Belum Caves and Jebusite Jerusalem.

My Visit to Belum Caves - My Experience of How David Conquered Jebusite Jerusalem.

Below are the pictures of Belum Caves, Andhra Pradesh, India. I visited the caves in 2015. The first experience I had was how would have Joab had travelled up through the Cannanite built tunnel to open the doorways to conquer Jerusalem.

2Samuel 5:8 "Water Shaft".

A channel through which water came into the fortified Jebusite citadel from Gihon Spring, that was the main water source for Jebus (Jerusalem). This hidden underground water way upto Jerusalem was discovered by Sir.Charles Warren, a British Archaeologist in 1867.

David said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go through the water shaft to reach.. whoever is the first to kill a Jebusite will become chief commander." (2Samuel 5:8, 1Chronicles 11:6). Joab, travelled through this warren tunnel to capture Jebus.

Wish this year everyone to conquer unwanted territories in life and be a faithful believer of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey it's desires. And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. For sin will not rule over you.." Romans 6:12-14.

"So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh, because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all those led by God's Spirit are God's sons." (Romans 8:12-14).

Law regarding the slave wages or salary.

Law regarding the slave wages or salary.

"Adult workers received standard rations of 30 to 40 pints of barley per month while children received 20"; the barley was distributed as rations to about 200 workmen and their children. This scribe was clearly highly trained in this art. From Girsu, Mesopotamia, Iraq. This edict is by King Uruinimgina (Urugakina) King of city-states of Lagash and Girsu, from 2351-2342 BCE. (The British Museum, Iraq).

Though this law regarding the slave wages was prior or belong to the time of our Patriarch Abraham, probably in the time of BC 2100 (?) and would have been in effect at his time. However this cuneiform tablet comes from Girsu, and Abraham was a resident of Ur. I doubt that this edict has any effect in Ur is uncertain. Any how the Code of Ur-Nammu (BC 2100 or 2050) and the Code of Hammurabi (BC 1755 or 1750) belong to later period from the time of Abraham.

To conclude, we read from the Bible, Genesis 14:14, "he called out the 318 trained men born in his household..". If Abraham had 318 fighting men in his household, how much more slaves does he had other than them would be a great number. And to provide the needs for them according to this edict is a great task. These band of slaves with their master travelled all the way from Ur to the Promised Land. In this elapsed time, the providence is really a miracle and God had fulfilled his promise. Can we imagine the tonnes of grain needed to the whole migration ? What a great Provider we have, isn't it? Yes.

Homosexuality - God's Wrath.

Homosexuality - God's Wrath.

Genesis 1:27 reads, "So God created man in his own image; ..He created them male and female". And God created woman as a co-partner, a "corresponding helper" (Genesis 2:18), to be with man as he can't be alone. Genesis 2:21-24, gives a picture of how God created woman. There is a natural desire between them and that made them as "one flesh" (Genesis 2:24).

But as the days passed on, there is an unnatural desire that was developing in men and women. The Bible clearly records the destruction of the world is purely man made mistakes. God clearly warns Noah, that "every creature had corrupted it's way on the earth" (Genesis 6:12). So "God decided to put and end to every creature" (Genesis 6:13). In the same way we can see the wrath of God while destroying Sodom and Gomorrah. The people of Sodom after having their dinner and "before going to bed, the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, the whole population, surrounded the house. They called out to Lot and said, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so we can have sex with them!"" (Genesis 19:4,5). The cause of this sin is unnatural desires. 

Some statistics show that the urge for unnatural desires has been growing in both men and women as well. The record of unnatural sex in 2009 @3.5% has gradually grown upto 5% in 2015. The "Statista", in it's 2021 report writes, "..Among these variants, there are LGBT+ and LGBTQ+. The latter stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual/transgender, and queer. According to a survey conducted in 27 countries, seven in 10 people identify as heterosexual. Around three percent of respondents declared to be homosexual, gay, or lesbian, while four percent identify as bisexual. Additionally, one percent are pansexual or omnisexual. Pansexuality describes people who feel attracted to other people regardless of their biological sex, gender, or gender identity, whereas omnisexuality refers to attraction to all gender identities and sexual orientations." It records that, the acceptance of homosexuality was increasing, Kenya with 14%, Tunisia with 7%, Jordan with 7% as well. 30 countries have legalized same sex marriages.

