God's Choice

And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." (Romans 9:10-13 NASB95)

Consider this, why does God choose Jacob over Esau, Judah over Joseph and David over Saul? Using our normal human common sense, morality, karma and justice, we would do it the other way.

Jacob and Esau
Why does God choose the one who cheat over the one who was cheated to be the ancestor of His chosen people Israel?

Judah and Joseph
Why does God choose the one who enslaved over the slave to be the ancestor of the tribe where the kings of Israel would come from? Wasn't Joseph exemplary his in conduct when he forgave his brothers who sold him into slavery? Why wasn't he chosen?

David and Saul
Why does God choose the one who committed adultery and murder over the one who did not to become the ancestor of the Messiah?

Me and many others better than me
While I was pondering over this, I remembered that God also choose me over many people who are probably a better person than me.

Meritocracy is not in the dictionary of God. Rather, God is merciful. In His mercy, He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to die for our sins so that we can be saved, even though we do not have many good works or worse, none at all. Theologians called this salvation by grace.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:30 ESV)

Rich Countries Poor Countries

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. (Psalm 33:12 NIV)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)

Poor countries are generally socialist, communist or Islamic. Communists and socialists said that socialist or communist countries are poor because they did not practise true socialism or communism. Muslims said that Islamic countries are poor because they did not practise true Shariah law.

But Christian countries are equally imperfect. There is no Christian country that practise true Biblical Christianity. Christian countries also have their injustices and inequalities. Yet Christian countries are generally rich. When they believed in the Bible, they were able to create empires.

So why is it that when non-Christian ideologies are imperfect, the countries do not prosper? But why is Christianity, even when practised imperfectly, is able to make Christian countries are rich and powerful?

Firstly, the God of the Bible specializes in using imperfect sinners to achieve His aim. Imperfection in men glorifies God.

Secondly, the Bible is true. The God of the Bible is truth. Whoever that stands on the side of truth, no matter how imperfectly, is able to achieve something.

Muslims and communists can only prosper when they pretend to follow the teachings of the Koran or Karl Marx. Whenever they decide to follow the Koran or Karl Marx strictly, they will become poor. This was proven in modern history.

Nowadays, many Christian countries do not believe in the Bible anymore. They attribute their success to democracy. Actually, they are also correct. This is because the democracies that arose in Christian countries were Bible based and allowed truth to be expressed. Thus, many non-Christian countries that adopt Western democracies also prosper. Countries which have Islamic democracies or socialist democracies remain poor.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9a ESV)

Self Praise

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance. (2 Corinthians 10:12 BSB)

Rather, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:17-18 BSB)

Zechariah Third Night Vision

Hear now, Jesus the high priest, thou, and thy neighbours that are sitting before thee: for they are diviners, for, behold, I bring forth my servant The Branch. (Zechariah 3:8 Brenton Septuagint Translation)

Imperfect But Still Salt And Light

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 BSB)

Quoted from the following twit:
QUOTE
In debates and discussions with Muslims, you are enlightened with the following:
There is not a single 'true Muslim' even though there are 1.8 billion of them.
There is not a single 'pure' Islamic country.
A perfect Islamic state is yet to be founded.
Ayatollah Khomeini was an enemy of Islam.
Pakistan, Iran, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria…these Islamic states do not follow 'real' Islam.
Saudi Arabian Islam is corrupted.
Not all Sahih hadiths are Sahih.
Non-Muslims quote out of context.
Tyrants and dictators rule Islamic countries; they have no idea about Islam.
The clergy/Mullahs do not know 'real Islam.'
You cannot practice 'real Islam' in Islamic Paradises like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Iran…etc. You must not use these countries as examples of Islamic practices.
Wahabism is not 'real Islam'.
Al Qaeda is not 'true' Muslims.
Talibans are not 'true' Muslims.
Shias are not 'true' Muslims.
Sunnis are not 'true' Muslims.
Ahmedia/Qadiani are not Muslims 
ISIS are not Muslims
Boko Haram are not Muslims
Islam is a Religion of Peace.
~ Sehr Umeed
5:28 AM · Dec 15, 2023
UNQUOTE

So the reason why Islam failed to achieve anything is because there is no perfect Muslim and there is no perfect Islamic country.

