Short Reflection from Genesis 34-50

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (BRU-F) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛𝟜:𝟙-𝟚

"Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the daughters of the land. When Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force."

What an unfortunate incident! But it happened under the watchful eyes of God.

Whatever happens in our life, trouble, shame, sorrows, pain, and disappointment are under the watchful eyes of God. It may not anything to do with our sins, weaknesses, or faults. Jacob was the chosen one of God, but still, it happened.

And we Christians must rejoice for a verse like Rom. 8:28 that everything happens for our own good by our great God. If you aren't Christian, that's not true, btw! That verse is only for Christians!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛𝟝:𝟙𝟘-𝟙𝟙

"God said to him, ‘Your name is Jacob; You shall no longer be called Jacob, But Israel shall be your name.’ Thus He called him Israel. God also said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; Be fruitful and multiply; A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, And kings shall come forth from you.’"

This commandment often came when God started a new or renewed program. Indeed, godly people must reign and ungodly people must be reduced, not necessarily by killing them but by influencing them to be good by the numerous godly people!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛𝟞:𝟞-𝟟

"Then Esau took his wives and his sons and his daughters and all his household, and his livestock and all his cattle and all his goods which he had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to another land away from his brother Jacob. For their property had become too great for them to live together, and the land where they sojourned could not sustain them because of their livestock."

Esau wasn't what Jacob imagined him to be. Esau was good to Jacob. And Jacob feared God. But there came a generation from both who hated one another!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛𝟟:𝟚𝟡

"Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his garments."

The eldest must learn to take care of the younger like Reuben!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛𝟠:𝟚𝟜

"Now it was about three months later that Judah was informed, ‘Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the harlot, and behold, she is also with child by harlotry.’ Then Judah said, ‘Bring her out and let her be burned!’"

What a sad and sinful story but God was (and is) sovereign over sin and all circumstances of life. He turned this story into the ancestry of Jesus Christ.

God can work wonders, even with our sins if we would repent unto Him!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛𝟡:𝟡

"There is no one greater in this house than I, and he has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?"

Joseph lived his life before God. He fears God, loves God, enjoys God, and trusts God.

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟜𝟘:𝟚𝟛

"Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him."

Remember this episode when people forget to repay your kindness!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟜𝟙:𝟡

"Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, 'I would make mention today of my own offenses.'"

God is sovereign over even irresponsible and indifferent people. He made this chief cupbearer remember at the right time. And in the purpose of God to exalt Joseph.

Remember this when people forgot your kindness that God will repay you.

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟜𝟚:𝟚𝟚

“Reuben answered them, saying, "Did I not tell you, 'Do not sin against the boy'; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood."”

Sin will haunt us, especially in our tough times. So, we need to guard against sin.

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟜𝟛:𝟛𝟜

"He took portions to them from his own table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they feasted and drank freely with him."

The story of the patriarch is a story of favoritism. Its consequence is heavy: jealousy, broken family, separation, and even being sold into slavery. Joseph was the same. He treated Benjamin, his real brother better than he treated the rest of his brothers. Maybe to test whether his brothers would be jealous of Benjamin or not!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟜𝟜:𝟙𝟠

"Then Judah approached him, and said, ‘Oh my lord, may your servant please speak a word in my lord's ears, and do not be angry with your servant; for you are equal to Pharaoh.’"

Something to admire about Judah! 👍

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟜𝟝:𝟚𝟘

"Do not concern yourselves with your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours."

They did the worst to him, but he gave the best to them. Not tit for tat, but it's overcoming evil with good! 👍😇

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟜𝟞:𝟜

"I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes."

God supported Jacob's plan to go to Egypt. But he sought to confirm God's blessings.

Our life is full of uncertainties. God requires us to be faithful, courageous, wise, and hardworking. He will not tell in our ears what to do and what not. He has given His words, godly elderly people, experience, etc., for our decision-making process.

This episode is interestingly good because God was with him. Abraham’s plan to get a son through Hagar wasn't God's plan to get Isaac. No matter what, the decision to make for anything is in our hands.

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟜𝟟:𝟚𝟝

"So they said, 'You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's slaves.'"

Joseph was not only the saviour of Israel but of the Gentiles (Egyptians, their bitter oppressor). Greater than Joseph is Jesus, the saviour of all people! 😇

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟜𝟠:𝟙𝟙

"Israel said to Joseph, 'I never expected to see your face, and behold, God has let me see your children as well.'"

God was good to Jacob, and also to Joseph! He is the same God. God may require us to lose hope, plan, and desire, but He knows how to end our lives in a better script as well!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟜𝟡:𝟛𝟛

"When Jacob finished charging his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people."

Nice way to die: prepared and ready!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟝𝟘:𝟚𝟙

"’So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them."

