Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Tag: In Christ

Reappearance, Renaming and Revelation

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On March 10, 2021

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When Jacob came out of Padanaram, in the land of Shechem (Genesis 33:18), and arrived at Bethel, God reappeared to him and blessed him. After blessing him, what God does first is He renames Jacob and tells him that he shall no longer be called Jacob, but he will be called Israel. Note, this is the second time God is renaming Jacob; the first time was when Jacob encountered and wrestled with God (Genesis 32:28). Juxtaposing Jacob’s renaming, God reveals a name by which Jacob is to know him by. God identifies himself as El Shaddai (God Almighty).

Some observations that are noteworthy include:
1. When Jacob wrestled with God, he clung to God and refused to let go, pleading to be blessed (Genesis 32:26). Here without any plea, God takes the initiative to bless Jacob. Jacob’s act of obedience to move out of his house, from a land that he ought not to have remained (Genesis 33:17), to a place that he recognized was the House of God (for he called it Bethel) resulted in blessings (Genesis 35:9). In Hebrew, beth means house, and El is used for God – Elohim.
2. The renaming of Jacob, a second time, I believe is a reminder for Jacob to change his life, his ways. Note, even after God had told him that he would be called Israel (Genesis 32:28), Jacob’s lifestyle had not changed. Jacob was given a name change, but he did not have a heart change. Even after his brother had reconciled with him, Jacob continued to deceive him by lying to him and telling him that he will follow Esau to where Esau was going, but instead, he went to Padanaram in Shechem and made for himself a house and booths (tents which in Hebrew is Succoth) for his cattle (Genesis 33:12-17), deceiving his brother again and disobeying God, putting himself and his family in danger. He continued to live up to his old name, Jacob, which meant deceiver (supplanter), as was evident from his lies to his brother. God had to remind him that he was no longer to be called Jacob but henceforth known as Israel, meaning that he will have to change his ways and live as one who struggles with God (which is what Israel means) and cling on, refusing to let go, to enjoy God’s blessings.
3. When Jacob wrestled with God, Jacob asked for God’s name but did not receive an answer. Instead, he was asked what his name was and Jacob had to confess and admit that he was Jacob, Until then he had to live with his brother’s name that he had used to deceive his earthly father. Here God, the heavenly father (Matthew 18:14), does not ask for Jacob’s name but instead renames him (again). Following that, though unsolicited, God reveals to Jacob that he shall be known to Israel as El Shaddai, meaning God Almighty. Israel was to experience the Almighty (omnipotent) essence of God. Later God would make a mention of this to Moses, when he will reveal to Moses, of his essence of being, not just as being Almighty, but All-all-things as he will reveal his name as the Great I AM (Yahweh) (Exodus 6:2-3).

Points to Ponder:
God reappears to us time and again, through his word, as the Spirit of God illuminates the Scripture unto us and blesses us when we walk according to His commands and ways. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are a new creation and bear (represent) the name of God. We ought not to walk in our old ways, deceiving others and deceiving ourselves (James 1:22). As we walk about in God’s ways, we will get to experience the Omnipotent God – God Almighty – the El Shaddai – in our lives.

Has God appeared to you? In other words, have you encountered Jesus, in whom the fullness of God dwells (Colossians 2:9), and have you believed in Him? If not, do not delay and put your life and the life of your loved ones in danger, for now (today) is the appointed time for you to encounter God (2 Corinthians 6:2). Believe and be blessed as God appears to you in his word and is revealed in Jesus Christ to make you new and give you a new name – as son or daughter of God.

Genesis 35:9-15 (KJV)
9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.
10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.
11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

Lesson from Lot’s wife – the Pillar of Salt

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On February 27, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

For those who are familiar with the Bible, the story of Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of salt, when she disobeyed and looked back at the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, is not unknown (Genesis 19:26).

Since the Bible is not explicit on the details of this transformation, there are quite a few questions left unanswered. What is this pillar of salt? Was Lot’s wife’s body tissue calcified from within or was she covered with the residue of the brimstone poured out of heaven? Was she punished because of the allegiance of her heart to the wickedness of the city she lived in or was it because of her disobedience in looking back? Why did the angels not ask Lot about his wife, but asked his sons, daughters and even his sons-in-law? (Genesis 19:12). Did they already know that this unnamed wife of Lot would look back even after she had the knowledge of her salvation, and is that why they warned the family to not look back? There are so many questions that the natural mind warrants answers for and it would be mere speculation and futile of man to even attempt to answer these. However, the answers to the spiritual mind are more evident than the natural ones.

From this account, we can learn a few hidden truths that is well substantiated by the Bible.