Now, let's see how the Greco-Egyptian world had dealt with these unnatural desires, first, invoking gods for love between women and then between males.

In 1889, a relatively small piece of papyrus, was found in the cemetery at Hawara, located at the entrance to the Fayum depression. Dating to the 2nd century CE and written in Greek, the text itself is a love spell in which Herais daughter of Thermoutharin adjures a deceased spirit (Euangelos) and the gods to attract and bind to her Sarapias daughter of Helen. The wandering, restless souls of deceased spirits were frequently called upon in spells, with the promise of eternal rest in store for carrying out such demands. In total, ‘to attract and bind’ is repeated three times and a series of magical words, that they would have been understandable to the beings invoked or called upon or asked for help. The text of papyrus reads, “I adjure you, Euangelos, by Anubis and Hermes (Egyptian and Greek gods) and all the rest down below; attract and bind Sarapias, whom Helen bore, to this Herais, whom Thermoutharin bore, now, now; quickly, quickly. By her soul and heart attract Sarapias herself, whom <Helen> bore from her own womb. [magical words: MAEI OTE ELBOSATOK ALAOUBETO OEIO […] AEN]. …”

In an other incident, this time in Hermopolis, in 3rd or 4th century, a lead tablet found in el-Ashmunein (Greek Hermopolis) which bears 62 lines of Greek text in a small hand. It contains one Sophia daughter of Isara, invokes the spirit of a deceased male – “a fire-breathing daemon”, a “corpse-daemon” – to inflame the heart of her intended target, Gorgonia daughter of Nilogenia. In the following lines of her text she invokes other gods as well for help. The text reads, “… Listen and do everything quickly, in no way opposing me in the performance of this action; for you are the governors of the earth. [section of magical language] By means of this corpse-daemon, inflame the heart, the liver, the spirit of Gorgonia, whom Nilogenia bore, with love and affection for Sophia, whom Isara bore. Constrain Gorgonia, whom Nilogenia bore, to cast herself into the bathhouse for the sake of Sophia, whom Isara bore; and you [=the king of the underworld deities], become a bath-woman. Burn, set on fire, inflame her soul, heart, liver, spirit with love for Sophia, whom Isara bore. Drive Gorgonia, whom Nilogenia bore, drive her, torment her body night and day, force her to rush forth from every place and every house, loving Sophia, whom Isara bore, she, surrendered like a slave, giving herself and all her possessions to her, because this is the will and command of the great god [section of magical language] …”

In an incident between males, a Coptic text dated between 6th/7th century. A man Apapolo son of Nooe uses a powerful invocation to bind another man, Phlo son of Maure. Phlo will be unable to rest until he finds Apapolo and his desire is satisfied. The magical words goes like: Celtatalbabal. Karašneife Nnas Kneife, by the power of Iao Sabaoth! Rous Rous Rous Rous Rous Rous Rous Rous. The text reads, “I adjure you by your powers and your phylacteries and the places upon which you dwell and your names that in the way that I will take you and place you at the door and the path of Phlo the son of Maure, you will take his heart, his mind (?), you will master his whole body! If he stands you will not let him stand, if he sits you will not let him sit, if he sleeps you will not let him sleep! He will seek after me from village to village, from city to city, from field to field, from land to land, until he comes to me and he subjects himself beneath my feet – me, Apapolo, the son of Nooe – his hands filled with all good things, until I fulfil with him the desire of my heart and the request of my soul in a good desire and an unbreakable affection, now, now, quickly, quickly, do my work!”