What a contrast it is with Christian and Jewish countries. Imperfect Christian and Jewish countries can still be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, bringing science and technology and progress to the world.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9a NIV)

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13 NIV)

Salvation Belongeth Unto The LORD

Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. (Micah 7:8 BSB)

The God who forgave Christians will also forgive the Jews.

He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and loving devotion to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers from the days of old. (Micah 7:19-20 BSB)

Salvation belongs to the LORD; may Your blessing be on Your people. (Psalm 3:8 BSB)

Chicken And Egg Problem Solved - 2

And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and He brought them to the man to see what he would name each one. And whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. (Genesis 2:19 BSB)

God is right. The Bible is true. The chicken came first. And scientist had to agree with the Bible.

There was never a chicken-and-egg problem in the Bible. Only unbelievers have this problem. And now it is solved.

Replacement Theology is False Teaching

I don't want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (Romans 11:25 CSB)

Gentile Christians do not replace Israel. Rather, they are grafted into Israel. Replacement Theology is a false teaching by conceited Christians.

"In that day I will restore the fallen house of David. I will repair its damaged walls. From the ruins I will rebuild it and restore its former glory. And Israel will possess what is left of Edom and all the nations I have called to be mine." The Lord has spoken, and he will do these things. (Amos 9:11-12 NLT)

"Shout for joy and be glad, O Daughter of Zion, for I am coming to dwell among you," declares the LORD. "On that day many nations will join themselves to the LORD, and they will become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you. And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and He will once again choose Jerusalem. Be silent before the LORD, all people, for He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling." ((Zechariah 2:10-13 BSB)

I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy - just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too. But some of these branches from Abraham's tree - some of the people of Israel - have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God's special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root. "Well," you may say, "those branches were broken off to make room for me." Yes, but remember - those branches were broken off because they didn't believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don't think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won't spare you either. Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong. (Romans 11:13-24 NLT)

Act of God Always Results in Many Dead

"And I will make a vast graveyard for Gog and his hordes in the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Dead Sea. It will block the way of those who travel there, and they will change the name of the place to the Valley of Gog's Hordes. It will take seven months for the people of Israel to bury the bodies and cleanse the land. Everyone in Israel will help, for it will be a glorious victory for Israel when I demonstrate my glory on that day, says the Sovereign Lord. (Ezekiel 39:11-13 NIV)

Sometime in the future, a group of people will invade Israel from the north. They will have allies in the east and the west. No one will help Israel. United States and Europe seems to be neutral, unable or unwilling to help.

But God will intervene and caused a great earthquake in Israel. The invaders will kill each other in confusion. There will pestilence, torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and burning sulphur. The invaders will be defeated. So many invaders will be killed that Israel will take seven months to bury the dead.

It is God's mercy to the Palestinians that they are facing a human enemy call Israel. While God will not leave Israel unpunished for their sin, neither is God kind to those who want to erase Israel from the map.

Remember that the God of Israel is the God who drown the whole earth except for those in the Ark, killed all the first born in Egypt and made death the wages of sin. If God has not declared that death is the wages of sin, nobody will die. Everyone will live forever.

For I am with you to save you, declares the LORD; I will make a full end of all the nations among whom I scattered you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished. (Jeremiah 30:11 ESV)

I will first repay them double for their iniquity and sin because they have polluted my land. They have filled my inheritance with the carcasses of their abhorrent and detestable idols." (Jeremiah 16:18 CSB)

And in all the land, declares the LORD, two-thirds will be cut off and perish, but a third will be left in it. This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are My people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'" (Zechariah 13:8-9 BSB)

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:2 NIV)

Answering Joseph Ng

Comment by Joseph Ng on his Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/berzerkistan/):
Curiously, when Stalin persecuted and killed Christians along with other religionists, the Evangelicals stood with the Christians.
When Mao did that, they stood with their brethren.
When Pol Pot did the same, they did likewise.
But in Gaza, 10,000 deaths and 1 million displacemens on, they cheered the oppressors on.
They can't seem to get to base 1 in James' Epistle and say, "Be warmed and filled."

