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Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.
And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”
When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.
[Luke 8:43-47 NKJV]
And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”
When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.
[Luke 8:43-47 NKJV]
I confess that I’m a sucker for good quotations, and yesterday afternoon, while enjoying my January copy of ‘The Oldie’ magazine, I came across this in a ‘Golden Oldies’ review by Rachel Johnson. Ms Johnson writes, ‘At LBC’s Leicester Square HQ, where I work, there’s a mission statement emblazoned on the wall in reception, saying “Nobody will ever remember what you said. But they won’t forget how you made them feel.”’
Now this is not maybe the most promising start to a meditation, but I hope that you will bear with me. The Bible rarely talks about how we feel emotionally, although there is a huge amount of emotion on display in the stories and parables. There is a recognition that our emotions play a huge part in our day-to-day; but usually when we read about ‘feel’ it is about touching the surface of something. Here is Jacob deceiving his father Isaac into thinking that he, Jacob, was actually his elder brother Esau ...
Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not." So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau." And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him.
[Genesis 27:21-23 NKJV]
Isaac, being blind, relied on touch to recognise Esau and was deceived. The mission statement in the quote above recognises something important about the human condition, which is that we are most affected by being touched on the inside. I can say that on many occasions I have heard a great word spoken, but almost never can I recall what or how it was said, even after repeated listening on a recording.
And when Jesus was touched on the hem of His robe by the flow of blood, He felt the power going out from Him. I find this extraordinary. Of all the stories where Jesus’ heals, this is the only one I can think of (there may well be others), which mentions Jesus experience of the healing taking place. It is all the more unusual because the healing was not a deliberate act on Jesus’ part. The woman was healed because she trusted that Jesus’ presence was sufficient.
Jesus could not be deceived into giving His blessing like Isaac, because His very essence is blessing. We cannot take it, or command it, or claim it, because it is freely given to all in His presence, regardless of status.
We never forget how Jesus makes us feel, which ensures that we also remember His words to us.
Now this is not maybe the most promising start to a meditation, but I hope that you will bear with me. The Bible rarely talks about how we feel emotionally, although there is a huge amount of emotion on display in the stories and parables. There is a recognition that our emotions play a huge part in our day-to-day; but usually when we read about ‘feel’ it is about touching the surface of something. Here is Jacob deceiving his father Isaac into thinking that he, Jacob, was actually his elder brother Esau ...
Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not." So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau." And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him.
[Genesis 27:21-23 NKJV]
Isaac, being blind, relied on touch to recognise Esau and was deceived. The mission statement in the quote above recognises something important about the human condition, which is that we are most affected by being touched on the inside. I can say that on many occasions I have heard a great word spoken, but almost never can I recall what or how it was said, even after repeated listening on a recording.
And when Jesus was touched on the hem of His robe by the flow of blood, He felt the power going out from Him. I find this extraordinary. Of all the stories where Jesus’ heals, this is the only one I can think of (there may well be others), which mentions Jesus experience of the healing taking place. It is all the more unusual because the healing was not a deliberate act on Jesus’ part. The woman was healed because she trusted that Jesus’ presence was sufficient.
Jesus could not be deceived into giving His blessing like Isaac, because His very essence is blessing. We cannot take it, or command it, or claim it, because it is freely given to all in His presence, regardless of status.
We never forget how Jesus makes us feel, which ensures that we also remember His words to us.
It is a great moment when we realise we have the power to trample on certain moods, a tremendous emancipation to get rid of every kind of self-consciousness and heed one thing only: the relationship between God and myself.