It's been said that the Macedonian schools, the Gymnasium and the Ephebeion have the same unnatural desires for the others as well. [Greek men were often bisexual. Probably due to deficiency in the number of women (female infanticide). Marriages were often made between 30 year old men and women were 18 or even younger. Husbands usually do not respect them. Men had access to only three forms of sexual release until such late marriages, slaves, prostitutes and other males. Men often preferred boys on the edge of puberty or adolescents. Lesbianism though less widely reported, is also attested. (Information added on 22.02.2022 at 9:13 AM, taken from, The Bible Background Commentary)]. In the Romans there is an unnatural desire for the other males is seen in the elite families. Apostle Paul would been aware of that Roman Emperor Nero who castrated a boy named Sporus and married him. And Emperor Hadrian fell in love with a thirteen year old greek boy named Antinous. However, Antinous threw himself into river Nile when Hadrian, his wife Vibia Sabina and with them Antinous visited Egypt in AD 123.

What does the Bible say about homosexuality? Moses in Leviticus 18:22, condemns homosexuality. "You are not to sleep with a man as with a woman; it is detestable." Writing on family and sexual offenses, Moses in Leviticus 20:9-21, he briefly explains on homosexuality. Apostle Paul in his letter to Romans condemns homosexuality. Paul recalls on the law of Moses as, "God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death.." (Romans 1:32). In his letter to Romans, 1:24-31, Paul writes about the perverted people of unnatural desires. Paul notes that such people are given up by God to those sensual desires. Paul writes in v24, "God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity..", in v26, "God gave them over to shameful lusts", in v28, he writes, "..God, he gave them over to a depraved mind..". 

"Sexual impurity", (Gk, akatharsian) - men are condemned to sexual impurity is because of the sinful desires of their hearts, that is, passionate carvings, lusts, and urges. These are the things that displease God.

As we read above that the Egyptian papyrus of unnatural love spells, people are serving unnatural gods over there. They invoked false gods of dead spirits to help them get what they desired. They imagine god in some graven image molded by their hands. The Study Bible says, Man abandons the only true and living God and lusts and carves so much that he creates a god of his own mind who allows him to satisfy his lust. He thinks that his god understands his situation and will allow him to do what he wants. He matches his god to fit his morals and twists god to fit what he desires. Man serves and gives his time and energy to the god he imagines in his mind and to the idols he creates within his imagination and thoughts. 

"Shameful lusts" (Gk pathe atimias) - the reason why God gives men up to shameful lusts is because of their unnatural passion. Men lust and lust, they burn in their lust one for another. Women burn and lust and exchange natural relations for unnatural ones. It is man's choice, God can do nothing about it, for God gave man freewill of choice. 

"Depraved mind" (Gk adokimon noun) - They are allowed themselves to do exactly as they wanted to do. They are enslaved themselves to their desires. God gives up on them because they reject God. They push Him out of their minds. They ignore and refuse to accept God's presence. 

God is furious about those who defile their bodies with such sexual, lustful and self-driven desires. Apostle Paul writing to Corinthians, "Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible - but not everything is constructive", and, "Everything is permissible for me - but not everything is beneficial Everything is permissible for me - but I will not be mastered by anything" (1Corinthians 10:23, 6:12). It is good that we want to be mastered over everything, but doing some things may endanger our own lives. We always should be aware of ourselves. "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred and you are that temple" (1Corinthians 3:16,17). I want to close this column with a warning and a hope from 1Corinthians 6:9-11, "Don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God's Kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or males who have sex with males, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers (those who cheat) will inherit God's Kingdom. ..But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Let's be what God wants us to be.

Two Lessons from Apostle Paul's Letters.

Two Lessons from Apostle Paul's Letters.

We know that the ancient Olympic Games held in Olympia, Greece, from the 8th century BCE to the 4th century CE. Many sports were introduced as well as many included later and are still being added today. In a speech given in 1908, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, said: “The purpose of these Olympiads is less to win than to take part in them.” "A boxer's victory is gained in blood", begins an inscription dating from 1st century BCE. The purpose of the race is to win at any cost. Many have lost their lives and some gave up in the middle of the race or sport. 

