janel

Q3 In Him we live and move and have our being. God always bless, protect and strengthen us through all crises in our lives. He knows what is best for us even through all trials and tribulations He will not forsake us. God does not test us beyond our limits. He has a hand in everything through good times as well as bad. In times of crisis the more we need to seek his presence and surrender the whole situation to Him. By putting our faith and trust in God everything will work out for good for those who love Him. He makes all things beautiful out of our lives. There are sure to be turmoil, crisis and problems in life's journey. Nobody can escape them. It is a matter of how one handles them. Alone of the flesh we are weak but with God we can conquer all things who strengthen us. As St. Paul has urged us to put on the 'Armor of God' and be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might so that we may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. God is forever faithful and we are the sinners.

Q2 Matthew 20:28/Mark 10:45 convinced me that Jesus himself saw his own mission and mission spelled out in Isaiah 53. Many times in the gospels Jesus has hinted to his apostles of his mission and death but they could not understand him. He even had to rebuke Peter when he could not accept Jesus' fate. Jesus himself was all human especially when in the garden of Gethsemane, he pleaded with God to take the cup of suffering away from him but knowing that His mission is to fulfil the will of God, he started to sweat blood.

Q1 In the Old Testament, the Jews has the concept that they are the chosen ones and God only come to save them from slavery to the Promised Land. In John 3:16-17: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him." The word "world" here indicates all mankind irrespective of color, creed or race. In Romans 10:12-13 Scripture says: 'For there is no distinction between Jews and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; for Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved." Before His ascension, Jesus has instructed his Apostles to go out to the world to preach the good news to all nations and baptize them so that they can be saved. He came upon His own and His own know Him not. The Jews, particularly the Pharisees, the Sadducees and Scribes were waiting for a Messiah but they could not see Jesus whom God has sent to them. They being the learned could not accept Jesus, a carpenter to be the Messiah.

Q2 Jacob crosses his hands when blessing Ephraim and Manasseh because Jacob wants Ephraim to be greater than his brother Manasseh (the firstborn). This is exactly the replica of his life when his father Isaac blessed him instead of his brother Esau. Thinking that his father is sick and his eyes are so dim from age and could not see Joseph try to stop Jacob. The Spirit of God is directing Jacob in doing this way. He is prophesying God's words promised to him in Luz. A family traditional blessing from Abraham to Isaac, to Jacob and now to Joseph and his two sons. Since his firstborn Reuben has forfeited the birthright, Joseph now holds over his brothers.

Q1 Life as a "pilgrimage" is just like a Nomadic life, pitching tent on one place, uprooting next and moving on to another place. Always on the go with no permanent place call home, living with strangers and away from blood relatives. Depending upon the hospitality of one's hosts. On the other hand when we settle down and are too comfortable with our lives, we become too complacent. Our focus will be more on improving ourselves wanting to earn more to satisfy this comfort. In the end we become too obsess and be a bondage to it. Ultimately we have no time for God. The world is just a temporary place. Whatever we can do good let us do it now for we may never pass this way again (Quote from the hymn "I May Never Pass This Way Again"). To retain a "journeying spirit" we need to live a righteous life, observing God's law and abide in Him. To also allow the Spirit of God lead and guide our life always.

Q6 Life of an animal is in the blood and so is human. It is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. So God accepts animal sacrifice as a substitute for human's sins as a way that justice can be done and man's sins can be atoned for and they can approach God once more. God is holy, unless humans are cleansed from their sins, they cannot approached His holy presence. 'We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and God dwells in us; If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him for the temple is holy, and that is what you are. (1 Cor. 3:16-17). God is a loving, merciful, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Ever ready to forgive our sins whenever we confess our sins to him.

Q5 Animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins is to teach the Jews about sin, holiness, confession, forgiveness, sin's costliness and sin's horror. In His mercy, God allows these sacrifices to purge their sins. No, animal sacrifices are not adequate to atone for human sin. Jesus is the One Perfect and great enough to actually atone for sins once and for all.