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Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
[1 John 3:1-3 NKJV]
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
[1 John 3:1-3 NKJV]
It is only 3rd January, but we have seen so many messages hoping that 2021 will be better than “the frightful year” that was 2020. Hope is something that is built into us. We hope a friend is feeling better. We hope you “have a nice day.” We hope that money will arrive on time. Those who have “lost all hope” give us cause for concern and upset. Hope is essential, and it is one of the three pillars of our relationship with Jesus Christ.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
[1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV]
The last few years and last year in particular have been trying for us all. Our faith, our hope and our love have been tested as never before; not helped by world leaders who speak words of hope, and promise so much but cannot deliver. What they do is undermine our hope and instead spread dissent and division. Such things are bound to be, when so many turn away from God, or place their trust in man alone. The apostle Paul, who had so much to say of these things, wrote:
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
[1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 NKJV]
A helmet protects the head, or in Paul’s meaning, the mind, and it is the hope of salvation that guards our minds and keeps us from despairing; from wrong-headedness and the attacks of the evil one. So let us live in hope, putting behind us difficulties and division and instead trust in the one who answers prayer and delivers on His promises. Jesus Christ, our only hope.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
[1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV]
The last few years and last year in particular have been trying for us all. Our faith, our hope and our love have been tested as never before; not helped by world leaders who speak words of hope, and promise so much but cannot deliver. What they do is undermine our hope and instead spread dissent and division. Such things are bound to be, when so many turn away from God, or place their trust in man alone. The apostle Paul, who had so much to say of these things, wrote:
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
[1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 NKJV]
A helmet protects the head, or in Paul’s meaning, the mind, and it is the hope of salvation that guards our minds and keeps us from despairing; from wrong-headedness and the attacks of the evil one. So let us live in hope, putting behind us difficulties and division and instead trust in the one who answers prayer and delivers on His promises. Jesus Christ, our only hope.
The Spirit of God alters my dominating desires; He alters the thing that matters, and a universe of desires I had never known before, suddenly comes on the horizon.
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He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
[John 21:17 NKJV]
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”
[John 21:17 NKJV]
Jesus asks Peter three times “Do you love me?”; and Peter, on this third time of asking, seems a little bit irked. “Why are you asking when you know it already?” Peter’s reaction here is the very human one of impatience.
I have pondered over these verses at the end of John’s gospel many times and have glimpsed different aspects of what Jesus’ message each time. Sometimes this has been superficial and occasionally profound, but always uplifting. However, I believe that His basic message is “If you truly love Me — not just as a friend or brother — but as The Christ, then you will also love those who are mine, and care for them as I do.”
Did Peter do that? The Book of Acts claims that He did. Jesus repeated asking drives the point home to Peter, that his commitment to his Lord must be complete and unwavering.
When Peter says “Lord, You know all things”; this is precisely what Jesus was saying. “Peter, I know you completely — that is why I ask you again.” Our Lord knows us inside out; His Holy Spirit is indwelling; He knows us better than we know ourselves, which is why He keeps asking us, guiding us, caring for us, loving us with His one question: “Do you love me?” “Am I yours exactly as you are Mine?”
I have pondered over these verses at the end of John’s gospel many times and have glimpsed different aspects of what Jesus’ message each time. Sometimes this has been superficial and occasionally profound, but always uplifting. However, I believe that His basic message is “If you truly love Me — not just as a friend or brother — but as The Christ, then you will also love those who are mine, and care for them as I do.”
Did Peter do that? The Book of Acts claims that He did. Jesus repeated asking drives the point home to Peter, that his commitment to his Lord must be complete and unwavering.
When Peter says “Lord, You know all things”; this is precisely what Jesus was saying. “Peter, I know you completely — that is why I ask you again.” Our Lord knows us inside out; His Holy Spirit is indwelling; He knows us better than we know ourselves, which is why He keeps asking us, guiding us, caring for us, loving us with His one question: “Do you love me?” “Am I yours exactly as you are Mine?”
The very life of Jesus is given to us unstintedly if we will identify ourselves with His Death. At the back of us stands the Risen Life of Jesus that nothing can overcome.
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For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
[1Peter 3:18-22 NKJV]
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
[1Peter 3:18-22 NKJV]
The song “Outrageous Grace” as sung by Robin Mark, was a personal favourite in 2020; so it was the starting point for today’s meditation, and as I wondered what I should write, The Lord gave me 1 Peter 3:20 to consider. In this verse, the apostle Peter tells us that in the days of Noah ... while the ark was being prepared ... eight souls were saved through water.
Noah’s ark was a lifeboat, and I chose the painting of the Campbeltown lifeboat from a good few years ago and painted by my father as the header image to represent this meditation. We see that eight souls were saved and those that follow the numerology of scripture* will know that the number eight represents a new beginning. What better to bring in a new year!
