The House of Omri was a ruling dynasty of the Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) founded by King Omri.
According to the Hebrew Scripture, the territory of the Kingdom of Israel comprised the territories of the Tribes of Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan, Manasseh, Ephraim, Reuben, and Gad. Its capital was Samaria, according to the Book of Isaiah.
After the death of Solomon, all the Israelite Tribes except for Judah and benjamin (called the 10 Northern Tribes) refused to accept Rehoboam, the son and successor of Solomon, as their king. The rebellion gainst Rehoboam arose after he refused to lighten the burden of taxation and services that his father Solomon had imposed on his subjects.
Jeroboam, who was not of the Davidic Line, was sent for from Egypt by the malcontents. Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem and Jeroboam was proclaimed king over all Israel at Shechem. After the revolt at Shechem at first only the Tribe of Judah remained loyal to the House of David and little after the Tribe of Benjamin joined Judah. The Northern Kingdom continued to be called the Kingdom of Israel, while the Southern Kingdom was called the Kingdom of Judah. The 2nd Book of Chronicles also says that members of the Tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh and Simeon feld to Judah during the reign of Asa of Judah.
Shechem was the first capital of the Kingdom of Israel. Afterwards it was Tirzah. King Omri built his capital in Samaria, which continued as such until the destruction of the Kingdom by the Assyrians.
The Scripture portrays the Omrides unfavorably, stressing their apostasy from the Law of God in favor of Baal. Little attention is devoted to Omri aside from noting his establishment of the dynasty and foundation of Israel's new capital of Samaria. In contrast, Omri's son Ahab is the subject of an extended narrative focusing on his troubled relations with the prophets Elijah and Elisha. He is depicted having a weak personality allowing himself to be led by his strong-willed wife Jezebel of Tyre, who advocated Baal worship. Note is also made of the dynasty's diplomacy, which connected it by marriage to Tyre and Judah and brought about a rapprochement with the latter after a long series of wars. The account of the later Omrides concerns the revolt of Moab, their conflict with Damascus over Ramoth-Gilead, the dynasty's extinction in Israel at the hands of Jehu, and Athalia's usurpation of the throne of Judah on the death of her son King Ahaziah.
Five Assyrian records are to refer either "Land of Omri" or "House of Omri." Also an archaeological reference to Omri and his unnamed son is found in an inscribed stone set up by King Mesha of Moab, (a kingdom located in modern Jordan). Mesha tells how Chemosh, the god of Moab, had been angry with his people and had allowed them to be subjugated to Israel, but at length Chemosh returned and assisted Mesha to throw off the yoke of Israel and restore the lands of Moab. Mesha also describes his many building projects. It is written in Phoenician alphabet. The Mesha stone in the only Nothwest Semitic inscription known to reference Omri.
Sunday, 2 July 2017
WHAT WE LEARN FROM ELIJAH?
Elijah, a prophet of God whose name means "my God is the Lord," is one of the most interesting people in the Scripture. He came form Tishbeh in Gilead, but nothing is known of his family or birth.
God used Elijah during an important time in Israel's history to oppose Ahab, a wicked king, and bring revival to the land.
Elijah's life was filled with turmoil. At times he was bold and decisive, and at other times fearful and tentative. He alternately demonstrates victory and defeat, followed by recovery. Elijah knew both the power of God and the depths of depression.
Elijah suddenly appears to challenge Ahab, an evil king who ruled the Northern Kingdom.
Elijah prophesies a drought to come upon the whole land as consequence for Ahab's evil.
Elijah, warned by God, hides near the brook of Cherith where he is fed by ravens. As the drought and famine in the land deepen,
Elijah meets with a widow in a neighboring country as the drought and famine in the land deepen and, through her obedience to Elijah's request, God provides food enough for Elijah, the woman, and her son. Miraculously, the widow's barrel of flour and jar of oil never run out.
If we walk in Fellowship with the Lord and Obey Him, we will be open to His Will. And when we are in God's Will, He fulfills all of our needs, and His Mercy to us never runs short.
Elijah is presented as the central character in a face-off with the prophets of the false god Baal on Mount Carmel. The prophets of Baal call upon their god all day long to rain fire from heaven to no avail.
Elijah builds an altar of stones, dig a ditch around it, puts the sacrifice on top of the wood and calls for water to be poured over his sacrifice 3 times. He calls upon God, and God sends fire down from heaven, burns the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones and licks up the water in the ditch.
God proved He was more powerful than false gods.
Elijah is an illustration that it is not the vessel but God in the vessel that demonstrates Power. He killed all of the false prophets of Baal. After the great victory, rain once again falls on the land.
Elijah enters a period of wavering faith in spite of victory and provisions from the Lord. Elijah feels sorry for himself, hides in a cave, and even comes to believe that he alone was left of the prophets of God. He got his eyes off of God and the emotional wave started to increase its power over him.
Elijah, then, is instructed by God, to go and stand on the mountain as the Lord passed by. There is a great wind, and earthquake, and then fire, but God is not in any of those. Then comes a still, small voice in which Elijah hears God and understand Him. When Elijah stopped focusing on the fear of what men could do and his feelings of being alone, God's voice was heard, and Elijah went on to be taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.
When we focus on the noise and tumult of life in this World, we get our eyes off of the Lord. However, if we listen for His still, small voice and walk in obedience to His Word, we find victory and reward.
Each person in the Scripture has a lesson for us to learn and aid our walk as believers.
Elijah struggled with typical human emotions, yet he was used mightily by God.
God used Elijah during an important time in Israel's history to oppose Ahab, a wicked king, and bring revival to the land.
Elijah's life was filled with turmoil. At times he was bold and decisive, and at other times fearful and tentative. He alternately demonstrates victory and defeat, followed by recovery. Elijah knew both the power of God and the depths of depression.
Elijah suddenly appears to challenge Ahab, an evil king who ruled the Northern Kingdom.
Elijah prophesies a drought to come upon the whole land as consequence for Ahab's evil.
Elijah, warned by God, hides near the brook of Cherith where he is fed by ravens. As the drought and famine in the land deepen,
Elijah meets with a widow in a neighboring country as the drought and famine in the land deepen and, through her obedience to Elijah's request, God provides food enough for Elijah, the woman, and her son. Miraculously, the widow's barrel of flour and jar of oil never run out.
If we walk in Fellowship with the Lord and Obey Him, we will be open to His Will. And when we are in God's Will, He fulfills all of our needs, and His Mercy to us never runs short.
Elijah is presented as the central character in a face-off with the prophets of the false god Baal on Mount Carmel. The prophets of Baal call upon their god all day long to rain fire from heaven to no avail.
