To Isaac with Love , A love story

I grew up in Mespotamia in the town of Nahor. I was always a curious girl, curious about the world around me, curious about the God who made man and woman, cattle and sheep and camels. Curious about well…I will tell you later. I loved playing games with my maid servants and playing with my brother Laban. My mother always tried to tame my wild streak as she called it. I always wanted to travel, to see places that were different to my own. My favourite time was to climb up a tree close to my home and dream. Dream about travelling, dream about the man I would one day marry, believe me I had no clue who or where he was, but it was nice to dream any way. People used to tell my mother I was beautiful as they saw me running around the well with my maid servants but she only shook her head and said’ if only she were more tame’. I loved animals, my father had a lot of sheep, cattle and camels. I would spend a lot of time playing with them .As I grew older I felt a sense of destiny, I felt that one day life would offer me more than just playing hopscotch with my maids.

I had a cousin from my mother’s side who was now beginning to show a great interest in me but he was not the prince charming I was dreaming about. I think it was his greasy hair yet I was now sixteen and some of my friends were already married. Would I ever meet the man of my dreams? Would I ever bear children? Would I travel? Would I find God who created the earth? Would I? Would I? Suddenly I heard my mother calling Rebekah, Rebekah. I ran towards her. I usually ran and seldom walked. She asked me to go and fetch some water for her. I loved going out so I put on the new purple garment that my mother chose for me put the jar on my shoulder and of I went. I learnt many things from my mother but one thing I knew I possessed was the gift of hospitality.

I went towards the well with two of my amid servants who were teasing me about my greasy haired cousin, suddenly I saw this old man with about four younger men and ten camels. The man looked very tired, he looked at me and I looked back. He looked at me some more and I smiled, I was used to people looking at me but this was a look of destiny. I felt a tugging in my heart that something big was about to happen. Then he smiled came up to me and asked me for a drink. I then looked at the camels and the four men and they all looked pathetically back at me so I ran to the well and drew some water for the men and the camels. Now the camels and the men looked very happy and I was glad.

I looked into the eyes of the old man and they were bright with a sense of purpose he then took out a beautiful nose ring and two lovely bracelets and put them on me. I always loved jewellery especially earrings and bracelets and I did not understand why he put this jewellery on me, I did not think he fancied me he was more like my grandfather. He then asked me if there was room in my home in my home for all of them to stay and my maid servants who were eyeing the four younger men on the camels looked at me and nodded so hard that I thought their heads might fall off. It was then I introduced myself, I was never the one to keep a secret, always spoke my heart out so I told him, I was the daughter of Bethuel. Betheul my father was the son that Milcah bore to Nahor. The old man had tears in his eyes, he held my hands and he then bowed down and prayed to a God, a God I wanted to know about so much more. I could not wait to run home and show my mother the jewellery and introduce my parents and brother to this man. Once we got home and the supper was laid out the old man started telling us about our great uncle Abraham and his son. I was excited, could this be the man I dreamed about the past six years on the tree next to my home .I now knew that this was the sense of purpose and destiny that tugged at my heart.

I was going to travel. I was going places. I was going to marry this unknown man in a far off place. The man I dreamed about since the time I was a little girl on the tree, my mother and my brother Laban wanted me to stay another ten days before I left but I felt an urgency in my heart and in my spirit that this was my destiny, this was my purpose and this was the man I was going to marry. I felt excitement and curiosity, what will this man look like? Will he find me attractive? What will my first kiss be like? I got ready for travel. I would miss my parents and my brother Laban yet I knew I had a destiny to fulfil. This was my life. This was my destiny. This was meant to be and this was my call. We had a long journey then from a distance I saw a tall man with strong shoulders coming towards us. I asked the old man who he was, he said this was Isaac, his master. As he said the name Isaac my heart skipped a beat .Being brought up with the values and culture of my family I covered my face with a veil. Isaac came towards us ,he held out his hand to help me down the camel. Our eyes met for the first time, there was chemistry I blushed as I got down ,I slipped and his hands held me tight. It was then that i knew that I belonged  I belonged to Isaac .Isaac took me into a beautiful tent which belonged to Sarah his mother he gave me some goat’s milk and some dried fruit .He said a prayer holding my hands as we sat on the soft crimson cushions .He told me about Yahweh that his father Abraham had told him about and I believed. He then took a golden goblet and poured wine into it .we both then made a covenant with Yahweh that we would love Him, serve Him and follow Him. Isaac then promised to love, cherish and honour me. I promised to love, cherish, honour and follow him wherever he would go, obey him and be the best wife I could be for him  .I now knew I belonged to Isaac ,he took the veil of my face and kissed me. It was then I knew what God had prepared for me. God had prepared me for Isaac. That was my destiny. I have never looked back since. Yahweh be praised.