Why eight? It is because the number seven represents a completion, and eight (as one more than seven) is a new start. Think of a week as seven days, and thus the eighth day begins a new week. It is significant that eight souls were saved in the ark, because after the flood, they were a restart for God’s people after the corruption that had gone before. We have to see that God is ever-willing to restart His project at any time if corruption and a turning away from Him threatens His eternal plan. We are His creation after all; but He always maintains a remnant who can rebuild and recreate according to His pattern.
And see to it that you make according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.[Exodus 25:40 NKJV]
So we have a challenge this New Year. Will we make according to the pattern that our Lord has established? Will we stand? This New Year we have an amazing opportunity to press into Him and seek His outrageous grace. Are we in the company? Are we abandoning ourselves to God; because that is what it takes?
We are not discouraged, pandemic or not. We have a great God; the one true God who takes care of us. We have seen His wrath sweep the world like nothing before in our generation. It is a warning to His family that we need to look to Him to be among the company of eight souls who were saved; a part of His remnant who will go forward. He will make a way.
Noah’s ark was a lifeboat, and I chose the painting of the Campbeltown lifeboat from a good few years ago and painted by my father as the header image to represent this meditation. We see that eight souls were saved and those that follow the numerology of scripture* will know that the number eight represents a new beginning. What better to bring in a new year!
Why eight? It is because the number seven represents a completion, and eight (as one more than seven) is a new start. Think of a week as seven days, and thus the eighth day begins a new week. It is significant that eight souls were saved in the ark, because after the flood, they were a restart for God’s people after the corruption that had gone before. We have to see that God is ever-willing to restart His project at any time if corruption and a turning away from Him threatens His eternal plan. We are His creation after all; but He always maintains a remnant who can rebuild and recreate according to His pattern.
And see to it that you make according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.[Exodus 25:40 NKJV]
So we have a challenge this New Year. Will we make according to the pattern that our Lord has established? Will we stand? This New Year we have an amazing opportunity to press into Him and seek His outrageous grace. Are we in the company? Are we abandoning ourselves to God; because that is what it takes?
We are not discouraged, pandemic or not. We have a great God; the one true God who takes care of us. We have seen His wrath sweep the world like nothing before in our generation. It is a warning to His family that we need to look to Him to be among the company of eight souls who were saved; a part of His remnant who will go forward. He will make a way.
* see “Number In Scripture: It’s Supernatural Design and Spiritual Significance” by E W Bullinger
There's a lot of pain but a lot more healing
There's a lot of trouble but a lot more peace
There's a lot of hate but a lot more loving
There's a lot of sin but a lot more grace
There's a lot of pain but a lot more healing
There's a lot of trouble but a lot more peace
There's a lot of hate but a lot more loving
There's a lot of sin but a lot more grace
Oh outrageous grace, oh outrageous grace
Love unfurled by heaven's hand
Oh outrageous grace, oh outrageous grace
Through my Jesus I can stand
There's a lot of fear but a lot more freedom
There's a lot of darkness but a lot more light
There's a lot of cloud but a lot more vision
There's a lot of perishing but a lot more life
Oh outrageous grace, oh outrageous grace
Love unfurled by heaven's hand
Oh outrageous grace, oh outrageous grace
Through my Jesus I can stand
There's a lot of pain but a lot more healing
There's a lot of trouble but a lot more peace
There's a lot of hate but a lot more loving
There's a lot of sin but a lot more grace
Oh outrageous grace, oh outrageous grace
Love unfurled by heaven's hand
Oh outrageous grace, oh outrageous grace
Through my Jesus I can stand
There's a lot of trouble but a lot more peace
There's a lot of hate but a lot more loving
There's a lot of sin but a lot more grace
There's a lot of pain but a lot more healing
There's a lot of trouble but a lot more peace
There's a lot of hate but a lot more loving
There's a lot of sin but a lot more grace
Oh outrageous grace, oh outrageous grace
Love unfurled by heaven's hand
Oh outrageous grace, oh outrageous grace
Through my Jesus I can stand
There's a lot of fear but a lot more freedom
There's a lot of darkness but a lot more light
There's a lot of cloud but a lot more vision
There's a lot of perishing but a lot more life
Oh outrageous grace, oh outrageous grace
Love unfurled by heaven's hand
Oh outrageous grace, oh outrageous grace
Through my Jesus I can stand
There's a lot of pain but a lot more healing
There's a lot of trouble but a lot more peace
There's a lot of hate but a lot more loving
There's a lot of sin but a lot more grace
Oh outrageous grace, oh outrageous grace
Love unfurled by heaven's hand
Oh outrageous grace, oh outrageous grace
Through my Jesus I can stand
God is so immediately near and so immensely strong that I get more and more joyous in my confidence in Him and less and less careful how I feel.
