Spiritual Birth

It’s been a while since I last updated the blog, but currently its Day 43, since I have been reading the Bible, regularly, everyday. Last night, I had gone out with a few friends from church, an interesting conversation took place, relating to pregnancy, for a moment I felt that topic was a bit inappropriate, but that was when the Lord spoke to me.

I been receiving revelations from the word, and being myself I was wondering, Lord it’s all great that I receive these revelations, but what’s the point? Yesterday I got my answer, Spiritual Birth.

When a woman realizes she is pregnant for the first time, something amazing happens, she goes from being just a woman, to a mother, (talking about a normal pregnancy), then it’s a default nature which sets in, she has to take care of the child growing in her womb, during the gestation period, she nourishes the child, it’s a journey for both mother and child, nine months, the child in her develops, takes shape and when the time comes, she is ready to give birth, which drastically changes her life as she knew it.

Similarly, the spiritual person in us, needs nourishment, needs care, needs attention every passing moment. The disciples with Jesus Christ received nourishment, care and attention, but not till Christ was crucified and appeared to them, did they change, it was like a renewal of their faith and they waited as per Christ’s instruction, to receive the Holy Spirit, and on the day of Pentecost, when they were filled with the Holy Spirit, did their spiritual birthing take place, these disciples who once denied Christ, through God ended up radically changing their environment, amazing things began to take place around them and through them. Was it painful? Yes, when Peter realized that he denied Jesus Christ three times, he went away from the people and wept bitterly, but after his encounter with the Holy Spirit, the same man, preached and proclaimed the truth and eventually was crucified (upside down!).

Genesis Chp 39 Verses 20-21

Gen 39:20 And Joseph's^H3130 master^H113 took^H3947 him, and put^H5414 him into^H413 the prison,^{H1004 H5470} a place^H4725 where^H834 the king's^H4428 prisoners^H615 were bound:^H631 and he was^H1961 there^H8033 in the prison.^{H1004 H5470}

Gen 39:21 But the LORD^H3068 was^H1961 with^H854 Joseph,^H3130 and shewed^{H5186 H413} him mercy,^H2617 and gave^H5414 him favour^H2580 in the sight^H5869 of the keeper^H8269 of the prison.^{H1004 H5470}

When Joseph was sold into slavery, he was seventeen, in a foreign land, don’t know what is going to become of him, but he had faith in one thing, the dreams which he got, God was with Joseph in everything he did, and everywhere he went, Joseph is never seen complaining about his plight not even once, till now.

Genesis Chp 35 Verses 1, 22

Gen 35:1 And God^H430 said^H559 unto^H413 Jacob,^H3290 Arise,^H6965 go up^H5927 to Bethel,^H1008 and dwell^H3427 there:^H8033 and make^H6213 there^H8033 an altar^H4196 unto God,^H410 that appeared^H7200 unto^H413 thee when thou fleddest^H1272 from the face^{H4480 H6440} of Esau^H6215 thy brother.^H251

Gen 35:22 And it came to pass,^H1961 when Israel^H3478 dwelt^H7931 in that^H1931 land,^H776 that Reuben^H7205 went^H1980 and lay with^{H7901 (H853)} Bilhah^H1090 his father's^H1 concubine:^H6370 and Israel^H3478 heard^H8085 it. Now the sons^H1121 of Jacob^H3290 were^H1961 twelve:^{H8147 H6240}

Arise: qûm, koom,A primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literally, figuratively, intensively and causatively): - abide, accomplish, X be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure (-ly), (be) up (-hold, -rising).

Dwell: yâshab, yaw-shab', A primitive root; properly to sit down (specifically as judge, in ambush, in quiet); by implication to dwell, to remain; causatively to settle, to marry: - (make to) abide (-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell (-ing), ease self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit (-ant), make to keep [house], lurking, X marry (-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set (-tle), (down-) sit (-down, still, -ting down, -ting [place] -uate), take, tarry.

The previous chapter saw the consequence of actions taken without God’s guidance, amazing to see God speaking to Jacob and giving him guidance what to do next, but, on reading the verse, “And God said unto Jacob” … “ make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee”, God is referring to Himself as a third person or, that’s when it dawned to me, and this is my thinking, it was Jesus Christ would instructed Jacob what to do, the second time the trinity being mentioned and the first time where we can see it specifically, as in Genesis 1:26 it says, “Let us”, the triune Godhead was in work and revealed to us, WOW.