During Apostle Paul in his 2nd missionary journey, he stayed for 18 months at Corinth (Acts 18:11). Probably games would have been conducted at Isthmia, which is 6 miles distance from Corinth. The games at Isthmia were held twice during the four year Olympic cycle. The city of Corinth was in charge of these games. The events included like running, boxing, wrestling, the pentathlon, and horse and chariot racing. In later times musical and poetry contests were added to the list of events. It is been assumed that Paul as a tent maker, may have made tents for the athletes, officials, and visitors at the games. Paul while writing to the Church at Corinth probably would have picked up athletics and boxing (probably introduced in 688 BCE) to encourage fellow christians. Paul writes, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (1Corinthians 9:24-27, NIV). As like many wreaths in the ancient Olympics (as seen in the picture attached), so also are many Crowns that are to be coronated with in the spiritual realm. Let's be continent in our desires, persistent in diffusing our faith and showing endurance in hardest of times. Let us win "Crown of Rejoicing" (1Thessalonians 2:19, Philippians 4:1) for our efforts in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and winning souls for His Kingdom, "Crown of Righteousness" (2Timothy 4:8) for our efforts of being righteous till the end, "Crown of Glory" (1Peter 5:4) for our efforts in Pastoring or Overseeing or Leading a Church to it's best of it's faith, "Crown of Life" (James 1:12, Rev 2:10) for our efforts to endure in times of trouble and "Imperishable Crown" (1Corinthians 9:25) for our consistency in faith. 

Now let's travel back to other part of the world, Turkey in Asia. Magnesia, an ancient city located in the Germencik district of Turkey. May be it got it's name because of it's location near to river Maeander. Magnesia is very close to Ephesus, which Apostle Paul stayed in his 2nd and 3rd missionary journeys. He probably would have stayed for two and half years (See Acts 18:19  and 19:8,10) in Ephesus. It will be interesting to know that archaeological excavations took place from 1891 to 1893 and when resumed back in 1984, there was an interesting find in the excavations. Orhan Bingol and team from Ankara University, in his find was an ancient stadium. The capacity of the stadium is 30,000 and the length of the track is 189 meters. The stadium was in use till 3rd century. Of the thousands of marble seatings has a specification, they were reserved for a special audience, Ephesians and also for the Physically Challenged people too. Ephesians, who came to support their competitors, wrote into a section of 2500 people that "these seats are reserved for those who came from Ephesus." As like the reserved seats which are destined for a specific audience, so also the believers in the past and in the modern era felt proud of their elect. Paul writing to Romans, addresses such people in Romans 2nd Chapter, "17. Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18. if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19. if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20. an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—21. you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself?" Paul continuing felt sorry for those bragging about being a Jew. In Romans 9th Chapter, Paul writes, "4. the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. 10. ..Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12. not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13. Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”" Apostle Paul gives a lesson to those proud Jews as well as to the modern predestined Calvinists who brag about being the elect. Apostle Paul in his letter to Ephesians writes in 1st Chapter, "..In love 5. he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- 11. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12. in order that we (Jews), who were the first to put our hope in Christ.. 13. ..you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory." And continuing in the 2nd Chapter about the revelation of the mystery, Paul writes, "11. Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)- 12. remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15. by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16. and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." Paul finally concludes in the 3rd Chapter about the mystery that the Prophets and the Apostles got from the Lord. He writes, "4. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5. which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel (Jews), members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." So, we are all the gracious generations who have been destined to be seated with the Lord in His glorious realm as was written by Apostle John in the Book of Revelation 3:21, "To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne" [at the right hand side of the Lord, Matthew 26:64, Mark 16:19, Luke 22:69, Acts 2:33, 1Peter 3:22, Ephesians 1:20...].