Q4 The basic elements involved in a sacrifice for sin are:- 1) Confession of sins committed 2) A sacrificial animal without defeat 3) Laying of hands on its head - the animal becomes a substitute for the sinner 4) Slaughtering the animal by cutting its throat 5) The priest collected the blood, put on the horns of the altar and poured the rest at the base of the altar 6) Remove the fat portions and burn on the altar. Today, the main necessity is confession, admitting to God our wrongdoing and it must be done sincerely for the repentance of sins. The laying of hands on the sinners by priests are still practice by some churches asking God to absorb the sins and to bless the sinner with strength and peace and to go and sin no more. Slaughtering of animals for sacrifices are no longer practiced today as Jesus came to be the sacrificial lamb, to die on the cross once and for all for the remission of our sins.

Q4 "DO NOT BE AFRAID' and "I WILL SURELY BRING YOU BACK AGAIN." These are the assuring words which God had given to Jacob to quieten his fears. Fear has crept into Jacob and the loss of so many of his loved one has made Jacob put his full attention on himself rather than on God. His flesh has taken complete control over him. 'FAITH' is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8) It is by grace, we have been saved through faith. When we have faith as a mustard seed, we can move mountains. In John 1:1 "In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD WAS with God, and the WORD was God. Like Simon Peter, we should respond to God and said where shall we go, You have the words of eternal life. Jesus has asked us to abide in His WORD, then we can be his disciples for God's words are the truth and the truth shall set us free. There is power in God's Words.

Q3 Jacob being of age, knows his time is near. With the loss of so many of his loved one, he finds life meaningless. He finds no joy anymore. There is nothing to look forward to and nothing to hold or cling on anymore. Joseph on the other hand, is a successful man. He is blessed by God. He has power, prestige, honour, and position. His vision is broad because he has found his brothers and father again in spite of pretending not to know them. Jacob's fear is of losing all his children to the ruler of Egypt, in particular Benjamin and he may never see them again. Whereas Joseph feared that his brother might not repent and be reconciled with him. God is with Joseph all the way, protecting him from harm and leading him to his present status. If God is in him, there is no room for bitterness and anger, for God is love and love knows no bound. Since all are his blood brothers.

Q2 Jacob naturally is anxious and excited to know the outcome of the trip. Revealing the incident to their father, Jacob became puzzled, confused and trying to analyze the situation. Fear crept into him when told that the ruler of Egypt demanded for Benjamin. Jacob being of age is mentally unstable and insecure. His only hope of survival and confident is to cling to his son Benjamin. Taking him away from Jacob is like cutting off one of his limbs and he will be depressed and handicapped for life. Mentally, the deaths of the people he treasured dearly, his mother, his mother's nurse, his beloved wife Rachel and his father. The disappearing of his favourite son, Joseph. Spiritually, he has not approached God for advice but rather relying on himself. Jacob changed his mind because:- i) the famine is getting more severe and there are no more grains left, ii) the families are starving, iii) As Reuben has already sacrificed his two sons to stand surety in exchange and be prepared to take the consequences should Benjamin perished. Judah personally has pledged to take responsibility for Benjamin. These have made Jacob more confident in submitting to their plea. Life must go on, Jacob must let go of his self-pity and not think of himself only.

Q3 Modern people are repulsive to animal sacrifice because they have been pampered. Everything has been prepared neat and packed and easily available in supermarkets. They feel that is a hideous job together with too much formalities and rituals which especially the young people are not going to take after their ancestors. City life is more of a hustle and bustle thing. So anything that is instant goes well with them. Their lives are always busy and rushing and sometimes they don't even have a proper meal for themselves and with family besides spending quality time with their children. Farming way of life is more healthy and natural. They toil their own produce and everything comes from God with no artificial products added. They rear their own animals for own consumption. The family shares out the work together. They practically spend time together and have meals together. Their work might be tough but the environment is healthier than in the city.

Q2 Anger if under control is OK. Jesus was angry when He drove the merchants from the Temple. (Mark 11: 15-17) If anger goes beyond control and when people are affected by it then it will lead to sin. One of the deadest sin is 'ANGER" St. Paul advised the Ephesians in 4:26: 'Be angry and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.' Capricious or uncontrolled anger will lead to sin. When one is engrossed in that state, the whole system inside you will boils up and it will affect your health too. Anger as what Jesus did in the Temple is to point out and reveal to those who are in the wrong and to educate them but at the same time gentle in handling the situation.