The second thing which caught my eye was verse 22, now why Reuben chose to sleep with his step brother’s mom is beyond me, but I was going through the net trying to find some meaning and here is one of them,

What is the significance of Reuben sleeping with his father’s concubines? What was going through Reuben’s brain that made him do such an act? Like the ambitious young minister, Reuben went ahead of God’s timing and tried to promote himself to a position of higher leadership. He sought to take a position of supremacy over his brothers by doing what ancient warrior kings did to a fallen enemy. In ancient times, after a king would conquer another kingdom, he would go to the conquered king’s concubines and have sex with them. By doing this, the conquering king would establish himself as the new lord over the previous king’s household and nation. This is what Reuben did. However, Reuben was hasty and premature in his actions because Jacob, his father, was not dead yet. His impatience caused him to exalt and promote himself ahead of time instead of letting God promote him when the time was right. Because of his hastiness and unwillingness to be a servant before a leader, Reuben lost his leadership birthright.

Can a man lead but refuse to follow? The answer is no…at least not in God’s army. Ministers should take great care to be sure that the voice that’s telling them to start a church is the voice of God and not the voice of their flesh seeking glorification. Entering into ministry prematurely is a very dangerous thing that could cause serious damage. If you seek to promote and exalt yourself before the right season, you’ll only end up like Reuben. My advice is to be patient and wait on the Lord. Don’t be impatient and hasty like Reuben and exalt yourself as a leader. Serve with excellence and watch how God exalts you.

Genesis Chp 26 Verses 19-22 Chp 34-35

Gen 26:19 And Isaac's^H3327 servants^H5650 digged^H2658 in the valley,^H5158 and found^H4672 there^H8033 a well^H875 of springing^H2416 water.^H4325

Gen 26:20 And the herdmen^H7462 of Gerar^H1642 did strive^H7378 with^H5973 Isaac's^H3327 herdmen,^H7462 saying,^H559 The water^H4325 is ours: and he called^H7121 the name^H8034 of the well^H875 Esek;^H6230 because^H3588 they strove^H6229 with^H5973 him.

Gen 26:21 And they digged^H2658 another^H312 well,^H875 and strove^H7378 for^H5921 that also:^H1571 and he called^H7121 the name^H8034 of it Sitnah.^H7856

Gen 26:22 And he removed^H6275 from thence,^{H4480 H8033} and digged^H2658 another^H312 well;^H875 and for^H5921 that they strove^H7378 not:^H3808 and he called^H7121 the name^H8034 of it Rehoboth;^H7344 and he said,^H559 For^H3588 now^H6258 the LORD^H3068 hath made room^H7337 for us, and we shall be fruitful^H6509 in the land.^H776

Gen 26:34 And Esau^H6215 was^H1961 forty^H705 years^H8141 old^H1121 when he took^H3947 to wife^{H802 (H853)} Judith^H3067 the daughter^H1323 of Beeri^H882 the Hittite,^H2850 and Bashemath^H1315 the daughter^H1323 of Elon^H356 the Hittite:^H2850

Gen 26:35 Which were^H1961 a grief^H4786 of mind^H7307 unto Isaac^H3327 and to Rebekah.^H7259

Our own hard work sometimes is claimed by others, do we sit and quarrel or do we move on and strive again, God honors and blesses us even more, those shepherds struggled with Isaac, for which he left those two wells and moved on, on the third one, no one came to struggle with him. Isaac’s immediate reaction, For now the LORD hath made room, When God gives no one will come to struggle with you for it.

Another verse which caught my attention was, taking a wife from a foreign land brought grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah, to which Esau was least bothered.

Genesis Chp 24 Verses 58,63,67, Chp 25 Verses 21-23, Chp 26 Verses 1-6, 12-14

Gen 24:58 And they called^H7121 Rebekah,^H7259 and said^H559 unto^H413 her, Wilt thou go^H1980 with^H5973 this^H2088 man?^H376 And she said,^H559 I will go.^H1980

Gen 24:63 And Isaac^H3327 went out^H3318 to meditate^H7742 in the field^H7704 at the eventide:^{H6437 H6153} and he lifted up^H5375 his eyes,^H5869 and saw,^H7200 and, behold,^H2009 the camels^H1581 were coming.^H935

Gen 24:67 And Isaac^H3327 brought^H935 her into his mother^H517 Sarah's^H8283 tent,^H168 and took^{H3947 (H853)} Rebekah,^H7259 and she became^H1961 his wife;^H802 and he loved^H157 her: and Isaac^H3327 was comforted^H5162 after^H310 his mother's^H517 death.