To conclude, "you know that the Olympic crown is Olive Wreath [some are of Pine and some are of Laural Wreaths; and are also given a jar full of Olive oil as prize at Athens,(added on 14.02.2022 at AM 06:02)], yet many have honoured it above life", wrote the Greek orator Dio Chryostom (CE 40 to 110). "A boxer's victory is gained in blood", begins an inscription dating from 1st Century BCE praising a tough and successful boxer. In an unlikely situation some out of mercy and some out of being a weak contender leave the game. A late 2nd century CE athlete named Marcus Aurelius Asclepiades—who won the Pancratium at many festivals, including the games held at Olympia—boasted in an inscription that he “stopped all (potential) opponents after the first round." An inscription honoring the wrestler Tiberius Claudius Marcianus recounts that at one festival, “when he undressed, all his opponents begged to be dismissed from the contest" for not to contest and take away their prizes. Let's not be sympathetic towards our opponent Satan as like those Olympic contestants in the past or not leave the game in the midway, because (line added on 14.02.2022 at AM 06:20) "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12, NIV). So, "therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.." (Ephesians 6:13, NIV) and fight a good fight, finish the race and keep the faith (2Timothy 4:7).

Abraham's Faith Above Surrogacy.

Kultupe/Kultepe: in Turkish known as "Ash Hill", also known as Kanesh is an archaeological site in Turkey. In Old Assyrian inscriptions from the 20th and the 19th century BCE, the city was mentioned as Kanes (Kanesh); in later Hittite inscriptions, the city was mentioned as Nesa (Nesha, Nessa, Nesa), or occasionally as Anisa (Anisha). By 1880 cuneiform tablets had begun to appear on the market said to be from 'Kara Eyuk (“Black Village”) or Gyul Tepé (“Burnt Mound”)' near "Kaisariyeh", some being thus bought by the British Museum.  In 1925, excavations from Kültepe found over 1000 cuneiform tablets, some of which ended up in Prague and Istanbul. There had been much digging for fertilizer which had destroyed a quarter of the mound. Of the excavations some attribute to burning to the conquest of the city of Assur. As of today, over 23000 cuneiform tablets have been recovered from the site.

News in 2017, in Diyarbakir, the Diyarbakir Police has seized a Medical Prescription belonging to the Sumerians. Of roughly 1000 cuneiform tablets, of which 660 medical tablets from the Library of Ashurbanipal are preserved in the British Museum. About 420 tablets from other sites also survived, including the library excavated from the private house of a medical practitioner (an asipu) from Neo-Assyrian Assur, and some Middle Assyrian and Middle Babylonia texts. 

The surviving medical texts reveal that ancient doctors diagnosed and treated a wide variety of conditions and diseases, with mixed success. Among them were typhus, smallpox, bubonic plague, gonorrhea, gout, tuberculosis, epilepsy, colic, diarrhea, and various intestinal problems. Some forms of mental illness was also recognized, though not properly diagnosed. The germ theory of disease was unknown; yet it appears that some doctors were aware that a disease could be pass from person to person and therefore that it was helpful to limit a sick person’s contact with other people (quarantined). As no one in ancient Mesopotamia knew about the existence of germs, it was assumed that most illness was caused by evil spirits or demons sent by the gods to punish humans, and only way to receive healing – from the gods are doctors. Doctors in Mesopotamia were mainly the agents through which different deities (gods) worked in order to maintain the health of the people.

The first diagnosis to determine Infertility was made 4,000 years ago, an ancient Assyrian clay tablet discovered by Turkish researchers in central Kayseri province in Kultupe district. It's a premarital agreement written in cuneiform script discusses of a solution for which  the inability of a wife to reproduce children through natural means. "The wife would allow her husband to hire a hierodule, a female slave brought in to serve as a surrogate if the couple failed to conceive a baby even after two years of their marriage. The female slave would be freed after giving birth to the first male baby and ensuring that the family is not be left without a child," said Professor Ahmet Berkiz Turp from Harran University. 