Why did the authors write the Bible

In the beginning was the  word and the word was with God and the word was God. John 1:1

The authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote these books. These books were written so that man might read the word of God and be inspired.
Hear the word of God and interpret. Interpret the word of God and receive revelation.

The bible inspired by the Holy Spirit written by mortal man so as to build a bridge of revelation between man and God. This bridge being our Lord Jesus Christ. So that man might comprehend the word and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of their lives.

The whole word revolves around one significant figure that is the Messiah Jesus Christ . Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of prophecy.

Why did the authors write ?  God knowing the heart of man, knowing the troubles of man gave us the gift of His word through His servants to write this awesome word called the Bible.

The Bible is for every individual offering the forgiveness of sins and eternal life through Christ. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  John 3:16
God wants the world to enjoy eternal life in His presence in out of His manifold love. The Bible signifies one word that word is love .  Love for the world given to us through His word . Why did the authors write ? The author wrote because of God’s love for mankind . That  love came in the form of His Son Jesus. Accept Jesus and receive eternal life in Christ.

Time Travel Through The Bible

Hebrews 1:1,2 “ In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.

What do these verses tell us? God in the past days spoke through the prophets as the Holy spirit in the Old Testament rested on prophets, priests and Kings. Therefore these were the only anointed people who were able to speak out the word that was entrusted to them through the Holy Spirit. Hence in the past days God spoke through the prophets.

Now lets go on a “ Time Machine” to the station of Jesus on earth. Jesus spoke through the power of the Holy Spirit that descended on Him in the form of a dove. When He was baptised in the Jordan river by John the Baptist (Luke 3 :21)
Signs and wonders followed His words because of the Holy Spirit indwelling Him.

Now lets go further into time when Jesus died for us on the cross and ascended into heaven.  That was the period of the advent of the Holy Spirit( Acts 2 :3)

Now lets walk through time, God in the past spoke through the prophets, Then God spoke through Jesus. How does God speak to us now? God speaks to us through His Divinely Inspired word and through His Holy Spirit, in this “ Cosmopolitan Contemporary world” God pours out His spirit on all flesh, on all peoples of every race, creed and tongue ( Joel 2 :28, 29) on condition they accept Jesus Christ as Saviour of their lives.

When Jesus left us, Jesus still remained not by body but through His Spirit. That Spirit remains on earth today in you and in me. That Spirit enables us to be all that God intended for us to be before the creation of the world.

Now lets take the time machine to the future Revelation 21:2-4  says that  when the new city of God appears Jesus will  live among us and He will wipe away every tear from our eyes and there will be no more death and suffering. We will see Jesus face to face and we will be  with  Jesus forever more.

Priesthood

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

Hebrews 7: 1-3

The first priest in the Bible was not a Levite but the father of priests. The priest without genealogy  the priest who existed before time existed. Could this high priest from the Old Testament come as the Lamb for sacrifice in the New Testament?

Melchizedek, King of Salem brought out bread and wine.

Genesis 14:18-20

He brought out what would one day happen in the future as He made a covenant with Abraham son of man.
Melchizedek who I personally believe is the pre-incarnate Christ made a covenant with humanity. Melchizedek  the pre-incarnate Christ makes a covenant with Abraham the father of nations. That one day Abraham’s seed which we are may be justified through grace. The bread depicting His body and the wine His blood. That one day Christ will suffer and die for humanity. This was a symbolic prophecy.
Therefore this covenant with Abraham was of utmost significance because this covenant with Abraham which is linked with the covenant of Christ with the Church. When the heavenly bridegroom comes for His bride the Church.
Now coming back to Melchizedek, who is this King and priest with no genealogy? I believe He is Christ our Lord. Why did this King and priest make a covenant  with Abraham? So that the Father of nations depicting humanity would one day enter the holy of holies through the blood and body of Christ who died on the cross.
I believe that the meeting with Melchizedek and Abraham is the day time did a paradigm-shift. When Jesus walked back into time to meet this man called Abraham and the day Abraham walked into the future. The meeting of the two climaxed with a spiritual bang  and Melchizedek blessed the father of many nations. When  Melchizedek blessed Abraham He blessed us all because we are the children of Abraham.

A Letter About This Man Called Jesus

Hypothetically speaking I am a Pharisee writing a letter to a fellow Jew, a close friend studying this man called Jesus. Could this man a Nazarene be the Messiah?

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me.