Elijah builds an altar of stones, dig a ditch around it, puts the sacrifice on top of the wood and calls for water to be poured over his sacrifice 3 times. He calls upon God, and God sends fire down from heaven, burns the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones and licks up the water in the ditch.
God proved He was more powerful than false gods.
Elijah is an illustration that it is not the vessel but God in the vessel that demonstrates Power. He killed all of the false prophets of Baal. After the great victory, rain once again falls on the land.
Elijah enters a period of wavering faith in spite of victory and provisions from the Lord. Elijah feels sorry for himself, hides in a cave, and even comes to believe that he alone was left of the prophets of God. He got his eyes off of God and the emotional wave started to increase its power over him.
Elijah, then, is instructed by God, to go and stand on the mountain as the Lord passed by. There is a great wind, and earthquake, and then fire, but God is not in any of those. Then comes a still, small voice in which Elijah hears God and understand Him. When Elijah stopped focusing on the fear of what men could do and his feelings of being alone, God's voice was heard, and Elijah went on to be taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.
When we focus on the noise and tumult of life in this World, we get our eyes off of the Lord. However, if we listen for His still, small voice and walk in obedience to His Word, we find victory and reward.
Each person in the Scripture has a lesson for us to learn and aid our walk as believers.
Elijah struggled with typical human emotions, yet he was used mightily by God.
Saturday, 1 July 2017
WHO WAS ATHALIAH?
Athalia (afflicted of the Lord) is the only woman in the Hebrew Scripture reported as having reigned as a monarch within Israel/Judah. She managed to remain sole monarch for 6 years. In the 7th year a revolution led by Jehoiada the High Priest puts on the Throne the 7-year-old Joash, Ahaziah's child who was rescued by his paternal aunt and Jehoiada's wife, from the royal bloodbath 6 years earlier.
Athalia, who walked in the ways of the House of Ahab, and called "daughter of Omri," was the Queen consort of Judah as the wife of King Jehoram, son of the pious Jehoshaphat king of Judah, descendant of King David, and later Queen regnant. As Queen, she used her power and her pernicious influence to establish the worship of Baal in Judah and drew into idolatry and crime both her husband and her son Ahaziah.
Athalia, born in Samaria, was the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel and granddaughter of Omri, the 6th king in line of the Northern 10-Tribe kingdom. Nothing of Omri's ancestry is recorded. She was the sister of Israel's King Jehoram, and full or half sister of the other 70 sons of Ahab.
Athalia was given in a marriage of political expediency to Jehoram the eldest son of Jehoshaphat of Judah to seal a "treaty" between the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. To secure his position Jehoram killed his 6 brothers, married Athalia and reigned for 8 years. Athalia became the mother of Ahaziah, who in time became king of Judah.
Like her mother Jezebel, Athalia egged on her husband Jehoram to do what was bad in God's eyes during his reign. And like her mother, she wantonly shed the blood of the innocent. Jehoram's rule was shaky. Edom revolted, and he was forced to acknowledge their independence. A raid by Philistines, Arabs, and Ethiopians looted the king's house, and carried off all of his family except for their youngest son, Ahaziah.
After Jehoram's death, her wicked son Ahaziah became king of Judah, and Athalia was Queen mother. He reigned for one year from the age of 22 and was killed during a state visit to Israel along with Jehoram of Israel, Athalia's brother. Jehu assassinated them both in God's Name, together with the other 70 sons of Ahab, and became king of Israel. He had Athalia's entire extended family in Israel put to death, ending Omri dynasty.
For her part, after the premature death of her son and the great revolution by which Jehu seated himself on the throne of Samaria, Athalia seized the throne of Judah, and sought to secure herself in it by ordering the execution of all possible claimants to the throne, including the remnant of her Omri dynasty. However, Jehosheba, Ahaziah's sister, managed to rescue from the purge one of Athalia's grandsons with Jehoram of Judah, named Jehoash, who was only one year old.
Jehoash was raised in secretly by Jehosheba's husband, a bold and faithful high priest named Jehoiada. At length the high priest Jehoiada thought it time to produce the lawful king to the people, trusting to their zeal for the Worship of God and their loyalty to the House of David.
Thereupon Athalia installed herself as Queen for 6 years. During this time she robbed God's temple of the Holy Things and offered them to Baal.
When Jehoash reached 7 years of age, God-fearing high priest Jehoiada brought the lad out of secrecy from the place of refuge, and crowned him rightful heir to the Throne. Jehoiada's plan was successful.
Hearing the tumult, Athalia rushed to the Temple to stop the rebellion and upon seeing what was happening, cried, "Conspiracy! Conspiracy!" She was surprised when Jehoiada revealed that Jehoash lived and proclaimed him king of Judah. Then High Priest Jehoiada ordered the blood-stained Athalia to be taken outside the Temple grounds to be executed at the Horse Gate of the palace.
How true it proved to be the God's prophecy: "Nothing of God's Word will fall unfulfilled to the earth that God has spoken against the House of Ahab." 2 Kings 10:10, 11.
Athalia, who walked in the ways of the House of Ahab, and called "daughter of Omri," was the Queen consort of Judah as the wife of King Jehoram, son of the pious Jehoshaphat king of Judah, descendant of King David, and later Queen regnant. As Queen, she used her power and her pernicious influence to establish the worship of Baal in Judah and drew into idolatry and crime both her husband and her son Ahaziah.
Athalia, born in Samaria, was the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel and granddaughter of Omri, the 6th king in line of the Northern 10-Tribe kingdom. Nothing of Omri's ancestry is recorded. She was the sister of Israel's King Jehoram, and full or half sister of the other 70 sons of Ahab.
Athalia was given in a marriage of political expediency to Jehoram the eldest son of Jehoshaphat of Judah to seal a "treaty" between the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. To secure his position Jehoram killed his 6 brothers, married Athalia and reigned for 8 years. Athalia became the mother of Ahaziah, who in time became king of Judah.
Like her mother Jezebel, Athalia egged on her husband Jehoram to do what was bad in God's eyes during his reign. And like her mother, she wantonly shed the blood of the innocent. Jehoram's rule was shaky. Edom revolted, and he was forced to acknowledge their independence. A raid by Philistines, Arabs, and Ethiopians looted the king's house, and carried off all of his family except for their youngest son, Ahaziah.
After Jehoram's death, her wicked son Ahaziah became king of Judah, and Athalia was Queen mother. He reigned for one year from the age of 22 and was killed during a state visit to Israel along with Jehoram of Israel, Athalia's brother. Jehu assassinated them both in God's Name, together with the other 70 sons of Ahab, and became king of Israel. He had Athalia's entire extended family in Israel put to death, ending Omri dynasty.