Kindness! That's the word! 👍

Short Reflection from Genesis 16-33

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (BRU-F) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟞:𝟡

"Then the angel of the LORD said to her, ‘Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority.’"

God had a plan for Hagar even when she was mistreated by Sarai. It's a great lesson and a reminder that God will take care of us in all situations.

Hagar ran away to escape, but God told her to come back and submit herself to Sarai. She tried to solve her problem. Well, God was not with her plan, for God had a better plan. Years later, God would let her go away in peace.

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟟:𝟙𝟠

"And Abraham said to God, 'Oh that Ishmael might live before You!'"

Abraham decided to do what he thought was right and begot Ishmael. He thought and wanted God would be pleased with his project Ishmael. Well, nobody can influence God, not even Abraham. God continued with His project Isaac. However, God, in His abundant mercy and grace promised to not abandon project Ishmael.

Don't try to influence God. Submit to Him. Make sure the Lord's project is your project!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟠:𝟛𝟚

"Then he said, ‘Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once; suppose ten are found there?’ And He said, ‘I will not destroy it on account of the ten.’"

Bad people may mock a good man. Non-Christians may ridicule us. Secular Government may persecute us. But the truth is they are alive because of us. At the same time, we are alive for their sake, to rescue them!

When all the Christians are raptured up on the last day, God's judgment will be seen upon the earth again!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟡:𝟚-𝟛

"And he said, "Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant's house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." They said however, "No, but we shall spend the night in the square." Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate."

Oh! What an example of hospitality! @Damei B-R-U kaine hospitality tho gaihak kum ding e!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟘:𝟛

"But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, 'Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is married.'"

God would do anything to protect Sarah even if Abraham failed to do so.

It's a lesson to learn that God is better than anyone and anything!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟙:𝟞-𝟟

"Sarah said, 'God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.' And she said, 'Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.'"

God has a way of surprising those who have waited upon Him. I know He shall surprise me with many things! 😇

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟚:𝟚

"He said, 'Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.'"

Is there still anything in you that you cannot give up for God? Abraham gave up everything!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟛:𝟙𝟛

"He spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, 'If you will only please listen to me; I will give the price of the field, accept it from me that I may bury my dead there.'"

We love free stuff, huh? Abraham wouldn't take anything for free! Be careful with free stuff!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟜:𝟙𝟚

"He said, 'O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham.'"

A good prayer we can imitate praying recalling this episode! 👍

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟝:𝟛𝟚

"Esau said, 'Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?'"

Esau never tried to learn what Jesus would be saying centuries later that man does not live by bread alone.

Don't think for temporary gain, live for things that last... God's kingdom lasts forever btw!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟞:𝟚𝟜

"The LORD appeared to him the same night and said, 'I am the God of your father Abraham; 𝕕𝕠 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕗𝕖𝕒𝕣, 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕀 𝕒𝕞 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕪𝕠𝕦. I will bless you, and multiply your descendants, For the sake of My servant Abraham.'"

God wants us to fear nobody but God. Also, God is watching over us, nothing can harm us without His permission. Trust Him.

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟟:𝟚𝟘

"Isaac said to his son, ‘How is it that you have it so quickly, my son?’ And he said, ‘Because the LORD your God caused it to happen to me.’"

He dared to use the name of God to sin against his brother, father, and God. Such a sinful man like anyone of us!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟠:𝟙𝟝

"Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

What a promise of God for Jacob, even when he fled away from his brother!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚𝟡:𝟛𝟙

"Now the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren."

How good the Lord is to notice the discriminated ones! If we are mistreated, let's cry out to God more than we would call anyone!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛𝟘:𝟜𝟛

"So the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks and female and male servants and camels and donkeys."

A ridiculous story of Jacob's family but God still blessed Jacob and prospered him.

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛𝟙:𝟛𝟜-𝟛𝟝

"Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel's saddle, and she sat on them. And Laban felt through all the tent but did not find them. She said to her father, ‘Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is upon me.’ So he searched but did not find the household idols."

Even his wife had become a deceiver. Your gf/bf will influence you. You better hang out/marry someone who is better or as good as you, not worse than you!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛𝟚:𝟙𝟘

"I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies."

Indeed, fear and great trouble often help us to see who we really are in the universe of God! We don't need to humble ourselves just in tough times, we must humble ourselves before Him each time we come to His throne of grace!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛𝟛:𝟜

"Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept."

Sometimes it happened that what we were dreadful of was met with extraordinary kindness! Fortunate Jacob! Very lucky, huh!?

Short Reflection from Genesis 1-15

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (BRU-F) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[6:41 am, 31/12/2021] S.R:

 Guys,

This year 2021 ends today. Tomorrow, we start putting up our updates.