He has sent me as a herald of joy to the humble ,To bind up the wounded of heart,

To proclaim release to the captives, Liberation to the imprisoned to proclaim a year of the Lord’s favou , And a day of vindication by our God, To comfort all who mourn.(Isaiah 61:1,2) The Jewish Study Bible

My dear friend and brother Eleazer,

Shalom! I bring greetings to you and your family. I hope you are doing well and your family is blessed and prosperous as always thanks to our great Yahweh. Yahweh be praised my wife and children are in good health and now Bengamin my oldest son is thirity three years old the same age as this man that caused such a religious revolution, this intriguing, mind boggling, baffling, downright rebel that caused so much of an uproar these past three years. Yet there was so much of love in him. So much of courage, compassion, wisdom but above all his love and devotion to Yahweh. Could this mortal man who claims to be the son of the Almighty, Yahweh creator of heaven and earth be the Messiah? I have seen his mother Mary, I have, I have seen his brothers and friends .Yet he is different, he belongs yet does not belong. It says in the book of Isaiah 7:14” Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign,the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel” Could this Mary have been a virgin rumour has it that she was when she was with child Jesus. He looked so different from his family, unlike Mary and Joseph and his strapping normal brothers. Could this be the divine birth that the prophets spoke about? He has flesh and blood like all men, yet this man is unlike all men.

Let me tell you why, long ago when I was the age of Bengmin I went to read the Torah at the temple, to the temple came a lovely young couple with a little baby.

Now this couple caught my attention because they came to dedicate their new born baby at the temple. As they walked to the place of dedication they were greeted by my friend Simon, the man of prayer, who is always at the temple praying for the consolation of Israel. He came to the couple took the baby in his arms and said” For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the gentiles and for glory to your people Israel” I was amazed and went to read the Torah just as I was about to open it Anna the prophetess went to greet them and I closed the Torah and went towards the young couple she took the child in her arms and spoke about the redemption of Israel through this baby. Being a Pharisee a devout one “hopefully” Yahweh be praised. I went towards this couple spoke to them and asked them the name of this baby and they said it was Jesus. Jesus said I registering the name in my memory as no one else I knew had that name .I lost track of that baby yet the vision of that baby and the words spoken by Simon and Anna the prophetess kept haunting my mind .I remember the way the baby looked at me and smiled. Many years later I went to the temple, as I always do for the feast of the Passover. I saw this sweet boy about twelve years old looking very excited to be at the temple. He came up to us after the sacrifices and this time and stern and he asked me to explain how the sins of the people can be atoned for by the blood sacrifice of an animal. He asked me why does the law need to be enforced ? I thought this child can cause a revolt .The wisdom of this child was phenomenal and I asked him his name. The child looked at me straight in the eye and said “Jesus”. Then I knew this was no ordinary child. As this child spoke to Nathaniel and Jeremiah, I took this child aside and asked, who are you? Why do you look so grave? The child did not answer my first question but He said I now know why I have come into this world.It is to save the Lost, one ultimate sacrifice to fulfil the Law. I did not know what he meant. This boy was one day going to cause a revolution. The purpose of the life of this young boy was revealed when He came to the temple that day. I kept track of the life of this young boy called Jesus. I heard that he took over Joseph’s business as a carpenter. I visited his store at Nazareth and Jesus was the best carpenter that lived in all of Jerusalem. Jesus welcomed me into his store and gave me fresh grape juice and I looked with amazement at the furniture he made, it was absolutely exquisite. This furniture was not made by human hands but had divine inspiration inlaid with mortal aspiration. As we talked on he kept murmuring that His time was yet to come. Yet in my heart I knew that the time was at hand. For this Jesus to cause a revolution as the prophets of old had foretold. I also heard about this prophet called John The Baptist who was calling people to baptism” which was an outward sign of inward change” after they repented of their sins he was baptising them in the Jordan river. Being a curious man I went to hear him, his message was powerful, it cut to my heart urging me to repent and be baptised yet I restrained my self. For I knew it was not my time. As I watched John the Baptist, Jesus and some of his followers came up to him .I was amazed to see that this fascinating, intriguing man Jesus condescended to be baptised by John in the Jordan river. I watched with amazement that as Jesus was coming out of the water, I heard thunder and a voice from nowhere yet everywhere said “ You are my son whom I love with you I am well pleased.” Then I saw a dove come and sit on his head. His whole face was alight and I knew I had witnessed a very special and significant moment. News about this man called Jesus became an obsession with me. I started asking people about him. I went to a synagogue talk about divine timing or was it fate Jesus a young man around thirty years of age read the Torah Isaiah 61:1,2” The spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor . He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives and release for the prisoners.” As He read these words his voice thundered in the synagogue and this Jesus had the audacity to say “today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Who did he think He was the son of God? Yet deep in my heart I knew this was no ordinary man. Even after what I heard at His baptism by John the Baptist. I had erased as the figment of my imagination. Yet through these divine appointments I studied him. Yahweh be praise. Then came a very big shock, that shook the very foundations of the ground around my feet.This Jesus started working miracles. Miracles, Yes this Jesus started drove out evil spirits from people. I followed Him to watch him more closely, whenever Jesus saw me watching Him with curiosity he gave me a slight nod and a wonderful smile, that warmed my heart. Jesus did not have an attitude of superiority” Look at me I am the one who works miracles” on the contrary Jesus was humble and full of compassion and touched a man with leprosy and healed him. It was a touch of love. A touch of compassion, a touch of peace for this man who was troubled in body and soul, Jesus touched this man and made him whole. This miracle touched the core of my being. This miracle spoke volumes to me about this man called Jesus.