For her part, after the premature death of her son and the great revolution by which Jehu seated himself on the throne of Samaria, Athalia seized the throne of Judah, and sought to secure herself in it by ordering the execution of all possible claimants to the throne, including the remnant of her Omri dynasty. However, Jehosheba, Ahaziah's sister, managed to rescue from the purge one of Athalia's grandsons with Jehoram of Judah, named Jehoash, who was only one year old.
Jehoash was raised in secretly by Jehosheba's husband, a bold and faithful high priest named Jehoiada. At length the high priest Jehoiada thought it time to produce the lawful king to the people, trusting to their zeal for the Worship of God and their loyalty to the House of David.
Thereupon Athalia installed herself as Queen for 6 years. During this time she robbed God's temple of the Holy Things and offered them to Baal.
When Jehoash reached 7 years of age, God-fearing high priest Jehoiada brought the lad out of secrecy from the place of refuge, and crowned him rightful heir to the Throne. Jehoiada's plan was successful.
Hearing the tumult, Athalia rushed to the Temple to stop the rebellion and upon seeing what was happening, cried, "Conspiracy! Conspiracy!" She was surprised when Jehoiada revealed that Jehoash lived and proclaimed him king of Judah. Then High Priest Jehoiada ordered the blood-stained Athalia to be taken outside the Temple grounds to be executed at the Horse Gate of the palace.
How true it proved to be the God's prophecy: "Nothing of God's Word will fall unfulfilled to the earth that God has spoken against the House of Ahab." 2 Kings 10:10, 11.
Sunday, 18 June 2017
THE MEANING OF MOSES' SONG.
The LORD saved Israel that Day from the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore. And Israel saw the Great Work which the LORD did against the Egyptians, and the people Feared and Honor the LORD; and they Believed in the LORD and in His Servant Moses. (Exodus 14: 30-31)
Then in Exodus 19 , the Scripture says, "The people of Israel left Rephidim, and on the 1rst Day of the 3rd Month after they had left Egypt they came to the desert of Sinai. There they set up camp at the foot of Mount Sinai and Moses went up the Mountain to meet with God. ... God told him to say to the Israelites, Jacob's descendants: 'You saw what I, the Lord, did to the Egyptians and how I carried you as an eagle carries her young on her wings, and brought you here to Me. Now, if you will obey Me and keep My Covenant, you will be My own people. The whole earth is mine, but you will be My chosen people; a people dedicated to Me alone, and you will serve Me as priests.' " (Exodus 19: 1-6)
Then all the people answered together, "We will do everything that the Lord has said," and Moses reported this to the Lord. And the Lord said to him, "Go to the people and tell them to spend Today and Tomorrow purifying themselves for worship. They must wash their clothes and be ready 'the Day after Tomorrow'. On that Day I will come down on Mount Sinai, where all the people can see Me. Mark a boundary around the mountain that the people must not cross, and tell them not to go up the Mountain or even go near it. If any of you set foot on it, you are to be put to death; you must either be stoned or shot with arrows, without anyone touching you. This applies to both people and animals; they must be put to death. But when the Trumpet is blown, then the people are to go up to the mountain." (Exodus 19: 9-13)
Exodus 15: Then Moses and the People of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, "I will sing to the LORD, for HE has Triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider (Egypt) HE has thrown into the sea.
The LORD is my strength and my song, and HE has become my Salvation; this is MY GOD, and I will PRAISE HIM. The LORD is a Man of War; the LORD IS HIS NAME. (15: 2)
Pharaoh's chariots and his host HE cast into the sea; and his picked officers are sunk in the Red Sea. The Floods cover them; they went down into the Depths like a stone. Your Right Hand, O LORD, glorious in Power, Your Right Hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. (15: 3-6)
In the Greatness of Your Majesty YOU overthrown the adversaries, YOU sent forth YOUR FURY, It consumes them like stubble. At the blast of YOUR NOSTRILS (the Word of God) the Waters piled up, the Floods stood up in a heap; the Deeps congealed in the Heart of the Sea. (15: 7-8)
The enemy said, "I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them." But YOU did blow with YOUR WIND, and the sea covered them; they sank as lead in the Mighty Waters. (15: 9-10)
Who is like YOU, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like YOU, Majestic in Holiness, Terrible in Glorious Deeds, doing Wonders? YOU did stretch out YOUR RIGHT HAND, the earth swallowed them. YOU have led in YOUR STEADFAST LOVE the People whom YOU HAVE REDEEMED.
YOU have GUIDED them BY YOUR STRENGTH to the HOLY ABODE. (15: 11-13)
The Lamb and His People.- Revelation 14: Then I looked, and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion; with Him were 144,000 people who have His Name and His Father's Name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from Heaven that sounded like a roaring waterfall, like a loud peal of thunder. It sounded like the music made by musicians playing their harps. The 144,000 people stood before the Throne, the 4 Living Creatures, and the elders; they were singing a new song, which 'only they' could learn. Of the whole human race they are 'the only ones' who have been 'redeemed'. They are the men who have 'kept themselves pure' by not having sexual relations with women; they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from the rest of the human race and are the first ones to be offered to God and to the Lamb. They have never been known to tell lies; they are faultless. (Revelation 14: 1-5)
The Song of Moses continue: ... "The people from other nations have heard and they tremble; pangs have seized on the inhabitants of Philistia. Now the chiefs of Edom are dismayed; trembling seized the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the Greatness of YOUR ARM, and because of it, they are still as a stone, till Your People, O LORD, Pass By, till the People Pass By whom YOU HAVE PURCHASED."
