I
happened to hear a stand-up comedian say in TV few days ago.
"Guys
in middle east are RICH when they say they are Rich. Anywhere in this world a
man with 10 Million dollars is rich. But there 10 Million is a pocket money for
a man considered rich"
As
I hear it, I can’t help my mind going thru the pages of the Book of Genesis. My
mind kept wondering about destitute Hagar in the wilderness looking for water
to save her dying son. Her tears dried up cheeks, sweaty brow, sandal less feet
in that scorching heat and a frantic heart beating 1000 beats a minute, running
around in despair and crying for help.
It
was not in vain. Her wails and tears were watched & heard by the GOD of this Universe.
HE sent HIS angel
1.
To encourage the Slave woman from the country (Egypt) where HE is not revered
2.
To provide for the child who was not HIS plan.
He
keeps HIS word HE had promised to her before.
"“Behold, you are with child,
And you will bear a son;
And you shall call his name Ishmael,
Because the Lord has
given heed to your affliction.
“He will be a wild donkey of a
man,
His hand will be against everyone,
And everyone’s hand will be against him;
And he will live to the east of all his brothers.”
Genesis 16:11-12
For many, many years, tales of finding treasures were told
& retold in that arid desert as people awaited the time of prosperity.
Knowingly or unknowingly these tales were told based on this promise. As
they were telling these stories around the fire at cold night to keep them
awake to watch the cattle or to keep them encouraged they were actually
prophesying over them and over their generation this promise and abundance the
LORD has promised to Ishmael’s mother, Hagar.
In fact, the stories tell about them looking for treasures
and chests of gold coins and silver hidden underground. But Jehovah's plans and
wisdom is in comprehensible. Hallelujah! It took 1000 some years to know it is “Petroleum”
that will be bringing that prosperity, the treasure that they have
been dreaming and waiting all along for generations. How neat!
Today scientists can support many theories about how &
when the Petroleum is formed in that area. Fossilology can suggest various
cause and reasons for such enrichment of soil below. But, how can they explain
the Promise to Hagar and correlate the LORD's faithfulness to it. They will not
be able to it unless they remove their knowledge goggles and see with their
eyes of faith.
It is not coincidence or a fluke. It is just that we have a GOD
who never lies. He is El Roi (as Hagar exalts) who sees our tears, He is
Immanuel who GOD himself is with us, He is Jehovah the Almighty who answers and
most of all HE is faithful to HIS promise to us.
“So God has given both his promise and
his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to
lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as
we hold to the hope that lies before us." - Hebrews 6:18
Below Verse Psalm 89:26-35 pretty much encapsulates
the blessings on HIS believers and descendants.
He will call out to me,
‘You are my Father,
my God, the Rock my
Savior.’
And I will appoint him to
be my firstborn,
the most exalted of the
kings of the earth.
I will maintain my love
to him forever,
and my covenant with
him will never fail.
I will establish his line
forever,
his throne as long as the
heavens endure.
“If his sons forsake my law
and do not follow my statutes,
if they violate my decrees
and fail to keep my commands,
I will punish their sin with the rod,
their iniquity with flogging;
but I will not take my love from him,
nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
I will not violate my covenant
or alter what my lips have uttered.
Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—
and I will not lie to David—
that his line will
continue forever
and his throne endure
before me like the sun;
it will be established
forever like the moon,
the faithful witness in
the sky.”
HE is what HE is! Amen! Amen! Amen!
