Recognizing God

Genesis 35:1-7, 9

1. God invites us to recognize Him (v1).
2. We lay down what needs to be laid down before coming to God (v2-4, 7).
3. God blesses those who recognize Him (v9).

Jacob had just made peace with his twin brother Esau and God called him back to Bethel. He ordered his whole household to "put away the strange gods that are among [them], and be clean" (v2). Upon arriving at Bethel, he built an altar for the Lord, and He blessed him.

Jacob recognized God's mighty hand in what had happened between him and Esau. It was God who made a way for them to be reconciled (Genesis 32-33). God had also helped him with his problems with his father-in-law, Laban (Genesis 31). He was humbled by the grace God had shown him. Jacob had been true to his name: a deceiver, supplanter, one who takes by the heel. He hadn't been that good. But God had rescued him even from the problems he himself had caused. In our text, Jacob comes back to thank God for everything.

Since the place where they were commanded to go was "the house of God" (the meaning of the name Bethel), Jacob commanded everyone with him to make themselves presentable to God, as said in verse 2 of the text. God is in His 'house' and He is God over it (hence the name El-bethel). In what Jacob and company had done, they recognized God as the Lord of the place--the Lord of their world, the Lord of their lives.

Because Jacob gave God the credit due to Him, God had blessed him (v9-12). Jacob was renamed Israel--a prince with God (Genesis 32:28, 35:10)--and was given the same promise God had made with his grandfather Abraham and father Isaac (Genesis 35:11).

Recognizing God--in joy or in pain--opens our eyes to God Himself, His blessings and His will for us.


April 9, 2012

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Image credits to Daily Reflections.

Secrets and Regrets

A song fiction--and the second short story I've finished so far.

I.

His bright brown eyes stared at the smoke rising from the bonfire in the middle of the spacious, newly-mowed backyard shadowed by an old tall mighty oak tree which lush emerald-green leaves indulged in the warmth of the early morning sun. The silence in the place was broken only by the soft shy rustle of the leaves blown by an equally shy breeze, the chirping of a bird or two, and the crackle of the flames as it consumed the things that he had once held dear—and once had held him dear.

One Boring Sunny Afternoon

Two (super-)short poems about, well, one boring sunny afternoon... in a classroom.


My soul
is now shutting
its heavy windows.

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Would you like
a nice warm bowl of
brain stew?

December 11, 2011

Album Review: Welcome to the Masquerade

NOTE: An edited version of the same review I have posted via Facebook Notes.

Thousand Foot Krutch
Welcome To The Masquerade (Tooth & Nail)

Thanks for my accidentally stumbling upon TFK's "Falls Apart" video, I got to know this Canadian Christian rock band fronted by FM Static's Trevor McNevan. And thanks to my brother who got a copy of this album, I got to listen to more of their works.

At first, I didn't like it much. I don't know; maybe I was too preoccupied with heavy metal back then. But when I listened to it again and again, I started to appreciate it.

Hell (Part 1)

NOTE: An old post of mine I found in my Facebook notes... This is supposed to be the first story of a collection of short stories about hell that I've planned of doing last year.

Human Trafficking: (Not Exactly) A Review

NOTE: This is my reaction paper for the movie, as required from us by our Issues in Contemporary Society professor.

The Legend of Cheating*

NOTE: The preceding story is mostly based on my original manuscript. I simply cannot remember how I wrote its final form, which I submitted to my dear Journalism teacher. When the whole matter comes back to me again, all these would finally be settled.