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Wednesday, February 08, 2023

Short Reflection from Exodus 1-20

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

[6:13 pm, 20/02/2022] S.R: ๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿ™:๐Ÿš๐Ÿ™

"Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them."

They dared to disobey Pharaoh because they feared God. We need God-fearing people!

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿš:๐Ÿ™๐ŸŸ

"Then the shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock."

What a character Moses was! He always stood up for the oppressed!

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿ›:๐Ÿ™๐Ÿœ

“"God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"”

God is a generic name. Just like man is a generic name. I am a man but I have a name. Thus, God has a name too. The name of God is "I AM," In the original language it is called "YHWH" or "Yahweh."

Yahweh is the name of God.

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿœ:๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™

"The LORD said to him, ‘Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?’"

The handicapped, physically challenged, differently abled are all created by God. No accident!

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿ:๐Ÿš๐Ÿ›

"Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all."

God works differently than we suppose. But He does exceedingly abundantly than we can imagine or ask for. May we be restrained by the Spirit to not give up!

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿž:๐Ÿ›๐Ÿ˜

"But Moses said before the LORD, ‘Behold, I am unskilled in speech; how then will Pharaoh listen to me?’"

If you feel inadequate to do the work of God, you're not alone!

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐ŸŸ:๐Ÿš๐Ÿ›

"Then Pharaoh turned and went into his house with no concern even for this."

There are heart-hardened people like this Pharaoh even in our days!

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿ :๐Ÿš๐Ÿ›

"I will put a division between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign will occur"

God knows whom to protect and whom to punish! Relax!

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿก:๐Ÿš๐ŸŸ-๐Ÿš๐Ÿ 

"Then Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, ‘I have sinned this time; the LORD is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones. Make supplication to the LORD, for there has been enough of God's thunder and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.’"

Some professing Christians aren't even shallow as Pharaoh! Examine your faith, if you are truly Christian!

 

[0:40 pm, 28/02/2022] S.R: —ษดแดแด›ษชา“ษชแด„แด€แด›ษชแดษดs—

Today is the end of February. However, our 30 days commitment will get expired only by tomorrow.

Thank you everyone for your interest and participation.  ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ‘

If you choose to discontinue in the month of March, let me know, and I shall remove you peacefully! Whoever hasn't updated 60% is automatically disqualified, but should he choose to continue, he may continue so. Cool! ๐Ÿ˜Ž

Whoever wants a Memento (certificate) for a souvenir, let me know. [I've all the energies to issue for the interested ones and no time for the scoffers! ๐Ÿ˜Ž๐Ÿ˜‚]

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ˜:๐Ÿš๐Ÿ -๐Ÿš๐Ÿก

"Then Pharaoh said to him, "Get away from me! Beware, do not see my face again, for in the day you see my face you shall die!" Moses said, "You are right; I shall never see your face again!"

Sinners in unrepentant frustration shut themselves off from God's grace by avoiding His messenger!

 

๐•‹๐• ๐••๐•’๐•ช ๐•š๐•ค ๐•ฅ๐•™๐•– ๐Ÿž๐Ÿ™๐•ค๐•ฅ ๐••๐•’๐•ช ๐• ๐•— ๐Ÿš๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿš๐Ÿš. ๐•†๐•ฆ๐•ฃ ๐•ฅ๐•™๐•š๐•ฃ๐•• ๐•ค๐•–๐•’๐•ค๐• ๐•Ÿ (๐•„๐”ธโ„โ„‚โ„) ๐•’๐•๐•ค๐•  ๐•”๐• ๐•Ÿ๐•ฅ๐•š๐•Ÿ๐•ฆ๐•–๐•ค...

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™:๐Ÿ›

"The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Furthermore, the man Moses himself was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt, both in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people."

God can even change the heart of enemies to respect and honor us as He did to the Egyptians!

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿš:๐Ÿ›๐Ÿ˜-๐Ÿ›๐Ÿ™

"Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no home where there was not someone dead. Then he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, "Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, worship the LORD, as you have said."

Whether we like it or not, nobody can thwart the plan of God, His will shall be done just as Pharaoh had let the Israelites go!

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ›:๐Ÿ™๐ŸŸ

"Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, "The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt."

God knows how to deliver the Israelites from the temptations, even to let them avoid that they wouldn't be tempted. Also, Remember "The Lord's Prayer: do not lead us to temptation"

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿœ:๐Ÿ™๐Ÿœ

"The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent."

If we walk with God, He will fight for us.

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ:๐Ÿš-๐Ÿ›

"The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will extol Him. The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name."

Notice the personal pronoun "my"

This great God of the Bible is my God too!

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿž:๐Ÿ›๐Ÿ

"The sons of Israel ate the manna forty years, until they came to an inhabited land; they ate the manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan."

The Providence and Provision of God!

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿ™๐ŸŸ:๐Ÿ™๐Ÿš

"But Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set."

Aaron and Hur had their unlikely but crucial part in that battle!

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ :๐Ÿš๐Ÿœ

"So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said."

Moses, this great man, still humbled himself to listen to his father-in-law. That's what wise man does!

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿก:๐Ÿ-๐Ÿž

"Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."

God has a great purpose of His calling and a good one!

 

๐”ผ๐•ฉ๐• ๐••๐•ฆ๐•ค ๐Ÿš๐Ÿ˜:๐Ÿ™๐Ÿก

"Then they said to Moses, 'Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die.'"

This is the problem of sinners and ungodly people. They don't like God. They would rather have man than God. The Israelites had revealed their stiff-necked nature leading them to their damnation in the wilderness.

Sunday, February 05, 2023

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]

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿ›๐Ÿœ:๐Ÿ™-๐Ÿš

"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!

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿ›๐Ÿ:๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ˜-๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™

"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!

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿ›๐Ÿž:๐Ÿž-๐ŸŸ

"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!

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿ›๐ŸŸ:๐Ÿš๐Ÿก

"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!

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿ›๐Ÿ :๐Ÿš๐Ÿœ

"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!

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿ›๐Ÿก:๐Ÿก

"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.

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿœ๐Ÿ˜:๐Ÿš๐Ÿ›

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

Remember this episode when people forget to repay your kindness!

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿœ๐Ÿ™:๐Ÿก

"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.

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿœ๐Ÿš:๐Ÿš๐Ÿš

“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.

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿœ๐Ÿ›:๐Ÿ›๐Ÿœ

"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!

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿœ๐Ÿœ:๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ 

"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! ๐Ÿ‘

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿœ๐Ÿ:๐Ÿš๐Ÿ˜

"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! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ˜‡

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿœ๐Ÿž:๐Ÿœ

"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.

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿœ๐ŸŸ:๐Ÿš๐Ÿ

"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! ๐Ÿ˜‡

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿœ๐Ÿ :๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ™

"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!

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿœ๐Ÿก:๐Ÿ›๐Ÿ›

"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!

 

๐”พ๐•–๐•Ÿ๐•–๐•ค๐•š๐•ค ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ˜:๐Ÿš๐Ÿ™

"’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! ๐Ÿ‘