Gen 25:21 And Isaac^H3327 intreated^H6279 the LORD^H3068 for^H5227 his wife,^H802 because^H3588 she^H1931 was barren:^H6135 and the LORD^H3068 was intreated^H6279 of him, and Rebekah^H7259 his wife^H802 conceived.^H2029

Gen 25:22 And the children^H1121 struggled together^H7533 within^H7130 her; and she said,^H559 If^H518 it be so,^H3651 why^H4100 am I^H595 thus?^H2088 And she went^H1980 to enquire^H1875 of^(H853) the LORD.^H3068

Gen 25:23 And the LORD^H3068 said^H559 unto her, Two^H8147 nations^H1471 are in thy womb,^H990 and two^H8147 manner of people^H3816 shall be separated^H6504 from thy bowels;^{H4480 H4578} and the one people^H3816 shall be stronger^H553 than the other people;^{H4480 H3816} and the elder^H7227 shall serve^H5647 the younger.^H6810

Gen 26:1 And there was^H1961 a famine^H7458 in the land,^H776 beside^{H4480 H905} the first^H7223 famine^H7458 that^H834 was^H1961 in the days^H3117 of Abraham.^H85 And Isaac^H3327 went^H1980 unto^H413 Abimelech^H40 king^H4428 of the Philistines^H6430 unto Gerar.^H1642

Gen 26:2 And the LORD^H3068 appeared^H7200 unto^H413 him, and said,^H559 Go not down^{H3381 H408} into Egypt;^H4714 dwell^H7931 in the land^H776 which^H834 I shall tell^H559 thee of:^H413

Gen 26:3 Sojourn^H1481 in this^H2063 land,^H776 and I will be^H1961 with^H5973 thee, and will bless^H1288 thee; for^H3588 unto thee, and unto thy seed,^H2233 I will give^{H5414 (H853)} all^H3605 these^H411 countries,^H776 and I will perform^{H6965 (H853)} the oath^H7621 which^H834 I sware^H7650 unto Abraham^H85 thy father;^H1

Gen 26:4 And I will make^(H853) thy seed^H2233 to multiply^H7235 as the stars^H3556 of heaven,^H8064 and will give^H5414 unto thy seed^{H2233 (H853)} all^H3605 these^H411 countries;^H776 and in thy seed^H2233 shall all^H3605 the nations^H1471 of the earth^H776 be blessed;^H1288

Gen 26:5 Because^H6118 that^H834 Abraham^H85 obeyed^H8085 my voice,^H6963 and kept^H8104 my charge,^H4931 my commandments,^H4687 my statutes,^H2708 and my laws.^H8451

Gen 26:6 And Isaac^H3327 dwelt^H3427 in Gerar:^H1642

Gen 26:12 Then Isaac^H3327 sowed^H2232 in that^H1931 land,^H776 and received^H4672 in the same^H1931 year^H8141 an hundredfold:^{H3967 H8180} and the LORD^H3068 blessed^H1288 him.

Gen 26:13 And the man^H376 waxed great,^H1431 and went^H1980 forward,^H1980 and grew^H1432 until^{H5704 H3588} he became very great:^{H1431 H3966}

Gen 26:14 For he had^H1961 possession^H4735 of flocks,^H6629 and possession^H4735 of herds,^H1241 and great store^H7227 of servants:^H5657 and the Philistines^H6430 envied^H7065 him.

Go: hâlak, haw-lak', Akin to H3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively): - (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread, still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel (-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, [way-] faring man, X be weak, whirl.

Dwell: yâshab, yaw-shab', A primitive root; properly to sit down (specifically as judge, in ambush, in quiet); by implication to dwell, to remain; causatively to settle, to marry: - (make to) abide (-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell (-ing), ease self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit (-ant), make to keep [house], lurking, X marry (-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set (-tle), (down-) sit (-down, still, -ting down, -ting [place] -uate), take, tarry.

Intreated: ‛âthar, aw-thar', A primitive root (rather denominative from H6281); to burn incense in worship, that is, intercede (reciprocally listen to prayer): - intreat, (make) pray (-er).

Chapter 25, talks about Esau selling his birthright to Jacob, but something else which caught my attention, Rebekah was posed with a question, do you want to go or stay? She never seen Isaac, but knew that it was God working and without even hesitating answered, I will go, now both Isaac and Rebekah were always in constant communion with God, Isaac interceding for his wife to give birth, Rekebah asking God why her unborn children were fighting in her womb, God answered to both of them, during famine, Isaac thought he would move to a better place, Egypt, the same which his father had done, but God told him to stay.