavenly realms and as we partake in it, we must not be blind but have supernatural vision, i.e., vision that clearly sees the Supernatural God and his armies fighting for us.

2 Kings 6:8-17 (KJV)
8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

The eyes we see with

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On April 20, 2010

In Christian

The second book of Kings in the Bible records the event of the servant of Elisha, the man of God, who had risen early and saw a host made of horses and chariots of the Syrian army, that waged war against Israel. They were sent by the king of Syria to capture and take Elisha, the prophet of God (2 Kings 5:3). Having seen how the city of Dothan, where Elisha was, surrounded, the servant frets and worries. Elisha responds with words of assurance that, those who were with them were more than those who were with the enemy. Then Elisha prayed that the eyes of his servant be opened and the Lord opened the servant’s eyes of the servant. Now Elisha’s servant saw not man’s army of chariots and horses, but God’s army; a mountain full of horses and chariots of fire around the prophet.

Point(s) to ponder:

  1. When we see with the eyes of our body, we see the things of man, the visible and natural elements (horses and chariots).
  2. Man’s elements are not reason for us to fret or worries about, because God with us is more than the world. God and his armies who was with them were more than those of the enemy.
  3. We need to pray that the Lord opens our eyes (of faith) with which we can see God things. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
  4. When we see with the eyes that the Lord opens, we see things of God; the invisible and supernatural elements (horses and chariots of fire)

2 Kings 6:13-17 (KJV)
13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

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