"YOU will Bring Them In, and Plant Them on YOUR Own Mountain, the Place, O Lord, which YOU HAVE MADE for YOUR abode, the Sanctuary, O Lord, which YOUR HANDS have established. The LORD will reign FOR EVER AND EVER." ((Exodus 15: 14-18)
"For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the Sea, the LORD brought back the Waters of the Sea upon them; but the People of Israel Walked on Dry Ground in the Midst of the Sea." (Exodus 15: 19)
"Then Miriam, the Prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel (tambourine) in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels (tambourines) and dancing. And Miriam sang to them: 'Sing to the LORD, for HE has Triumphed Gloriously; the horse and his rider HE has thrown into the Sea.' " (Exodus 15: 20-21)
Then in Exodus 19 , the Scripture says, "The people of Israel left Rephidim, and on the 1rst Day of the 3rd Month after they had left Egypt they came to the desert of Sinai. There they set up camp at the foot of Mount Sinai and Moses went up the Mountain to meet with God. ... God told him to say to the Israelites, Jacob's descendants: 'You saw what I, the Lord, did to the Egyptians and how I carried you as an eagle carries her young on her wings, and brought you here to Me. Now, if you will obey Me and keep My Covenant, you will be My own people. The whole earth is mine, but you will be My chosen people; a people dedicated to Me alone, and you will serve Me as priests.' " (Exodus 19: 1-6)
Then all the people answered together, "We will do everything that the Lord has said," and Moses reported this to the Lord. And the Lord said to him, "Go to the people and tell them to spend Today and Tomorrow purifying themselves for worship. They must wash their clothes and be ready 'the Day after Tomorrow'. On that Day I will come down on Mount Sinai, where all the people can see Me. Mark a boundary around the mountain that the people must not cross, and tell them not to go up the Mountain or even go near it. If any of you set foot on it, you are to be put to death; you must either be stoned or shot with arrows, without anyone touching you. This applies to both people and animals; they must be put to death. But when the Trumpet is blown, then the people are to go up to the mountain." (Exodus 19: 9-13)
Exodus 15: Then Moses and the People of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, "I will sing to the LORD, for HE has Triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider (Egypt) HE has thrown into the sea.
The LORD is my strength and my song, and HE has become my Salvation; this is MY GOD, and I will PRAISE HIM. The LORD is a Man of War; the LORD IS HIS NAME. (15: 2)
Pharaoh's chariots and his host HE cast into the sea; and his picked officers are sunk in the Red Sea. The Floods cover them; they went down into the Depths like a stone. Your Right Hand, O LORD, glorious in Power, Your Right Hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. (15: 3-6)
In the Greatness of Your Majesty YOU overthrown the adversaries, YOU sent forth YOUR FURY, It consumes them like stubble. At the blast of YOUR NOSTRILS (the Word of God) the Waters piled up, the Floods stood up in a heap; the Deeps congealed in the Heart of the Sea. (15: 7-8)
The enemy said, "I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them." But YOU did blow with YOUR WIND, and the sea covered them; they sank as lead in the Mighty Waters. (15: 9-10)
Who is like YOU, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like YOU, Majestic in Holiness, Terrible in Glorious Deeds, doing Wonders? YOU did stretch out YOUR RIGHT HAND, the earth swallowed them. YOU have led in YOUR STEADFAST LOVE the People whom YOU HAVE REDEEMED.
YOU have GUIDED them BY YOUR STRENGTH to the HOLY ABODE. (15: 11-13)
The Lamb and His People.- Revelation 14: Then I looked, and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion; with Him were 144,000 people who have His Name and His Father's Name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from Heaven that sounded like a roaring waterfall, like a loud peal of thunder. It sounded like the music made by musicians playing their harps. The 144,000 people stood before the Throne, the 4 Living Creatures, and the elders; they were singing a new song, which 'only they' could learn. Of the whole human race they are 'the only ones' who have been 'redeemed'. They are the men who have 'kept themselves pure' by not having sexual relations with women; they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from the rest of the human race and are the first ones to be offered to God and to the Lamb. They have never been known to tell lies; they are faultless. (Revelation 14: 1-5)
The Song of Moses continue: ... "The people from other nations have heard and they tremble; pangs have seized on the inhabitants of Philistia. Now the chiefs of Edom are dismayed; trembling seized the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the Greatness of YOUR ARM, and because of it, they are still as a stone, till Your People, O LORD, Pass By, till the People Pass By whom YOU HAVE PURCHASED."
"YOU will Bring Them In, and Plant Them on YOUR Own Mountain, the Place, O Lord, which YOU HAVE MADE for YOUR abode, the Sanctuary, O Lord, which YOUR HANDS have established. The LORD will reign FOR EVER AND EVER." ((Exodus 15: 14-18)
"For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the Sea, the LORD brought back the Waters of the Sea upon them; but the People of Israel Walked on Dry Ground in the Midst of the Sea." (Exodus 15: 19)
"Then Miriam, the Prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel (tambourine) in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels (tambourines) and dancing. And Miriam sang to them: 'Sing to the LORD, for HE has Triumphed Gloriously; the horse and his rider HE has thrown into the Sea.' " (Exodus 15: 20-21)
THE WORD OF GOD.
In Genesis 3, the Scripture says, "Now the snake was the most cunning animal that the Lord God had made." (Genesis 3:1) Then when God pronounces Judgment on the snake, He says, "You will be punished for this (tricked the woman into eating the forbidden fruit); you alone of all the animals must bear this curse: From now on you will crawl on your belly, and you will have to eat dust as long as you live. I will make you and the woman hate each other; her offspring and yours will always be enemies. Her offspring will crush your head, and you will bite her offspring's heel." (Genesis 3:14-15)
Then the Lord God said, "Now these human beings have become like one of us and have knowledge of what is good and what is bad. They must not be allowed to take fruit from the tree that gives life, eat it, and live forever." So the Lord God sent them out of the Garden of Eden and made them cultivate the soil from which they had been formed. Then at the East side of the Garden God put Living Creatures and a Flaming Sword which turned in all directions. This was to keep anyone from coming near the Tree that gives Life. (Genesis 3: 22-24)
In Revelation 19, the writer says, " ... I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude of People In Heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and Glory and Power belong to our GOD, for His Judgments are True and Just; HE has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and HE has avenged on her the Blood of His Servants." (Rev. 19:1-2)
Once more they also said, "Hallelujah! the smoke from her burning goes up for ever and ever." Then the 24 elders and the 4 Living Creatures fell down and worshipped GOD Who is Seated on the Throne, saying, "Amen, Hallelujah!" And from the Throne came a Voice saying, "Praise our GOD, all you His Servants, you who Fear and Honor Him, small and great." (Rev. 19:3-5)
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the Sound of Many Waters and like the Sound of Mighty Claps of Thunder, saying, Hallelujah! For the Lord our GOD the Almighty reigns. Let us Rejoice and Exult and give Him the Glory, for the Marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; for the Fine Linen was granted her to be clothed with, bright and pure," for the linen is the Righteous Deeds of GOD's Holy People. (Rev.19:6-8)
The Lord sent His Messengers and Prophets to warn Israel and Judah: "Abandon your evil ways and Obey My Commands, which are contained in the Law I gave to your ancestors and which I handed on to you through My servants the prophets." (2 Kings 17: 13)
Then the angel said to me, "Write this: 'Blessed are Those who are Invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.' " And he said to me, "These are TRUE WORDS of GOD." (Rev 19:9)
Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren who Hold the Testimony of JESUS. Worship GOD." For the TESTIMONY of JESUS is the SPIRIT OF PROPHECY. (Rev. 19:10)
Then I saw Heaven opened, and behold, a White Horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True and in Righteousness He Judges and makes war. His Eyes are like a Flame of Fire, and on His Head are many diadems (crowns); and He has a Name inscribed which no one knows but Himself. He is clad (dressed) in a robe dipped in blood, and the Name by which He is called is THE WORD OF GOD. And the Armies of Heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed Him on White Horses. From His Mouth issues a Sharp Sword with which smite the nations, and He will Rule them with a Rod of Iron; He will Tread the Wine Press of the FURY of the WRATH of GOD Almighty. On His Robe and on His Thigh He has a Name inscribed, KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS. (11-16)
Then a saw and angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice, he called to all the birds that fly in mid-Heaven, "Come, gather for the Great Supper of GOD, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." (Rev. 19:17-18)
And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against Him who sits upon the Horse and against His Army. And the Beast was captured, and with it the False Prophet who in its presence had worked the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped its image. (19-20) These two were thrown alive into the Lake of Fire that burns with sulphur. And the rest were slain by the Sword of Him Who Sits Upon the Horse, the Sword that Issues from His Mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh. (21)
Chapter 20-Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the Dragon, that ancient Serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a 1,000 years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the 1,000 years were ended. After that he must be loosed for a little while. (1-3)
Then the Lord God said, "Now these human beings have become like one of us and have knowledge of what is good and what is bad. They must not be allowed to take fruit from the tree that gives life, eat it, and live forever." So the Lord God sent them out of the Garden of Eden and made them cultivate the soil from which they had been formed. Then at the East side of the Garden God put Living Creatures and a Flaming Sword which turned in all directions. This was to keep anyone from coming near the Tree that gives Life. (Genesis 3: 22-24)
In Revelation 19, the writer says, " ... I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude of People In Heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and Glory and Power belong to our GOD, for His Judgments are True and Just; HE has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and HE has avenged on her the Blood of His Servants." (Rev. 19:1-2)
Once more they also said, "Hallelujah! the smoke from her burning goes up for ever and ever." Then the 24 elders and the 4 Living Creatures fell down and worshipped GOD Who is Seated on the Throne, saying, "Amen, Hallelujah!" And from the Throne came a Voice saying, "Praise our GOD, all you His Servants, you who Fear and Honor Him, small and great." (Rev. 19:3-5)
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the Sound of Many Waters and like the Sound of Mighty Claps of Thunder, saying, Hallelujah! For the Lord our GOD the Almighty reigns. Let us Rejoice and Exult and give Him the Glory, for the Marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; for the Fine Linen was granted her to be clothed with, bright and pure," for the linen is the Righteous Deeds of GOD's Holy People. (Rev.19:6-8)
The Lord sent His Messengers and Prophets to warn Israel and Judah: "Abandon your evil ways and Obey My Commands, which are contained in the Law I gave to your ancestors and which I handed on to you through My servants the prophets." (2 Kings 17: 13)
Then the angel said to me, "Write this: 'Blessed are Those who are Invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.' " And he said to me, "These are TRUE WORDS of GOD." (Rev 19:9)
Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren who Hold the Testimony of JESUS. Worship GOD." For the TESTIMONY of JESUS is the SPIRIT OF PROPHECY. (Rev. 19:10)
Then I saw Heaven opened, and behold, a White Horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True and in Righteousness He Judges and makes war. His Eyes are like a Flame of Fire, and on His Head are many diadems (crowns); and He has a Name inscribed which no one knows but Himself. He is clad (dressed) in a robe dipped in blood, and the Name by which He is called is THE WORD OF GOD. And the Armies of Heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed Him on White Horses. From His Mouth issues a Sharp Sword with which smite the nations, and He will Rule them with a Rod of Iron; He will Tread the Wine Press of the FURY of the WRATH of GOD Almighty. On His Robe and on His Thigh He has a Name inscribed, KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS. (11-16)
Then a saw and angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice, he called to all the birds that fly in mid-Heaven, "Come, gather for the Great Supper of GOD, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." (Rev. 19:17-18)
And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against Him who sits upon the Horse and against His Army. And the Beast was captured, and with it the False Prophet who in its presence had worked the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped its image. (19-20) These two were thrown alive into the Lake of Fire that burns with sulphur. And the rest were slain by the Sword of Him Who Sits Upon the Horse, the Sword that Issues from His Mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh. (21)
Chapter 20-Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the Dragon, that ancient Serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a 1,000 years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the 1,000 years were ended. After that he must be loosed for a little while. (1-3)
UNDERSTANDING THE HORSE SPIRIT.
The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today. Horses are herd animals, with a clear hierarchy of rank, led by a dominant individual, usually a female horse. They are also social creatures that are able to form companionship attachments to their own species and to other animals. They communicate in various ways, including vocalizations such as nickering or whining, mutual grooming, and body language.
Many horses will become difficult to manage if they are isolated, but with training, horses can learn to accept human as a companion, and thus be comfortable away from other horses. Horses excel at simple learning, but also are able to use more advance cognitive abilities that involve categorization and concept learning.
Humans began to domesticate horses around 4,000BC. Since then it has been widespread all over the world. Horses were historically used in warfare, from which a variety of riding and driving techniques developed, using many different styles of equipment and methods of control. Most domesticated horses begin training under saddle or in harness between the ages of 2 and 4. They reach full adult development by age 5, and have an average life span of between 25 and 30 years, depending on breed, management and environment. Most light horse riding breeds were developed for speed, agility, alertness and endurance; natural qualities that extend from their wild ancestors.
Horses exhibit a diverse array of coat colors and distinctive markings. Often, it is classified first by its coat color, before breed or gender. Horses of the same color may be distinguished from one another by white markings, which, along with various spotting patterns, are inherited separately from coat color.
Horse breeds are loosely divided into 3 categories based on temperament: spirited "hot bloods" with speed and endurance; "cold bloods,"such as draft horses (cart horse, work horse, heavy horse) doing hard tasks, and some ponies suitable for slow work; and "warm bloods," developed from crosses between hot and cold bloods. There are more than 300 breeds of horse in the world today, developed for many different uses.
The following terminology is used to describe horses of various ages: Colt, a male horse under the age of four; Filly, a female horse under the age of four; Foal, a horse of either gender less than one year old; Gelding, a castrated male horse of any age; Mare, a female horse four years old and older; Stallion, a non-castrated male horse four years old and older; Yearling, a horse of either gender that is between one and two years old.