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“Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year:
You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty); and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labours which you have sown in the field;
and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labours from the field.
[Exodus 23:14-16 NKJV]
You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty); and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labours which you have sown in the field;
and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labours from the field.
[Exodus 23:14-16 NKJV]
I am currently reading a book about the Lord’s feasts. It is called “The Feasts of Israel” by Kevin J Conner. This book, like a lot of Conner’s work is presented as a textbook for study purposes, and in this regard his books excel. This, however was not my reason for the scripture I have chosen for today; it was more to do with this being the last day of 2020 — a year which will go down in the history books like few others.
Some have named 2020 as ‘the beginning of the end’. I do not agree. That beginning began centuries ago; we might now be in the realisation of prophecy, and if so, we can be thankful in knowing our God. It is easy to put doom-laden ‘end of the world is nigh’ labels on 2020/2021 — it has happened many times in history — but we should always have a reassurance in our Heavenly Father that whatever may befall, He is in control of all things.
Exodus mentions three feasts ‘unto the Lord’ in the year, culminating in the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year when you have gathered in the fruit of your labours. This, of course is not referring to the end of the calendar year, but to the Spiritual year, (and also to our individual maturing in our walk with Jesus Christ, as well as to the fulfilment of the entire plan of God).
In Israel they had two calendars — a secular calendar and a religious calendar, set seven months apart. This may seem like boring detail, but it provides confirmation of some scriptural truth. e.g. the Feast of Passover — the first great feast, which we celebrate as Easter — could be seen as the Feast of Tabernacles, depending on which calendar you looked at. This is significant and unveils the profound revelation, that what for us is ‘Passover’, was ‘Tabernacles’ for Jesus. Put simply: in Jesus’ death and resurrection is our beginning.
So it is with today — at the end of the year — we are about to step forward into a new year, a new time, a stepping forward with hope for better days. January takes its name from the old Roman god of the doorway, Janus, who was always portrayed as looking back and forward at the same time. New Year is, for us all, a time of considering the old year and trying to put it in perspective, and for starting afresh on a new path.
As believers we have something immeasurably greater — a God who gives us resurrection life now, as we walk towards Him, and the promise of everlasting life with Him. There is no looking back. We need not worry about the temporal, when we know the eternal.
Some have named 2020 as ‘the beginning of the end’. I do not agree. That beginning began centuries ago; we might now be in the realisation of prophecy, and if so, we can be thankful in knowing our God. It is easy to put doom-laden ‘end of the world is nigh’ labels on 2020/2021 — it has happened many times in history — but we should always have a reassurance in our Heavenly Father that whatever may befall, He is in control of all things.
Exodus mentions three feasts ‘unto the Lord’ in the year, culminating in the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year when you have gathered in the fruit of your labours. This, of course is not referring to the end of the calendar year, but to the Spiritual year, (and also to our individual maturing in our walk with Jesus Christ, as well as to the fulfilment of the entire plan of God).
In Israel they had two calendars — a secular calendar and a religious calendar, set seven months apart. This may seem like boring detail, but it provides confirmation of some scriptural truth. e.g. the Feast of Passover — the first great feast, which we celebrate as Easter — could be seen as the Feast of Tabernacles, depending on which calendar you looked at. This is significant and unveils the profound revelation, that what for us is ‘Passover’, was ‘Tabernacles’ for Jesus. Put simply: in Jesus’ death and resurrection is our beginning.