Q1 In the Old Testament, with any offerings to God, the Jews would slaughter a lamb for the atonement of their sins. In Luke 1:41 "And it came about that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby (John the Baptist) leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." John, is the forerunner of Jesus, is urging the people to repent of their sins through baptism. He is in fact preparing the way for the people when the Lamb of God comes. John, the cousin of Jesus, knew that Jesus being the son of God is the sacrificial lamb for His people. Romans 3:23 - 'for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.' In Romans 5:19 - 'For through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.' Through Adam's sin, death entered into the world but by the grace of God, one Man, Jesus Christ was the sacrificial Lamb who died on the cross once and for all for the atonement of the "sin of the world" Therefore, we are privileged people to have Jesus as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

Q1 The sons of Jacob are full of deceit, hatred, resentful and revenge. To them it is like pay back time to their father because their jealousy has gone deep into them. Overcome with grief and loss, Jacob's heart and mind seemed to stop. It's like the whole world has caved in on him. His grief is inconsolable and is broken in spirit. He has isolated himself from his sons except Benjamin and has fallen into a deep period of mourning and depression. Nothing in this world has any meaning to his life. Already saddened with the death of his favourite wife Rachel, Jacob was already paralyzed and something inside him has died. Now with his Joseph's incident, it has really taken a toll on him. The grief was is so great that none can replace him except with a little hope from Benjamin. He has a kind of fatalist attitude towards life. He becomes unapproachable, shun people. He no longer cares about himself and his relationship with people and also with God.

Q5 Being the firstborn Reuben is next in line to inherit and be leader of Jacob's clan. Jacob has high hope on him as potential leader but he betrayed that trust because of his sin of ****. He insulted, dishonored and disrespected Jacob by sleeping with his fahter's concubine Bilhah. It was truly an insult as well as a disappointment to Jacob when he so highly regarded him too be his heir and leader of the clan. He has lost his dignity and respect of his family as well as the whole clan. In this act of mistrust, the whole family must be shocked, dismayed and disgraced that the firstborn's action is a bad example to the younger generations. In conspiracy with his other brothers, Reuben was equally guilty when he suggested that Joseph be thrown into a pit. When Joseph demanded that Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob be brought to him, Jacob is against the idea fearing the loss of another favourite son. However, Reuben is willing to sacrifice his two sons to stand in surety in exchange and be prepared to take the consequences should Benjamin perished.

Q4 Like his ancestor Abraham, Jacob has obeyed and responded to God's instructions faithfully. He has prepared all his household and his servants spiritually before going to Bethel to build the altar. He has fulfilled the vow he has made decades before in the very spot. It is a time of renewal and closeness of God. God appeared to Jacob yet another time to rekindle the promise and blessings He gave to Jacob. The primary promises that God renews to Jacob are:- i) That He is God Almighty (El Shaddai) ii) That Jacob be fruitful and increase in number iii) That a nation and community of nations will come from Jacob, and kings will come from his body. iv) That the land God gave to Abraham and Isaac shall be given to Jacob and his descendants after him.

Q3 Mingling with the people of Shechem and having intermarriages with them have contaminated Jacob's household in switching to worshiping their foreign gods, and idols. Also what the sons of Jacob did to the people there. That is why Jacob's household need spiritual renewal so that they can come back to God who has made a covenant with Jacob. In the first Commandment God has said: "I am the Lord, your God, Thou shall not have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My Commandments." Exodus 20: 2-6) Jesus also said in Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other." As Christians it is important for us to put our focus right when we profess our faith. When one is filled with filth and dirt, one needs to go for a bath to cleanse oneself. So 'washing' represents spiritual cleansing from all the defilement, and impurities, an atonement for our sins. 'Putting on clean cloths' meant presenting oneself to God with a clean start. In today's world, modern technology has crowded the minds and hearts of the people. People spend time cluing themselves to television, computer and internet. Young as well as old people are hooked into it like an addict craving for the drug. We must be master over these things and not be slave to them. For me I think I should place my priority right and be careful in spending my time with the computer but rather giving more time to God in prayer, especially with the start of Ash Wednesday, Lent is here now to contemplate on my spiritual life and be connected to God, for he came to make sacrifices for me at the cross.