Isaiah 53:5 “ But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our inequities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him and by His wounds we are healed.” I heard about the arrest of Jesus and my heart raced and my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. This wonderful man Jesus, the man I studied and loved was now standing before Pilate. There was a revolt over this man Jesus. I could not enter into the palace of Pilate but waited outside. I heard the crowd cry crucify Him, crucify Him, my heart wept how could they do this to this awesome man.This man did cause a revolution but not the way I expected. He was going to die. If He was God why did he not do anything supernatural yet my friend Eleazar there was a reason, there was purpose, there was a plan. I stood at the foot of the cross, my spirit and my heart weeping. As He cried out “ Father into your hands I commit my spirit”. Then He breathed His last. I felt in my spirit the pain, the agony, for such a loss yet I knew it was not over. No this could not and can not be the end. More was yet to come ,Some of his disciples told me that He had risen, my heart was overjoyed and I believed. It was then that I believed. Did He appear to me ? No but I knew that I knew, that this Jesus was no longer dead but alive. How did I know? Because Jesus said I will raise this temple in three days that temple meant His body. That man Jesus was the Messiah. This man Jesus the son of God, lived walked and breathed the same air as ordinary men. This man Jesus was a Jew by birth but a gentile by heart. This man Jesus caused a revolution even today in the hearts and lives of people. This man Jesus is the Christ, The anointed one, The Messiah, The Redeemer. This man Jesus is my all in all God of creation. Yeshua be praised.

Your loving brother and friend

Eli

Breaking Down Barriers

Pre-suppositions breaking down barriers

Man is born into this world with pre suppositions.Ps51:5 “ surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

I would interpret this verse” surely I was born with pre suppositions from the time I was born moulded with pre suppositions by my parents, my society, my culture, my world. My all in all existence is based on pre suppositions. Jesus came into this world to break down the pre suppositions that the Pharisees moulded and imbedded into society. Jesus was not a conformist but I would actually say a rebel to break down the rigid laws enforced by society especially the pharisaic society.

Race, Religion, Culture, Environment puts us into a box of pre-suppositions in a way we view the outside world.

Jesus did not stay at the mountain top with the rulers of that age and the Pharisees but he was the friend of the sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes and adulterers. Jesus loved and cared for those despised by society.

He touched the leper. Asked the Samaritan woman for water, washed the feet of his disciples, went to the house of Zaccehus for a meal. Jesus cleared the temple area of those who were turning God house into a market, desecrating the house of God.

Jesus was a non conformist in very many ways. He only conformed to His heavenly father and submitted to the government. Jesus was radical.

God is looking for radical Christians not tied down with pre suppositions but with an open mind and heart to change the world.

Paul came as a Pharisee with pre suppositions about Christ. Paul murdered Christians but once he met Christ, those scales of presuppositions fell from his eyes(Acts9:18) and he could now see the light of revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. There was a paradigm shift from the past life of Paul to the time he met the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? because the pre suppositions of his past fell off. He now viewed the world in a different light.

God is looking for radical Christians who can shape history. Martin Luther took out the lens of pre suppositions that the catholic church enforced on the people and brought about the light.

Martin Luther King took out the lens of pre suppositions that the black man was inferior to the white man and fought for and brought about equality.

We as Christians are to take out the lens of our prudent, self righteous, cynical selves and meet the people in the valleys, in the prisons, in the brothels and tell them about the love of Christ and more so show them the love of Christ by listening to them, caring for them, helping them and reaching out to them.

See the world in the eyes of our Lord Jesus Christ. Learn from Him. Have you the courage to change the world? Jesus defied the pharisaic authority, Yet he conformed to the divinity of our omnipotent authority.

( Yet not my will but yours be done)

A God that walked this earth tearing down presuppositions of society yet walked this earth with total humility.