So it is with today — at the end of the year — we are about to step forward into a new year, a new time, a stepping forward with hope for better days. January takes its name from the old Roman god of the doorway, Janus, who was always portrayed as looking back and forward at the same time. New Year is, for us all, a time of considering the old year and trying to put it in perspective, and for starting afresh on a new path.
As believers we have something immeasurably greater — a God who gives us resurrection life now, as we walk towards Him, and the promise of everlasting life with Him. There is no looking back. We need not worry about the temporal, when we know the eternal.
The ideal is not that we do work for God, but that we are so loyal to Him that He can do His work through us—“I reckon on you for extreme service, with no complaining on your part and no explanation on Mine.” God wants to use us as He used His own Son.
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So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned.
And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. Therefore she said to Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac." And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight because of his son.
But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed."
[Genesis 21:8-13 NKJV]
And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. Therefore she said to Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac." And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight because of his son.
But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed."
[Genesis 21:8-13 NKJV]
When I was young, there was a game that was played called Truth or Consequences. In this parlour game, someone would ask a question and if the others failed to give the right answer, a penalty was exacted; usually something like “you must wash the dishes for a week”. Rarely in my experience did “the punishment fit the crime”, which is why I refused to take part in such an unjust game. I believe that there was an American game show based on this idea and with the same title.
Abraham in this Genesis story found himself in the middle of such a thing. He had to face up to God’s truth and pay the consequences too. God is just and merciful, but His immutable law of sowing and reaping (as you sow, so shall you reap), cannot be ignored
This is an aspect of this that we must consider in the inheritance battle between Ishmael and Isaac. In the meditation “Submit Yourself”, we looked at the consequences of how two people Abram and Sarai dealt with their desire for a child, despite all the odds against this. Sarai seems to put aside her trust in God and offers her maidservant, Hagar, an Egyptian, to Abram, and the child Ishmael is born. We can see in this story that Ishmael is always going to be the firstborn in you and I, for he is a type of a natural birth.
Thirteen years later, Isaac is born supernaturally to Sarah (noblewoman) and Abraham (father of a multitude) — both having their name and nature changed from natural to spiritual by The Lord. By this I mean that when we give ourselves to The Lord, we are reborn into His life, which is of the Spirit — thus Isaac is born in us also. Being “born again” does not mean that our old life is done away with; instead we have Ishmael and Isaac battling in us for dominance. Ishmael the older and stronger is always likely to push Isaac the younger out of the way and is why we struggle daily to keep our older “flesh” nature under control and allow the “spiritual” to flourish.
Abraham found this an immense struggle, and could not banish his son Ishmael from his presence as Sarah said that he should. Eventually God took a hand in this — for the furtherance of His plan — and says to Abraham "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.
It is a hard truth, and one that we must hear or face the consequences. We need to cast out the bondwoman and her son — and allow His Holy Spirit to flourish in you and I. We are assured of The Lord’s help. His plan will succeed.
Abraham in this Genesis story found himself in the middle of such a thing. He had to face up to God’s truth and pay the consequences too. God is just and merciful, but His immutable law of sowing and reaping (as you sow, so shall you reap), cannot be ignored
This is an aspect of this that we must consider in the inheritance battle between Ishmael and Isaac. In the meditation “Submit Yourself”, we looked at the consequences of how two people Abram and Sarai dealt with their desire for a child, despite all the odds against this. Sarai seems to put aside her trust in God and offers her maidservant, Hagar, an Egyptian, to Abram, and the child Ishmael is born. We can see in this story that Ishmael is always going to be the firstborn in you and I, for he is a type of a natural birth.
Thirteen years later, Isaac is born supernaturally to Sarah (noblewoman) and Abraham (father of a multitude) — both having their name and nature changed from natural to spiritual by The Lord. By this I mean that when we give ourselves to The Lord, we are reborn into His life, which is of the Spirit — thus Isaac is born in us also. Being “born again” does not mean that our old life is done away with; instead we have Ishmael and Isaac battling in us for dominance. Ishmael the older and stronger is always likely to push Isaac the younger out of the way and is why we struggle daily to keep our older “flesh” nature under control and allow the “spiritual” to flourish.