The height of horses is measured at the highest point of the ridge between the shoulder blades (withers) where the neck meets the back. It is the most stable point of its anatomy, unlike the head or neck, which move up and down in relation to the body. The horse skeleton averages 205 bones. A significant difference between horse skeleton and that of a human is the lack of a collarbone -the horse's forelimbs are attached to the spinal column by a powerful set of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that attach the shoulder blade to the torso. The horse's legs and hooves are also unique structures. Their leg bones are proportioned differently from those of human. The horse's "knee" is actually made up of the carpal bones that correspond to the human wrist. Similarly, the joint between the tarsal bones and tibia (hock) contains bones equivalent to those in the human ankle and heel. A horse also has no muscles in its legs below the knees and hocks, only skin, hair bone, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and the assorted specialized tissues that make up the hoof.
Horses' anatomy enables them to make use of speed to escape predators. They have a well-developed sense of balance. Balance is the result of a number of body systems working together: the eyes (visual system), ears (vestibular system), and the body's sense of where it is in space employed in movement.
Horses also have a strong psychological reaction (Fight-or Flight) that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival, although horses will stand their ground and defend themselves when flight is impossible, or if their young are threatened. Related to this need, horses are able to sleep both standing up and lying down. They also tend to be curious and often hesitate an instant to ascertain the cause of their fright, and may not always flee from something that they perceive as non-threatening.
Horses' senses are based on their status as prey animals, where they must be aware of the surroundings at all times. They have the largest eyes of any land mammal, and their range of vision is more than 350* with approximately 65* of this being binocular vision and the remaining 285* monocular vision.
Horses have excellent day and night vision, but they have two-color vision that it is somewhat like red-green color blindness in humans, where certain colors, especially red and related colors, appear as a shade of green.
The horses' sense of smell, while much better than humans, is not as good as that of a dog. It plays a key role in social interaction of horses as well as detecting other key scents in the environment. They have two olfactory centers. The first is in the nostrils and nasal cavity, the second is located under the nasal cavity, having a separate nerve pathway to the brain and analyze hormones behavior.
The horse's hearing is good, and the visible part of each ear can rotate up to 180,*giving the potential for 360* hearing without moving the head. Noise impacts the behavior of horses and certain kinds of noise contribute to stress. A study indicated that stabled horses were calmest in a quiet setting, or if listening to classical music, but displayed signs of nervousness when listening to jazz and rock music. Another study found that stabled race horses listening to talk radio had a higher rate of gastric ulcers than horses listening to calm music, and race horses stabled where a radio was played had higher rate of ulceration than horses stabled where there was no radio playing. Also, when confined with insuficient companionship, exercise, or stimulation, horses developed an assortment of bad habits, mostly repetitive behavior that include wood chewing, wall kicking, rocking back and forth, and other problems.
The horses have an advance sense of taste, which allows them to sort through fodder and choose what they want, and their gripping lips can easily sort even small grains. Horses generally will not eat poison through plants, but in rare occasions they will eat toxic amounts of poisonous plants even when there is adequate healthy food.
Many products are derived from horses, including meat, milk, hide, hair, bone, and pharmaceuticals extracted from the urine of pregnant mares. Female horses (mares) carry their young for approximately 11 months, and a young horse (foal) can stand and run shortly following birth.
Horses are herbivores with a digestive system adapted to a forage diet of grasses and other plant material, consumed steadily throughout the day. Therefore, compared to humans, they have a relatively small stomach but very long intestines to facilitate a steady flow of nutrients. They are not ruminants, they have only one stomach, like humans, but unlike humans, they can utilize cellulose, a major component of grass, and the most abundant organic polymer on Earth. They can digest cellulose with the help of symbiotic micro-organisms that live in their guts. Horses cannot vomit, so digestion problems can quickly cause colic, a leading cause of death. In human nutrition, cellulose acts as a hydrophilic bulking agent for feces and is often referred to as dietary fiber.
Domesticated horses face greater mental challenges than wild horses, because they live in artificial environments that prevent instinctive behavior grow due to the influence of learning tasks that are not natural. Horses are animals of habit that respond well to regimentation, and respond best when the same routines and techniques are used consistently.
One trainer believes that intelligent horses are reflections of its trainers who effectively use response conditioning techniques and positive reinforcement to train in the style that best fits with an individual's natural inclination.
Many horses will become difficult to manage if they are isolated, but with training, horses can learn to accept human as a companion, and thus be comfortable away from other horses. Horses excel at simple learning, but also are able to use more advance cognitive abilities that involve categorization and concept learning.
Humans began to domesticate horses around 4,000BC. Since then it has been widespread all over the world. Horses were historically used in warfare, from which a variety of riding and driving techniques developed, using many different styles of equipment and methods of control. Most domesticated horses begin training under saddle or in harness between the ages of 2 and 4. They reach full adult development by age 5, and have an average life span of between 25 and 30 years, depending on breed, management and environment. Most light horse riding breeds were developed for speed, agility, alertness and endurance; natural qualities that extend from their wild ancestors.
Horses exhibit a diverse array of coat colors and distinctive markings. Often, it is classified first by its coat color, before breed or gender. Horses of the same color may be distinguished from one another by white markings, which, along with various spotting patterns, are inherited separately from coat color.
Horse breeds are loosely divided into 3 categories based on temperament: spirited "hot bloods" with speed and endurance; "cold bloods,"such as draft horses (cart horse, work horse, heavy horse) doing hard tasks, and some ponies suitable for slow work; and "warm bloods," developed from crosses between hot and cold bloods. There are more than 300 breeds of horse in the world today, developed for many different uses.
The following terminology is used to describe horses of various ages: Colt, a male horse under the age of four; Filly, a female horse under the age of four; Foal, a horse of either gender less than one year old; Gelding, a castrated male horse of any age; Mare, a female horse four years old and older; Stallion, a non-castrated male horse four years old and older; Yearling, a horse of either gender that is between one and two years old.
The height of horses is measured at the highest point of the ridge between the shoulder blades (withers) where the neck meets the back. It is the most stable point of its anatomy, unlike the head or neck, which move up and down in relation to the body. The horse skeleton averages 205 bones. A significant difference between horse skeleton and that of a human is the lack of a collarbone -the horse's forelimbs are attached to the spinal column by a powerful set of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that attach the shoulder blade to the torso. The horse's legs and hooves are also unique structures. Their leg bones are proportioned differently from those of human. The horse's "knee" is actually made up of the carpal bones that correspond to the human wrist. Similarly, the joint between the tarsal bones and tibia (hock) contains bones equivalent to those in the human ankle and heel. A horse also has no muscles in its legs below the knees and hocks, only skin, hair bone, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and the assorted specialized tissues that make up the hoof.