Q2 When the Israelites disobeyed God and intermarried with the Canaanites, and if their faith waiver, God's anger will burn against them and will quickly destroy them. God commanded them not to intermarry because God wanted to protect them from being influenced and not swayed away from God and to follow and serve other gods instead. For men, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. This was spiritual. Christians, as far as possible are to marry "in the Lord" so that neither one can influenced the other. Thus, the weak Christians will not be swayed away from God. As the sayings: "It takes two hands to clap" and "A family who prays together stays together." In this way, there is a common understanding and there will not be a conflict. Also together they can help, support and pray for one another to grow in the Lord. As one would say they are of the same wave level.

Q1 Physically, Jacob being 104 years might think that with his age, fragile and hopeless is of no match to Hamor and his son, Shechem. Waiting for his sons to come back, and getting their views on what action to take might be another reason for his silence. Instead of being silent, Jacob, being a person of peace and honour should consult God for direction or as a father, he has the right to demand anything, even to the point of persecution since the accuser is already guilty of the crime. What the sons did was right in demanding the male Canaanites be circumcised according to their custom and in a way their demand is justified. By killing the men when they are handicapped was a cruel act and on top of that looting them of their wealth, women and children was just as bad as the accuser. Being small in size Jacob's group will be no match to the Canaanites and Perizzites combined together. They are definitely doomed to be destroyed.

Q4 Esau now a warm and loving man must either be a forgiving brother or was bought over by Jacob's abundant gifts to him. Jacob feeling guilty of his past guilt must be very surprised and happy to receive such a warm reconciliation from his brother that makes him humble himself before his brother. It is through his encounter with God that has transformed him to be a better person. Jacob is shrewd in buying his brother's confidence first by lavishing him with all the gifts. Then together with his family pay homage by bowing to his brother. Accepting Jacob's peace gifts put Esau under obligation to him and in the meantime Esau cannot righteously take up arms against him. That would, according to his culture as a sinister act of betrayal. He attributes all his blessings to God's graciousness. Yes, Jacob can be humble for he has encountered with God and God has broken and transformed him. He can also be "crafty" at the same time for God has bestowed upon him spiritual gifts which makes him wise.

Q3 Jacob is wrestling with a manifestation of God himself. The wrestling represents the struggle with his own conscience and God is setting him free of his fears. It was both physical and symbolic. The "man" wounded Jacob permanently to remind him of the encounter and humbling before God. God also bestows on him a new name "Israel" to remind all that he has "struggled with God and with men and have overcome." To Jacob, the limp isn't so much a mark of discipline, but a remembrance of encounter - a mark which reminded him ever after the seriousness with which he served his God, a mark of faith which he carried to his grave.

Q2 Jacob fears that his brother Esau might attack him. His conscience has taken the better of him. After 20 years away from home, he is not sure whether his brother has forgotten the past incidents which he did to him. For his faith, Jacob has acted on God's instructions to return home and he believed that God has confirmed the blessings of Abraham to him. God's promise to be there to protect him when he is in trouble. Jacob's pride is a reminder to God of His promises as a faith-statement. Jacob shared with God, his fears and his faith and so his prayer is authentic, faith- filled prayer. These are the signs of his spiritual growth.

Q2 Jacob fears that his brother Esau might attack him. His conscience has taken the better of him. After 20 years away from home, he is not sure whether his brother has forgotten the past incidents which he did to him. For his faith, Jacob has acted on God's instructions to return home and he believed that God has confirmed the blessings of Abraham to him. God's promise to be there to protect him when he is in trouble. Jacob's pride is a reminder to God of His promises as a faith-statement. Jacob shared with God, his fears and his faith and so his prayer is authentic, faith- filled prayer. These are the signs of his spiritual growth.

Q1 God reveals the angel army to Jacob to assure him of His promise that He will watch and protect him wherever he goes. The significance of the presence of this army is to overshadow Jacob, protecting him from any harm. Jacob calls the place Mahanaim ('two camps") because God's camp is ever ready to protect Jacob's camp whenever he is in trouble.