Abraham found this an immense struggle, and could not banish his son Ishmael from his presence as Sarah said that he should. Eventually God took a hand in this — for the furtherance of His plan — and says to Abraham "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.
It is a hard truth, and one that we must hear or face the consequences. We need to cast out the bondwoman and her son — and allow His Holy Spirit to flourish in you and I. We are assured of The Lord’s help. His plan will succeed.
In tribulation, misunderstanding, slander, in the midst of all these things, if our life is hid with Christ in God, He will keep us at ease. We rob ourselves of the marvellous revelation of this abiding companionship of God. God is our refuge”—nothing can come through that shelter.
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Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.
Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The LORD judge between you and me.”
So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.
Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?”
She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”
The Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.”
[Genesis 16:1-10 NKJV]
Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The LORD judge between you and me.”
So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.
Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?”
She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”
The Angel of the LORD said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.”
[Genesis 16:1-10 NKJV]
This story is an important one, and although the interaction between Sarai (Princess) and Abram (exalted father) seems unusual in our eyes (Sarai requests that Abram has a child with her maid, and the child would then be hers), it appears that it was the practice in those days. However, once the maid Hagar (flight) bore the child Ishmael (God will hear), she turned against Sarai — and thus, this very human situation in one family sparked an enmity which has reverberated through the centuries and remains a conflict for many in the present day, for through Ishmael’s line we have the Islamic faith, and through Sarai’s child Isaac (he laughs), came the Judeo-Christian expression.
Then, in one of those quick scene changes at which the Bible excels (we cannot complain that the story takes too long to come to the point), the Angel of The Lord appears to Hagar at Shur (wall, from a root meaning to turn or travel about as a harlot or merchant) and tells her to return and submit herself to Sarai, in return for which “I will give you more descendants than you can count.” [NLT]
It is surely a wonderful mercy that the Lord will come to us in a time of wandering in sinfulness — when we are “digging ourselves deeper” — and promise such abundance if we will but submit and return. Our willingness to repent; submit our will to His, is the key to unlocking a deeper relationship with Him and opens the door to His manifold blessings.
Hagar’s reward was many descendants, but her son was not to be the one with whom God would make His everlasting covenant:
And Abraham said to God, "Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!"
Then God said: "No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year."
[Genesis 16:18-21 NKJV]
Then, in one of those quick scene changes at which the Bible excels (we cannot complain that the story takes too long to come to the point), the Angel of The Lord appears to Hagar at Shur (wall, from a root meaning to turn or travel about as a harlot or merchant) and tells her to return and submit herself to Sarai, in return for which “I will give you more descendants than you can count.” [NLT]
It is surely a wonderful mercy that the Lord will come to us in a time of wandering in sinfulness — when we are “digging ourselves deeper” — and promise such abundance if we will but submit and return. Our willingness to repent; submit our will to His, is the key to unlocking a deeper relationship with Him and opens the door to His manifold blessings.
Hagar’s reward was many descendants, but her son was not to be the one with whom God would make His everlasting covenant:
And Abraham said to God, "Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!"
Then God said: "No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year."
[Genesis 16:18-21 NKJV]
A river touches places of which its source knows nothing, and Jesus says if we have received of His fullness, however small the visible measure of our lives, out of us will flow the rivers that will bless to the uttermost parts of the earth. We have nothing to do with the out-flow—This is the work of God that ye believe. . . .” God rarely allows a soul to see how great a blessing he is.
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So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.
Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated.
And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent.
And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness.
So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him.
[Genesis 9:1,18-24 NKJV]
Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated.
And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent.
And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness.
So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him.
[Genesis 9:1,18-24 NKJV]
Our last meditation was on fruitfulness and mentioned the younger son, and that reminded me of a word that I had heard a few years back of how God many times reveals His truth through the younger son.
The first mention of this is in Genesis, chapter 9 shown above; but who is the younger son to which Noah refers? Is he referring to his grandson Canaan, or to his younger sons Shem and Japheth? Ham was his firstborn son, although he was the one who had acted incorrectly.