Horses' anatomy enables them to make use of speed to escape predators. They have a well-developed sense of balance. Balance is the result of a number of body systems working together: the eyes (visual system), ears (vestibular system), and the body's sense of where it is in space employed in movement.
Horses also have a strong psychological reaction (Fight-or Flight) that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival, although horses will stand their ground and defend themselves when flight is impossible, or if their young are threatened. Related to this need, horses are able to sleep both standing up and lying down. They also tend to be curious and often hesitate an instant to ascertain the cause of their fright, and may not always flee from something that they perceive as non-threatening.
Horses' senses are based on their status as prey animals, where they must be aware of the surroundings at all times. They have the largest eyes of any land mammal, and their range of vision is more than 350* with approximately 65* of this being binocular vision and the remaining 285* monocular vision.
Horses have excellent day and night vision, but they have two-color vision that it is somewhat like red-green color blindness in humans, where certain colors, especially red and related colors, appear as a shade of green.
The horses' sense of smell, while much better than humans, is not as good as that of a dog. It plays a key role in social interaction of horses as well as detecting other key scents in the environment. They have two olfactory centers. The first is in the nostrils and nasal cavity, the second is located under the nasal cavity, having a separate nerve pathway to the brain and analyze hormones behavior.
The horse's hearing is good, and the visible part of each ear can rotate up to 180,*giving the potential for 360* hearing without moving the head. Noise impacts the behavior of horses and certain kinds of noise contribute to stress. A study indicated that stabled horses were calmest in a quiet setting, or if listening to classical music, but displayed signs of nervousness when listening to jazz and rock music. Another study found that stabled race horses listening to talk radio had a higher rate of gastric ulcers than horses listening to calm music, and race horses stabled where a radio was played had higher rate of ulceration than horses stabled where there was no radio playing. Also, when confined with insuficient companionship, exercise, or stimulation, horses developed an assortment of bad habits, mostly repetitive behavior that include wood chewing, wall kicking, rocking back and forth, and other problems.
The horses have an advance sense of taste, which allows them to sort through fodder and choose what they want, and their gripping lips can easily sort even small grains. Horses generally will not eat poison through plants, but in rare occasions they will eat toxic amounts of poisonous plants even when there is adequate healthy food.
Many products are derived from horses, including meat, milk, hide, hair, bone, and pharmaceuticals extracted from the urine of pregnant mares. Female horses (mares) carry their young for approximately 11 months, and a young horse (foal) can stand and run shortly following birth.
Horses are herbivores with a digestive system adapted to a forage diet of grasses and other plant material, consumed steadily throughout the day. Therefore, compared to humans, they have a relatively small stomach but very long intestines to facilitate a steady flow of nutrients. They are not ruminants, they have only one stomach, like humans, but unlike humans, they can utilize cellulose, a major component of grass, and the most abundant organic polymer on Earth. They can digest cellulose with the help of symbiotic micro-organisms that live in their guts. Horses cannot vomit, so digestion problems can quickly cause colic, a leading cause of death. In human nutrition, cellulose acts as a hydrophilic bulking agent for feces and is often referred to as dietary fiber.
Domesticated horses face greater mental challenges than wild horses, because they live in artificial environments that prevent instinctive behavior grow due to the influence of learning tasks that are not natural. Horses are animals of habit that respond well to regimentation, and respond best when the same routines and techniques are used consistently.
One trainer believes that intelligent horses are reflections of its trainers who effectively use response conditioning techniques and positive reinforcement to train in the style that best fits with an individual's natural inclination.
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
GOD'S WAR AGAINST EVIL.
Two thousand years ago Revelation (17:14) predicted a conflict set to be in place, referring to the evil hordes that control this world: "these shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for HE is LORD of lords, and KING of kings, and they that are with HIM are called, and chosen, and faithful."
It is the thrill that precedes a new beginning -to build a society from the basic foundation since Creation.
Here is the way that God planned it. In Exodus, chapter 3, the plan starts with the smoting of every Egyptian firstborn child and firstborn beast. On the night of the smoting, GOD told each Israelite family to find a year-old Lamb without blemish, kill it, and wipe the blood on the top and sides of the door.
Exodus 12: 3-7 says: "In the 10th day of this month they shall take to them every man a Lamb ... without blemish, a male of the first year ... and you shall kill it in the evening, and they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses."
In that way when GOD came through Egypt looking for the first born Egyptians children and beasts to kill, HE would see the blood on the door posts and "Pass Over" the house.
Exodus 12: 12-13 says: "For I will pass through the Land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the Land of Egypt, both man and beast ... and when I see the blood, I will pass over you."
29-30 says: "At midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the Land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of the cattle ... and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead."
Why did GOD do it? Because HE wanted to show all His Power and that nobody else in earth is quite like Him, what HE can do with it showing that the whole earth belongs to Him, and introduce Himself to the Egyptians, to prove that HE is GOD, and giving us a story to tell our children and grandchildren.
Exodus 3:20 says: "I will ... smite Egypt with all My Wonders... Now shall you see what I will do to Pharaoh (6:1)... For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon your servants, and upon your people; that you may know that there is none like ME in all the earth ... that MY NAME may be declared throughout all the earth (9:14,16)."
Exodus 7:3 says: "I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the Land of Egypt... Go in unto the Pharaoh -for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might show these My Signs before him(10:1)... and the Egyptians shall know that I Am the LORD (7:5)... and how the LORD do put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel (11:7) ... against all the gods of Egypt I will execute Judgment (12:12)"
In any case, GOD is very clear in His Judgment and it was not easy to pull everything off even for Him. He had to harden the Pharaoh's heart 8 times to make it all work out as planned (4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:1,20,27; 11:10).
In Isaiah 37:35-36 GOD says: "For I will defend this city to save it for MY OWN SAKE and for MY servant DAVID's sake." Then the Angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, all of these were dead. The main body of the Assyrian's army was slain.
Isaiah 10:12 says: "So it will be that the LORD has completed all HIS WORK on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem. HE will say, 'I will punish the fruit of the Arrogant Heart of the King of Assyria and the pomp of His Haughtiness.' " ... The LORD of hosts will arouse a scourge against him like the slaughter of Midian at the Rock of Oreb; and His Staff will be over the sea and HE will lift it up the way HE did in Egypt (10:26). And the Assyrian will fall by a sword not of man, and a sword not of man will devour him. So he will not escape the sword, and his young men will become forced laborers (31:8).
Micah 5:6 says: "They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, the Land of Nimrod at its entrances; and HE will deliver us from the Assyrian when he attacks our land and when he tramples our territory." The king of Assyria's own sons became his murderers.
