Saturday, May 31, 2014

Creation of Angels

What does the Bible says about the creation of angels? Well, the Bible said nothing. However, we can infer from the following verses that angels were created during the 6-day creation, probably when God created the heavens, and they witnessed the creation of the earth.

Angels were created when God created the heavens and the earth.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 NASB, HCSB, NET)
You alone are Yahweh. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them, and the heavenly host worships You. (Nehemiah 9:6 HCSB)

Angels witnessed the creation.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Job 38:4-7 KJV

Monday, May 26, 2014

Jacob's Children

Based on Genesis 29:31-30:24, Jacob must have produced all his 11 sons and 1 daughter within the second seven period that he worked for Laban. That meant that Reuben, his oldest son, was only 7 years older than Joseph, his 11th son.

In these 7 years, Leah managed to produce 6 sons and 1 daughters and also have a pause (Genesis 30:9) in child bearing. That meant that she probably had her first 4 sons with 3years. Bilhah and Zilpah probably produced in parallel, and not in the sequentially, although it is described sequentially in Genesis 29:31-30:24. Based on Genesis 37:35, Jacob seemed to have more than one daughter. Given that Leah is producing at full capacity and Rachel is barren, then the mothers of any unnamed daughters were the maids.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Incest Laws Before Moses

It seems that before the Law of Moses came into effect, the only incest law is that of parent-child marriage. Obviously the immediate descendants of Adam and Eve had to marry their siblings. But right up to the time of Abraham, sibling marriages is still acceptable. Abraham married his half-sister, Sarah.

Marriages between uncles and nieces are also acceptable. Thus Terah's grandson Isaac married his great-granddaughter Rebecca.

Marriages between first cousins are also acceptable. You also can marry sisters. Jacob married Leah and Rachel.

Friday, May 9, 2014

In Everything Give Thanks

in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB)

Would you give thanks to God if you are robbed?

Matthew Henry (1662-1714) was a great Bible scholar who wrote a six-volume commentary on the Bible. He was once robbed of his wallet. Knowing that it was his duty to give thanks for everything, he found, not one, but four reasons to give thanks to God for being robbed. He recorded in his diary the following:
"Let me be thankful, first, because he never robbed me before; second, because although he took my purse, he did not take my life; third, because although he took all I possessed, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed."

Saturday, May 3, 2014

God's Repentance (נָחַם)

God does not change His mind.
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19 KJV)
And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent. (1 Samuel 15:29 KJV)

God changes His mind because He is merciful.
And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies. (Psalm 106:45 KJV)

We are all glad that God changes His mind because He is merciful.
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:6-8 KJV)
And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people. (Exodus 32:14 KJV)
And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. (2 Samuel 24:16 KJV)
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. (Jonah 3:10 KJV)

Sometimes, God changes His mind because His mercies have ended.
And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel. (1 Samuel 15:35 KJV)

Friday, May 2, 2014

Destined To Reign?

I love it when Joseph Prince preached about grace. I wished many more pastors would preach like that. But the problem is Joseph Prince latched to the Gospel of grace the false doctrine of Word Faith theology. According to Prince, we are saved to achieve worldly success. Our worldly success demonstrate our faith in God and glorifies Him.

QUOTE
You are destined to reign in life. You are called by the Lord to be a success, to enjoy wealth, to enjoy health and to enjoy a life of victory. It is not the Lord’s desire that you live a life of defeat, poverty and failure. He has called you to be the head and not the tail. If you are a businessman, God wants you to have a prosperous business. If you are are a homemaker, you are anointed to bring up wonderful children in the Lord. If you are a student, God wants you to excel in all your examinations. And if you are trusting the Lord for a new career, He doesn’t just want you to have a job, He wants you to have a position of influence, so that you can be a blessing and an asset to your organization!

Whatever your vocation is, you are destined to reign in life because Jesus is Lord of your life. When you reign in life, you reign over sin, you reign over the powers of darkness, and you reign over depression, over poverty, over every curse, and over every sickness and disease. You REIGN over the devil and all his devices!
UNQUOTE
"Destined to Reign" by Joseph Prince, page 1

"You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing out of the ordinary? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? (Matthew 5:43-47 HCSB)

If we glorify God only when we have success, how different are we from those who worship the idol Money God?

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (2 Timothy 3:12 ESV)

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5 NASB)

"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18 NASB)

Even if he slays me, I will hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face! (Job 13:15 NET)

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 KJV)

Thursday, May 1, 2014

True Christian Living

Living Epistles
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (2 Corinthians 3:3 KJV)

Salt of the earth
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (Matthew 5:13 KJV)

Light of the world
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 KJV)
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (Philippians 2:15 KJV)

Persecution expected
Then these men said, "We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God." (Daniel 6:5 ESV)
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12 KJV)
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (2 Timothy 3:12 ESV)

Reward unexpected
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' (Matthew 25:35-40 ESV)