All the above information is an introduction to the subject that is to follow. We know from the Bible that Abraham is the only one person who left his country Ur of Chaldea (Genesis 15:7), his family and his relatives, and started his journey towards the Promised Land as the Lord promised. Abraham belongs to the times of BC 2200, to be precise according to some studies, Abraham lived between BC 2166 to 1991. Abraham (Abram) was 75 years old when the Lord told him to leave the city of Haran (Genesis 12:4). Sarah (Sarai) was barren (Genesis 16:1), and had an egyptian slave named Hagar. Sarai gave her as his wife to Abram. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years (Genesis 16:3). Abram was 86 years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael (Genesis 16:16). Again the Lord appeared to Abraham when he was 99 years old (Genesis 17:1&24) and promised to give an offspring through Sarah who was 90 years old by now (Genesis 17:17). Sarah bore Abraham a son as the Lord promised, when he was 100 years old (Genesis 21:5). This is a brief description of the timeline of Abraham. 

We already have read about the Kultupe cueniform tablet which deals with infertility. It's a BC 4000 year old law of the land, that one take a hierodule, a slave woman in an prenuptial agreement to bore the family a male offspring. As Abraham is from the same land and the law of the land, though a precursor to the existing day, can still be applied if no changes/amendments were made to it. Abraham and Sarah a happy married couple can apply this 2000 (BC 4000) year old law of the land to their existing day, which is BC 2000 approximately, to have a slave woman as a surrogate. Abraham in spite of his deep grief for not having a son and that his slave Eliezer of Damascus might takeover everything he inherited (Genesis 15:2,3); despite the law of the land permit to have a surrogate woman to give an offspring, Abraham never lost his faith in the Lord. With which faith he stepped out of the land of Haran, he continued in his faith till death. Abraham never questioned the Lord. It was the decision of Sarah that gave her slave Hagar as a wife to Abraham which Abraham never asked for. Though one of the commandments "not to commit adultery", (Exodus 20:14) was a later development, the law of the land from which Abraham came out might permit to have a slave as wife but Abraham always stuck to the law of his conscience, not to commit adultery, which is nothing but prioritizing the law of the Lord.

There are also people who misuse the law of the land. And one such best example is the crucifixion of Jesus. After Lazarus has been brought back to life, the Pharisees called for Sanhedrin, and enquired about the steps to be taken to keep the temple from not being destroyed by the Romans and how to stop people from in believing in Jesus. From that day on they plotted to kill him (John 11:47,48,53). After Jesus was arrested, the chief priests and whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death (Matthew 26:59). Levying upon him that he is the Messiah which is a blasphemy and deserves death sentence (Matthew 26:63,65,66). They brought Jesus before Pilate on charges that he is the king and he's making people not to pay taxes and stirring people by his teaching from Galilee to this place (Luke 23:2,5). Despite the question by Jesus "who among you can convict me of sin?" (John 8:46), and Pilate not finding any fault in Jesus (Luke 23:4), though Pilate wanted to set Jesus free (John 19:12), the crowd kept on pressurising Pilate, saying that, "if you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar", and the chief priests answered, "we have no king but Caesar" (John 19:12,15). At last on the charges of treason and sedition, Jesus was judged for capital punishment. The law of the land was misused this way.

Abraham could have taken his chances on the law of the land in finding a new woman/wife for him, who can give him an offspring. But Abraham did not misuse the law but kept firm in his faith, the reason why he is called the father of faith. 

"What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." (Romans 4:1-3,16,17 NIV).

Let's stand firm on that faith till the end.

Picture : A 4000 year old Assyrian tablet is the first evidence of surrogacy in infertility (Istanbul Archaeology Museum).

In spite of being faithful.

In spite of being faithful -

Sometime toward the end of the last ice age, a gray wolf gingerly approached a human encampment. Those first tentative steps set his species on the path to a dramatic transformation: By at least 15,000 years ago, those wolves had become dogs, and neither they nor their human companions would ever be the same. The wolf-dog analysis suggests that dogs evolved only once, from a now-extinct wolf population. As early as 11,000 years ago, there were already five distinct dog lineages; these gave rise to canines (dogs) in the Near East, northern Europe, Siberia, New Guinea, and the Americas, the team reports today in Science (magazine). Because dogs had already diversified so much by that time, "domestication had to occur long before then," Pontus Skoglund (Paleogenomicist at the Francis Crick Institute) says. The oldest definitive dog remains come from Germany about 15,000 to 16,000 years ago. (This paragraph is appended on 20.01.2022 at 4:30 AM.)

