Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Tag: God’s promise

God’s Army – Mahanaim

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On April 1, 2019

In Genesis, Through the Bible

The Bible accounts in Genesis 32:1&2 that when Laban, Jacob’s uncle, left Jacob to return home, Jacob went on his journey toward where God had asked him to – the land of his father, his grandfather and his relatives (Genesis 31:3), the land of his birth (Genesis 31:13). And just as Jacob had started his journey, we are informed that angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s host (army)” and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Mahanaim in Hebrew means two camps. Two camps? What two camps?

Biblical scholars speculate a few possibilities as to what these two camps were. Some hypothesize that one was Jacob’s camp and the other was the camp of the angelic army. Others posit that there were two camps of angels. Since the Bible states that Jacob had just started his journey (Genesis 32:1), and that he divided his people that were with him into two bands, in fear and distress, after he came to learn that his brother Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men (Genesis 32:1), the conjecture that it was two camps of angels is more plausible.  

While the Bible does not explicitly state what these two camps were, reading through the verses carefully and sequentially, and cross referencing other Biblical scripture portions surface a hidden treasure that is edifying.  

God had promised to be with Jacob after he had commanded him to return to his family (Genesis 31:3,13). God’s army of angels was an indication of God’s presence going with his promise.

I would like to believe, that the two camps of angels were for the protection of Jacob, from threats that could come to him and his family from the front or behind.

Behind Jacob was Laban who had wronged him (Genesis 31:55) and in front of him (before him) was his brother Esau whom he had wronged (Genesis 32:3).

Another evidence of angelic protection all around (front and behind) can be found in the account of Elisha, the prophet of God, who supernaturally sees (just as Jacob did), God’s armies of angels surrounding him at Dothan (2 Kings 6:17).

Points to ponder:

God’s presence and protection goes with his promises and we can trust him and take him at his word. Jesus said, Go ye therefore into the world (the land of our birth) and be my followers, and Lo, I am with you always (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus, the Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him (Psalm 34:7) and he has armies of angels at his command, that will camp around you to protect you and guard you in all your ways (Psalm 91:11). So if God says “Go, and I will be with you” – just do it. Go and you will experience God’s presence and may supernaturally see mahanaim of God’s army encamping around you, to guard you in all your ways.

Genesis 32:1-2 (KJV)
1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Proverbs 34:7 (KJV)
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The gift of my mother

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On January 21, 2010

In Christian, Reuben

Napolean Bonaparte is said to have quoted ‘Let France have good mothers and she will have good sons’ which is often paraphrased into ‘Give me a good mother and I will give you a good nation’. Mothers and grandmothers play a vital role in the upbringing of a child. Lois (grandmother) and Eunice (mother) are credited for rearing Timothy, Paul’s young protege  with unfeigned faith (2 Timothy 1:5). While Napolean was accurate in his estimation on the power and influence, a mother has on her children, the real reason as to why good sons can rise, goes back to a promise that was made by God to his friend Abraham when he promised that Sarah (as her name is to be called) will be blessed of being a mother and kings (rulers of nations) of people shall be of her (Genesis 17:16).

It is my mother, Dr. Iris Paul’s  birthday and as I tried to recollect my childhood days, memories of yore inundated my mind. She used to fast and pray each evening for her children. Before administering medication, she would tell her patients that it is not the medicine that will heal them, but Jesus Christ, the healer of all diseases. She stayed alongside my ailing father till the very end of his life on earth. One statement she said that still rings in my mind was on Easter morning when she expressed that what the pastor had preached that morning was true; that even if the mother’s heart is cut into many pieces, each piece will still yell out, ‘I love my children’. I must admit that I did not understand that saying then as much as I do now, as I see my wife (Sangeetha) be a mother to our son (Reuben).

To be a mother is a reward from God for the mother (Psalm 127:3) but at the same time, for the child, a mother is the means to hear of God, when she acts as a prophet of God (Proverbs 31:1) teaching her children to listen to the voice of God. Many know my mother as a missionary of Jesus Christ, who joined with and continued the work started by my father, Dr. R.A.C Paul,  to people groups inhabiting the remote hills of Orissa in India. She has been the voice of God to many in the villages of Malkangiri and neighboring areas, as she has been to me and my brothers (Ragland Remo, David Livingstone) and sister (Mary Smrutha), both through her words and her life.  And on her birthday, I wish her many more happy returns of this day and pray that she continues to be a voice of our Savior, Jesus Christ, to all lost in this world without the knowledge of Jesus’ redemption and to her own. Happy birthday, Amma. God bless you richly. Thank you Jesus, for the gift of my mother, from whom kings of people shall rise.

Jesus in the OT :: Joel

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On January 11, 2010

In Christian, Jesus in the O.T.

The book of Joel gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the Old Testament (O.T).

Little is known about prophet Joel, except that we know he is the Son of Pethuel, who speaks FORTHRIGHTLY and FORCEFULLY a message that is FOREBODING which at the same time is FILLED with Hope.

The book can essentially be divided into two major themes

  • 1st : The day of the Locust – signifying the destruction of what we believe sustains us
  • 2nd : The day of the Lord – signifying not just a time of SUSTENANCE but of SAVING as well.

The message in this book moves from the PUNISHMENT of God to the PRESENCE of God and in doing so CALLS to REPENTANCE, stating  Rend your hearts and turn to God (Joel 2:13) and get ready to meet the Bridegroom (Jesus Christ) by gathering, sanctifying and assembling yourself, your children and infants (Joel 2:16)

And until the day of God’s PRESENCE with man, in bodily form, God PROMISES to  pour out his Spirit on all flesh. (Joel 2:28-29).

Galatians 4:6 states that God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts.

In Joel, Jesus is spirit of God, who is poured into the hearts of all.

Joel 2:28- 29 (KJV)
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

Galatians 4:4-6 (KJV)
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

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