My response 1:
Bro, you do not need to worry. The males among the 10,000 dead are probably enjoying their virgins now. As for the female, I am not too sure. And the million displaced? Believe me, they are in good hands. Just listen to this twit. (https://twitter.com/insharifain/status/1720520794995093890)

Joseph Ng:
there's beligerents on both sides, but check out the pleas from Bethlehem Bible College and other brethren

My response 2:
I have checked the Bethlehem Bible College website (https://bethbc.edu/) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BethlehemBibleCollege/).
I see no evidence that Bethlehem Bible College has been persecuted like the churches in China during the cultural revolution. You can check how the Chinese Christians are persecuted in this YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rowbpSPv98c).
Communist China set up a state church, the three-self church, and forced all Christians to join. I do not see the Israeli government setting up a state church, forcing all Christians in Israel to join. I did not see any Jewish or Palestinian Christians going to jail for their belief. I did not see the Israeli government closing down churches.
There is this Israeli Christian Amir Tsarfati (t.me/beholdisraelchannel) running around the world preaching Christ. He has not been persecuted or imprisoned by the Israeli government. His church has not been closed down by the government.
So I cannot understand your comparison of Israel with Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot.
I stand with all Christians persecuted in the Middle East by Islamic and Arab governments. Those with virgin hope are persecuting the Christians. Those who deny virgin birth did not.

Joseph Ng:
I've attended their zoom meetings

China's Political System - Theory and Practice

This YouTube video "Eric X. Li: A tale of two political systems - YouTube" tell us how good the Chinese political system is supposed to be.

This YouTube video "鲜为人知的落选：习近平的“民主事故” - YouTube" showed us how this ideal political system produced Xi Jin Ping (习近平).

Living Water

Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side. Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, and enters the sea; when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside the sea. From Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt. And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing." (Ezekiel 47:1-12 ESV)

A fountain will flow out of the LORD's house and will water the valley of acacias. (Joel 3:18b NIV)

On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter. (Zechariah 14:8 ESV)

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1 ESV)

One Bible Two Readers

Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them. (Hosea 14:9 NIV)

The Jews knew from the scriptures that the Anointed One would come 69 weeks or 483 years (Daniel 9:25-26) after the command to rebuild Jerusalem was given. Some Jews identified Jesus as the Anointed One that fulfils the prophecy. Others failed to do so. Not only did the Anointed One not come, but their temple was destroyed, and the daily sacrifice ceased. But they dared not to call God a liar. Instead, they created a new religion that replace the temple sacrifice.

Today all Christians know that the Anointed One will come again (Acts 1:11) after His ascension at the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:12). Since He ascended from the Mount of Olives, will He come back to the Mount of Olives as predicted by the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 14:4)? What will the circumstances be around the Mount of Olives? Will there be a city of Jerusalem? Will there be a temple at Jerusalem? Is the state of Israel in existence when the Anointed One return?

As the Jews at the first coming of the Anointed One were, so are the Christians at the second coming of the Anointed One today. We read the same scriptures, and we know that He will come. But when, where and how will He come? Are the prophecies clear on this? Do we even know if we have been enlightened or stumbled by the prophecies of the second coming of the Anointed One?

For this reason God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, so that all will be condemned - those who did not believe the truth but delighted in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 CSB)

Exegesis Versus Eisegesis

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them. (Hosea 14:9 BSB)

Same Bible but different readers produce different results. There are those who let the Bible speak to them (exegesis). There are those who want to read their ideas into the Bible (eisegesis). There are those who let God reveal Himself and there are those who create their own image of God.

Always read through the Bible from cover to cover at least once. Then you will have a comprehensive overview.

Reading the Bible can make you as wise as Solomon or as blind as a bat.

They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand. (Isaiah 44:18 BSB)

Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. (Psalm 119:98-100 NIV)