What is clear is that, although Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God; Noah was not without sin. This is important for us to get hold of — we can be just, perfect in our generations, and walking with God; but we can still fall short of the perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
There is a lot to be pulled out of these verses; but we shall stick with ‘the younger son’. Various sources differ as to who was Noah’s younger son. Some say Ham, some say Japheth; but whatever order they were born, we can be assured that God is saying many things through these verses.
To look at the story, it makes clear that Noah and His sons were to populate the earth spiritually. It seems that Ham and his offspring went south to Africa, while Shem covered the Jewish people and Japheth the gentiles; in this way they filled the earth.
As if this was not enough to the story, there is also the personal aspect. Noah had too much wine and exposed himself to approbation. Ham (hot) saw this and pointed it out to Shem (name) and Japheth (opened), who, rather than condemn, covered their father (literally) and refused to see him in his exposed state. In other words, they protected him; they showed love and confirmation, in a way that Ham did not.
Shem and Japheth showed love and wanted to cover their father. Our Lord shows exactly that to us; He is our covering.
But as to the Younger son; we can see that most notably in the stories of Ishmael and Isaac, as well as Esau and Jacob and, in the New Testament, the story of the Prodigal Son. Our Heavenly Father reveals His line and His plan through the younger.
Of this there is much more to be said — but not today. May the Lord bless you and keep you; holding you to Himself in these difficult times.
The first mention of this is in Genesis, chapter 9 shown above; but who is the younger son to which Noah refers? Is he referring to his grandson Canaan, or to his younger sons Shem and Japheth? Ham was his firstborn son, although he was the one who had acted incorrectly.
What is clear is that, although Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God; Noah was not without sin. This is important for us to get hold of — we can be just, perfect in our generations, and walking with God; but we can still fall short of the perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
There is a lot to be pulled out of these verses; but we shall stick with ‘the younger son’. Various sources differ as to who was Noah’s younger son. Some say Ham, some say Japheth; but whatever order they were born, we can be assured that God is saying many things through these verses.
To look at the story, it makes clear that Noah and His sons were to populate the earth spiritually. It seems that Ham and his offspring went south to Africa, while Shem covered the Jewish people and Japheth the gentiles; in this way they filled the earth.
As if this was not enough to the story, there is also the personal aspect. Noah had too much wine and exposed himself to approbation. Ham (hot) saw this and pointed it out to Shem (name) and Japheth (opened), who, rather than condemn, covered their father (literally) and refused to see him in his exposed state. In other words, they protected him; they showed love and confirmation, in a way that Ham did not.
Shem and Japheth showed love and wanted to cover their father. Our Lord shows exactly that to us; He is our covering.
But as to the Younger son; we can see that most notably in the stories of Ishmael and Isaac, as well as Esau and Jacob and, in the New Testament, the story of the Prodigal Son. Our Heavenly Father reveals His line and His plan through the younger.
Of this there is much more to be said — but not today. May the Lord bless you and keep you; holding you to Himself in these difficult times.
Put all “supposing” on one side and dwell in the shadow of the Almighty. Deliberately tell God that you will not fret about that thing. All our feet and worry is caused by calculating without God.
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And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him.
Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house.”
And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
[Genesis 41:50-53 NKJV]
Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house.”
And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
[Genesis 41:50-53 NKJV]
Some of my better paintings have only come about through a great inner struggle. I doubt any ability or creative talent The Lord has given me, and my hand does not obey the vision in my mind.
It is only when I give up any idea of myself that anything is achieved. It is said that Michelangelo could ‘see’ his completed sculptures within the marble and that all he did was release them. Michelangelo was a believer* and, I believe, was given much Holy Spirit insight in his creativity. There is a book to be written (or more likely several books have been written) on this subject, so I shall not venture further here; but more than a few artists have expressed the feeling that the hand of another was guiding their work.
Joseph acknowledged his debt to God by naming his sons to express his gratitude to God. Manasseh the firstborn (forgetting) for God has made me forget all my toil, and his younger son Ephraim, meaning “doubly fruitful”, for God has caused me to be fruitful. “Ephraim” comes from Ephrath (fruitful), the old name for Bethlehem. I am in awe of the way that Scripture interweaves and locks real depth of meaning and revelation into the background of every verse.