Do you have any Bible Reading Plans for 2022? And which book would you like to read and post in this group? I shall be posting a line of reflection or two from each chapter of Genesis in the next 50 days.

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙:𝟛𝟙

"God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day."

The first chapter of the book of the Bible repeatedly made a point that God is good by demonstrating the mighty works of God in the creation and declaring by God Himself.

Never doubt the goodness of God. And if you are a Christian, everything is working for your own good, by the amazing Providence of God! (Rom.8:28)

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟚:𝟚𝟘

"The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him."

You may love your cat or dog, but remember that only human is a suitable helper! Or else, you are farther from reality than most people!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟛:𝟙𝟡

"By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."

Because of this, everyone dies sooner or later. However, there's forgiveness, redemption, second chance that's impossible to fail, in Jesus Christ. Those who die in Christ (Christians) will be raised back to life at an opportune time to live in this world and also a new world!

We aren't hopeless like the rest of the world!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟜:𝟙𝟝

"So the LORD said to him, 'Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.' And the LORD appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him."

The Lord still exercised grace upon Cain, the wicked murderer. Apostle John in his first epistle wrote of Cain as the primary example of an unbeliever, the seed of the serpent, the child of the devil!

This reminds me that there's grace for everyone including for the hell-bound sinner. He might still go to hell, but if he calls upon God for protection, God is gracious to hear.

It is written God heard Pharaoh's prayer/desire through Moses’ intercession. There's a chance that God can bless an idol worshipper if he asks a Christian to pray for him. He still will remain an unbeliever and may go to hell, but God can and may hear to bless him on earth for he desires and asks of God.

This story confirms the goodness and amazing grace of God to protect and provide for our needs!

 

[6:15 am, 05/01/2022] S.R: 𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟝:𝟚𝟡

"Now he called his name Noah, saying, 'This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed.'"

What an ironic name! 😬😂 After the birth of Noah, and when he grew up to be a responsible man, God killed everyone!

However, Noah, indeed, has become the great ancestor of the Messiah who truly has rested the curse of God!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟞:𝟙𝟚

"God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth."

It was, so God destroyed the earth. It is again, and God will destroy this earth again.

But like God saved Noah through an ark, God will save us through Jesus Christ, who is the real ark.

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟟:𝟟

"Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him entered the ark because of the water of the flood."

The only way to be saved was to enter the ark, not just Noah, but all those who want to be saved. Outside the ark is the killing water.

A perfect picture of salvation in Christ. No matter whom you love or are closed with if they don't live in Christ, the water of death will take them away!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟠:𝟚𝟙

"The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, 'I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.'"

Had the Lord not promised this, there would have been a series of visible judgments. Sometimes, we are the victims, other times we are the perpetrators! One day, God shall take account of all our deeds, thoughts, and desires! Blessed are the ones who humble themselves before God every night begging for God's power to overcome temptation and indwelling sins. Though they may never overcome in this life, God shall forgive all their sins, and grant them what they desire when He appears!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟡:𝟚

"The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given."

Indeed, animals and every living creatures owe man their lives for Noah saved their species. Good chapter and verse to refer to when discussing the difference between humans and animals!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟘:𝟡

"He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD.'"

@Gaan AirTel and @Joseph Kahmei, nang nei pu (daddies) khang suang Nimrod rui suchui mai (better) tipui jat the ni?

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟙:𝟛𝟘

“Sarai was barren; she had no child.”

Well, Sarai was made barren by God for a demonstration of His glory!

Our barrenness in life is under the sovereignty of God. In joy in sorrow, in riches in poverty, in all circumstances, let's keep our hope and trust in God!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟚:𝟙𝟙

"It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, ‘See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman.’"

Wow! Sarai was a beautiful woman. Nowadays, celebrities are made to look more beautiful than they actually are, and even common people have been fooled to think that celebrities are more beautiful than them. The truth is clear: it's the popularity that makes celebrities seem to look beautiful; while a lot of beautiful women may be just in next door!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟛:𝟙𝟛-𝟙𝟜

"Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD.  The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, ‘Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward’"

When that part of the world was terribly wicked and God was about to bring terror and destruction, He had a prosperous plan for Abraham.

If we remain walking with God, even if there is a pandemic, tsunami, anarchy, or persecution, God is surely having a plan for us. It may not be as immediate as in the case of Abraham. He never saw it. And it still is yet to be fulfilled in a magnificent way!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟜:𝟙𝟚

"They also took Lot, Abram's nephew, and his possessions and departed, for he was living in Sodom."

Abraham is not only godly, not only a man of faith but a courageous gut. He went to fight and won!

We need more leaders who are warriors!

 

𝔾𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝟙𝟝:𝟞

"Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness."

Believed ➡️ Righteousness.

And Righteousness will produce Good works in life.