  1. The consequences of disobeying God willfully after the foreknowledge of salvation is death (Hebrews 10:26) as the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
  2. To look back is to consider the ways of the past – our lives before we come to know of the saving grace of Jesus Christ – a life that is sinful and contrary to the will and ways of God. But anyone who is in Christ Jesus is a new creature; the old has gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). The new can have nothing to do with the old for the new shall burst out the old as new wine bursts out the old wineskin if put in it (Matthew 9:17). Instead of looking back at our wicked pasts and be drawn to it, we must look on forward unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
  3. A pillar is usually erected to hold something on top of it or as a monument of remembrance. Lot’s wife was one who had lost her saltiness (Luke 14:34) only to find out that she would serve as a monumental reminder to the truth that friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4:4).

Points to ponder:
Where are you looking at and more importantly who are you looking at? To look behind and be drawn to a wicked lifestyle after having seen the Salvation of the Lord bears the consequences of death – Look not behind at the world but unto Jesus. Are you a friend of the world (James 4:4) or are you a Friend of God (James 2:23)?

Genesis 19:23-26 (KJV)
23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.
24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;
25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Hebrews 10:26-27 (KJV)
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Romans 6:22-23 (KJV)
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

James 4:4 (KJV)
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

James 2:23 (KJV)
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
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.

Sarah thy wife

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On January 23, 2015

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When the Lord and the divine visitors question Abraham, they asked “Where is Sarah thy wife?” To the cursory reader, while this may seem like a very simple and direct question regarding the whereabouts of Sarah, in-depth scrutiny reveals quiet the contrary.

First note, how the Lord refers to Abraham’s wife as Sarah – the new name she was given by the God (Genesis 17:15) and not Sarai – her birthname given to her by her earthly father – Terah (Genesis 11:27; Genesis 20:12). Second, did you notice, how the Lord is stating the obvious apropos Sarah’s relationship to Abraham as his wife. We do not know of any other Sarai who was renamed Sarah except for Abraham’s wife at that time. Then why would the Lord need to explicitly refer to Sarah as Abraham’s wife?

To answer this, we would need to rely solely on God’s word and other sections in the infallible Scripture can give us some insight. Abram (before he was named Abraham) had told a half-truth i.e., lied to the Pharoah of Egypt about his relationship with Sarai (before she was called Sarah) stating that she was his sister, for the fear of his life (Genesis 12:11-20). Additionally, Abram, at the consent and act of Sarah herself, had taken her Egyptian maid Hagar, to be his wife not concubine (Genesis 16:3). The Lord leaves no question unturned – that it is Sarah, not Hagar who is “Abraham’s” wife through whom his promised Seed (Galatians 3:16) would hail.

Points to ponder:
From these we can learn a few things –
1. God calls us by our new names and not our old. When we belong to Christ (we are Christ ones or Christians) and God sees us as his children and not as the children of the devil (John 8:44) under whose power we live (1 John 5:19) since natural birth (Psalm 51:5) until we are born again spiritually (John 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:23). What is your new name for those who are in Christ – those who have received him and believed in his name – those who are a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17); they are the children of God (John 1:12).
2. The Lord reminds us and reestablishes our relationship. Due to our meagre understanding of the power of God, we may choose to establish our own earthly relationships, but only the relationship that God has promised and provided will stand. Just as Sarah was the wife of Abraham, bearing the children of freedom and not of slavery to the law (Galatians 4:21-31), those who are the children of God, born again, by believing in Jesus are children of freedom and are free indeed (John 8:36).
What is your new name?
Is your relationship with God – a Father-Child relationship?
Can God say <put your name here> my child?

Genesis 18:9 (KJV)
9 And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

Professional Speaking :: Jesus The Architect

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On July 25, 2012

In Christian, Professional Speaking

The book “The Jesus Discovery” revisits the New Testament in the Greek and portrays that the earthly father of Jesus, Joseph, was a successful middle class architect and not necessarily a carpenter as is often understood. What is of importance is not what the profession of Joseph was, but what the profession of Jesus is? Is Jesus an architect? Absolutely. By him were all things created, that are in heaven and in earth, the visible and the invisible, whether they are thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers. All things were created by him and for him and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:16-17). Jesus is The Architect.

Points to ponder:
Is Jesus your Architect? The Bible affirms that if any one is in Christ Jesus (i.e. if any one believes in Jesus), they are made a new creation; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Are you a new creation, architected by The Architect, Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:12-23 (KJV)
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Matryoshka Dolls Christianity

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On December 2, 2011

In Christian, Doll Christianity

Russian Nesting Dolls

When I was child, we used to have at home, some Matryoshka dolls (also known as the Russian nesting dolls); the kind in which you could place one doll within another, until you reached the largest doll. Each doll was similar or identical to the other, except that, it was smaller in size than the one that contained it. The model of who a Christian can be is found in these Matryoshka dolls.

Only when a doll is smaller than the one containing it will the doll fit inside. If you take a larger doll and try to place it inside a smaller doll, it would not fit. In like manner, we must must conform to Christ (be identical to him) and be in Christ, not the other way around. When we are in Christ (in Him), we can truly and meaningfully sing the words – “Because a sinless Savior died,  My sinful soul is counted free;  For God, the Just, is satisfied. To look on Him and pardon me“. In Him, we are MADE the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21).

2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV)
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

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