Who ever hardened against GOD and prospered?
The history exhibits a strong proof of the good of FIRM TRUST and CONFIDENCE in GOD.
GOD will afflict, but not forsake His People.
It is well when our troubles drive us to our knees. But does it not reprove our unbelief?
How unwilling are we to rest on the declaration of GOD!
How desirous to know in what way HE will save us!
How impatient when relief is delayed!
But we must wait for the fulfilling of HIS WORD.
Isaiah 10:24-25 says: "Therefore this is what the Lord, GOD of the Heavenly Armies, says: 'O My People who dwell (live) in Zion, do not be afraid of (do not fear) the Assyrian, who (smites, oppresses, strikes) beat you with a rod and lift up (raises) a club (staff) against you (after the manner) as the Egyptians did long ago. For in a very little while My Indignation against you will be spent and My Anger will be directed to their destruction.' "
Exodus 5:14 says: "Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, 'Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?' "
In Exodus:14:13 Moses said to the People, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which HE will accomplish you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever."
Isaiah 7:1-5 says: "Now it came about in the days of Ahaz, the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Aram and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not conquer it. Then the LORD said to Isaiah, 'Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-Jashub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller's Field, and say to Ahaz, -Take care and be calm, have no fear and do not be fainthearted because of these two stubs of smoldering firebrands, on account of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah. Because Aram, with Ephraim and the son of Remalaih, has planned evil against you, ... 7:9 and the head of Ephraim is Samaria and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah (king of Israel). If you will not belief, you surely shall not last.' "
Isaiah 30:15 says: For thus GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In Repentance and Rest you will be saved, In Quietness and Trust is your strength." But you were not willing ... Thus says the Lord, "Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed ME."37:9
Then 2 John 1:7-9 says : For many deceivers have gone into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the anti-Christ. Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, that you may be fully rewarded. Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have GOD.
It is the thrill that precedes a new beginning -to build a society from the basic foundation since Creation.
Here is the way that God planned it. In Exodus, chapter 3, the plan starts with the smoting of every Egyptian firstborn child and firstborn beast. On the night of the smoting, GOD told each Israelite family to find a year-old Lamb without blemish, kill it, and wipe the blood on the top and sides of the door.
Exodus 12: 3-7 says: "In the 10th day of this month they shall take to them every man a Lamb ... without blemish, a male of the first year ... and you shall kill it in the evening, and they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses."
In that way when GOD came through Egypt looking for the first born Egyptians children and beasts to kill, HE would see the blood on the door posts and "Pass Over" the house.
Exodus 12: 12-13 says: "For I will pass through the Land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the Land of Egypt, both man and beast ... and when I see the blood, I will pass over you."
29-30 says: "At midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the Land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of the cattle ... and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead."
Why did GOD do it? Because HE wanted to show all His Power and that nobody else in earth is quite like Him, what HE can do with it showing that the whole earth belongs to Him, and introduce Himself to the Egyptians, to prove that HE is GOD, and giving us a story to tell our children and grandchildren.
Exodus 3:20 says: "I will ... smite Egypt with all My Wonders... Now shall you see what I will do to Pharaoh (6:1)... For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon your servants, and upon your people; that you may know that there is none like ME in all the earth ... that MY NAME may be declared throughout all the earth (9:14,16)."
Exodus 7:3 says: "I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the Land of Egypt... Go in unto the Pharaoh -for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might show these My Signs before him(10:1)... and the Egyptians shall know that I Am the LORD (7:5)... and how the LORD do put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel (11:7) ... against all the gods of Egypt I will execute Judgment (12:12)"
In any case, GOD is very clear in His Judgment and it was not easy to pull everything off even for Him. He had to harden the Pharaoh's heart 8 times to make it all work out as planned (4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:1,20,27; 11:10).
In Isaiah 37:35-36 GOD says: "For I will defend this city to save it for MY OWN SAKE and for MY servant DAVID's sake." Then the Angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, all of these were dead. The main body of the Assyrian's army was slain.
Isaiah 10:12 says: "So it will be that the LORD has completed all HIS WORK on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem. HE will say, 'I will punish the fruit of the Arrogant Heart of the King of Assyria and the pomp of His Haughtiness.' " ... The LORD of hosts will arouse a scourge against him like the slaughter of Midian at the Rock of Oreb; and His Staff will be over the sea and HE will lift it up the way HE did in Egypt (10:26). And the Assyrian will fall by a sword not of man, and a sword not of man will devour him. So he will not escape the sword, and his young men will become forced laborers (31:8).
Micah 5:6 says: "They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, the Land of Nimrod at its entrances; and HE will deliver us from the Assyrian when he attacks our land and when he tramples our territory." The king of Assyria's own sons became his murderers.
Who ever hardened against GOD and prospered?
The history exhibits a strong proof of the good of FIRM TRUST and CONFIDENCE in GOD.
GOD will afflict, but not forsake His People.
It is well when our troubles drive us to our knees. But does it not reprove our unbelief?
How unwilling are we to rest on the declaration of GOD!
How desirous to know in what way HE will save us!
How impatient when relief is delayed!
But we must wait for the fulfilling of HIS WORD.
Isaiah 10:24-25 says: "Therefore this is what the Lord, GOD of the Heavenly Armies, says: 'O My People who dwell (live) in Zion, do not be afraid of (do not fear) the Assyrian, who (smites, oppresses, strikes) beat you with a rod and lift up (raises) a club (staff) against you (after the manner) as the Egyptians did long ago. For in a very little while My Indignation against you will be spent and My Anger will be directed to their destruction.' "
Exodus 5:14 says: "Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, 'Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?' "
In Exodus:14:13 Moses said to the People, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which HE will accomplish you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever."
Isaiah 7:1-5 says: "Now it came about in the days of Ahaz, the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Aram and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not conquer it. Then the LORD said to Isaiah, 'Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-Jashub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller's Field, and say to Ahaz, -Take care and be calm, have no fear and do not be fainthearted because of these two stubs of smoldering firebrands, on account of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah. Because Aram, with Ephraim and the son of Remalaih, has planned evil against you, ... 7:9 and the head of Ephraim is Samaria and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah (king of Israel). If you will not belief, you surely shall not last.' "
Isaiah 30:15 says: For thus GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In Repentance and Rest you will be saved, In Quietness and Trust is your strength." But you were not willing ... Thus says the Lord, "Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed ME."37:9
Then 2 John 1:7-9 says : For many deceivers have gone into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the anti-Christ. Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, that you may be fully rewarded. Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have GOD.
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