Joseph says for God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction; and we know that when God causes fruitfulness He does so abundantly. It is a reminder that whatever our endeavours, we need to seek the Lord’s help — He will turn our efforts from failure to fruitfulness if we follow His will and not our own.
It is only when I give up any idea of myself that anything is achieved. It is said that Michelangelo could ‘see’ his completed sculptures within the marble and that all he did was release them. Michelangelo was a believer* and, I believe, was given much Holy Spirit insight in his creativity. There is a book to be written (or more likely several books have been written) on this subject, so I shall not venture further here; but more than a few artists have expressed the feeling that the hand of another was guiding their work.
Joseph acknowledged his debt to God by naming his sons to express his gratitude to God. Manasseh the firstborn (forgetting) for God has made me forget all my toil, and his younger son Ephraim, meaning “doubly fruitful”, for God has caused me to be fruitful. “Ephraim” comes from Ephrath (fruitful), the old name for Bethlehem. I am in awe of the way that Scripture interweaves and locks real depth of meaning and revelation into the background of every verse.
Joseph says for God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction; and we know that when God causes fruitfulness He does so abundantly. It is a reminder that whatever our endeavours, we need to seek the Lord’s help — He will turn our efforts from failure to fruitfulness if we follow His will and not our own.
*. Michelangelo was a devout person, but later in life he developed a belief in Spiritualism, for which he was condemned by Pope Paul IV. The fundamental tenet of Spiritualism is that the path to God can be found not exclusively through the Church, but through direct communication with God. Pope Paul IV interpreted Michelangelo’s Last Judgment, painted on the wall of the Sistine Chapel 20 years after completing the ceiling, as defaming the church by suggesting that Jesus and those around him communicated with God directly without need of Church. (source: Scientific American)
“Gloria in excelsis Deo” — Glory to God In The Highest
There are many things that are perfectly legitimate, but if you are going to concentrate on God you cannot do them. Your right hand is one of the best things you have, but Jesus says if it hinders you in following His precepts, cut it off. This line of discipline is the sternest one that ever struck mankind.
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And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
[Luke 2:7-14 NKJV]
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
[Luke 2:7-14 NKJV]
There is always something miraculous about the birth of a child, and I consider myself so hugely fortunate with our children and grandchildren; each one so beautifully fashioned that it breaks your heart. Every new life precious.
Not everyone is able to experience that particular joy — and for many and varied reasons — but I believe that our Lord is one who mends every broken reed, and we should all be encouraged and find joy in every moment.
Be assured this is not easy, as we know only too well, and indeed identify with al those who are troubled at this time of year. Easy to say and difficult to do. Exactly right.
When Jesus was born, it was into the humblest of circumstances. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords was born in a cowshed. The place of your birth and the nature of your nurture does not define you. These things, impactful as they are, need not make you who you are. Jesus Christ, and only Jesus Christ can transform your situation if you turn to Him. Only He can lift you out and raise you up. That has been my experience and that of so many.
“the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.“
At this time of year and in this particularly trying year on every front, we pray for that great joy of the new birth for you all; that we may be refreshed and renewed for a regenerating year in 2021.
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
[Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV]
Not everyone is able to experience that particular joy — and for many and varied reasons — but I believe that our Lord is one who mends every broken reed, and we should all be encouraged and find joy in every moment.
Be assured this is not easy, as we know only too well, and indeed identify with al those who are troubled at this time of year. Easy to say and difficult to do. Exactly right.
When Jesus was born, it was into the humblest of circumstances. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords was born in a cowshed. The place of your birth and the nature of your nurture does not define you. These things, impactful as they are, need not make you who you are. Jesus Christ, and only Jesus Christ can transform your situation if you turn to Him. Only He can lift you out and raise you up. That has been my experience and that of so many.
“the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.“
At this time of year and in this particularly trying year on every front, we pray for that great joy of the new birth for you all; that we may be refreshed and renewed for a regenerating year in 2021.
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
[Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV]
Jesus Christ is God incarnate coming into human flesh from the outside, His life is the Highest and the Holiest entering in at the lowliest door. Have I allowed my personal life to become a “Bethlehem” for the Son of God?