Dogs for Romans fall into two categories, hunting dogs and sheep dogs. Though the domesticated dogs sometimes if they got too hungry, they might attack you or your flock. In both cities and rural areas the home was guarded by chained watchdogs. Excavations at Pompeii revealed one unfortunate dog still chained to a doorpost at the time of the city disaster of Mount Vesuvius. If the dogs failed in their duty they would end up in hot water. In one famous story told by Pliny the Elder in his 'Natural History', once the dogs failed to prevent an attack by the Gauls in 390 B.C. The Gauls managed to escape the notice of guards and watchdogs but were spotted by the beady-eyed Geese (sing. Goose) of Juno. The Geese activated the inhabitants of the city and saved the city from being conquered. In tribute to this, dogs were crucified once a year near the Circus Maximus as a reminder and punishment for their betrayal. 

The first martyrs of Christendom are faithful followers of the Lord. They didn't worship the false gods which is a must as Roman citizen. The faithfulness of the early Christians was treated as a failure citizens of Rome. This in turn drawn them to Circus Maximus, and been tortured by dipping them in tar and used as torches at nights to light the night shows, some were crucified and some to gladiatorial fights and some to beasts and some killed. 

Tertullian, one of the Early Church Fathers of the second century, said “the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.” The martyrs faced their death with might. St. Ignatius of Antioch before his martyrdom in the Colosseum, he knew what he was getting into, but he had no fear. With complete hope he said, “Now I begin to be a disciple of Christ. I care for nothing, of visible or invisible things, so that I may but win Christ. Let fire and the cross, let the companies of wild beasts, let breaking of bones and tearing of limbs, let the grinding of the whole body, and all the malice of the devil, come upon me; be it so, only may I win Jesus Christ.” In another instance, St. Ignatius says, "I am His wheat grounded fine by the lion's teeth to be made purest bread for Christ."

Apostle Paul foreknew about his demise. Writing to Timothy, "..the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2Timothy 4:6,7 NIV). Let's all as faithful believers of Christ Jesus be encouraged by the words of the early martyrs and stand firm in faith and face the world with undeterred hope.

Picture : Watchdog of Pompeii.

The Magi and their Gifts.

 The Magi and their gifts -

"Entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11).

The gold, frankincense and myrrh - these costly gifts were customary at that time. This type of gift giving was a standard way to honour a King or God in the ancient world. According to historians, "these same three items were apparently among the gifts, recorded in the ancient inscriptions, that King Seleucus II Callinicus offered to the god Apollo at the temple in Miletus in 243 BC", (unknown quote used by many historians though). This means that the magi were following a protocol by bringing these gifts.

Another tradition has it as, Gold, presented by Melchior of Persia, represents earthly royalty and virtue and is mentioned frequently in the early historical record (see Exodus 30, 1-38), as is the frankincense that was offered by Kasper of India, which is associated with deity and prayer, and while Balthazar of Arabia brought myrrh (used both as an anointing and an embalming oil) representing death and suffering. 

We now know that of the three gifts, The gold represents Christ’s kingship; frankincense, a sweet-smelling resin used in worship, his priesthood; and myrrh, an ointment used in burial, foreshadows his death also represents to the passion of Jesus. (Mark 15:23).

What's the inference of these three gifts on our lives?

Gold - "..and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. You made them Kings (Kingdom) and Priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth." Revelation 5:9,10.

Frankincense - Classical historian Herodotus observed, “The trees bearing frankincense are guarded by winged serpents of various colours”. The collectors of frankincense had to be cautious about the colourful snakes on the trees while collecting. We too should be cautious of the worldly vices and present ourselves as a sweet smelling sacrifice to our Lord. "Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God; this is true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1,2.

Myrrh - "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs", "if anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it." Matthew 5:10, 16:24,25.

Picture Source : Wikipedia. The Three Magi, Byzantine mosaic c. 565, Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy (restored during the 19th century).