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).

Christmas Greetings.

 Christmas greetings - 

King Herod was successful deceitful backstabber. He back stabbed Mark Antony who made him a tetrarch. He backstabbed his sons Aristobulus and Alexander with the help of his another son Antipater by Doris. Even Antipater was killed by order. His very loved wife Mariamne was killed as well as his mother-in-law Alexandra was killed. 

This time he planned to kill Jesus by treachery. He sent the wise men to Bethlehem to see Jesus and come back to report where He stays, so that he can kill Him. But the wise men went away by the other road guided by angles. Jesus was taken to Egypt for safety. 

The successful backstabber Herod has lost his lot this time. Just a few years before the successful journey of Jesus on the road to Redemption and Salvation the once successful deceitful backstabber failed in his attempt and died by a strange disease.

Jesus right from his birth to his death and resurrection has upset the plans of satan, saying, "Away from me, Satan!" Or "Get behind me, Satan!" until one day "He (Jesus) shall bruise your (Satan's) head."

This is the successful reign of Jesus and we celebrate this imminent success with "Christmas".

"Merry Christmas to you all."

Verse from Holy Bible : Matthew 4:10, 16:23, Genesis 3:15.

Victim of Bigotry - Don't Worry, Be Happy.

Victim of Bigotry - Don't Worry, Be Happy.

Bigotry opens the door of hate and anger, the resultant is hate speech.

Some might have gone through such harsh experiences. My experience was of the same kind too. A very good pastor friend of mine, suddenly stopped talking to me. Intially I didn't take it seriously, but as days passed by I came to know that he wants to keep distance. I retrospected, but I didn't find any cause for this spur. That made me so sad. Even if somebody explains the situation to pacify me in very soft words, that was bigotry for me. And bigotry opens the door of hate and anger, the resultant is hate speech.

I petitioned it to God and asked for His guidance, because that's the time when satan gets active. He makes you to feel all alone, left-out, worth for nothing, fragile at heart and mind, tries to bring in fear, loneliness, unenthusiastic, and more. He trades on the situation, tries to make you far from God's guidance and obedience.

I always believed that, "don't worry if love doesn't work between two, but you can still live at peace with your frenemies, because love and peace are two sides of the same coin, a definite currency you can trade upon and depend upon without doubt, and obviously doesn't disappoint or fail you."

At this point of time, I needed an answer, an answer than can build me, that can bring peace into me. The only one who I can depend upon without hesitation is God himself. I always believed that, "don't worry if love doesn't work between two, but you can still live at peace with your frenemies, because love and peace are two sides of the same coin, a definite currency you can trade upon and depend upon without doubt, and obviously it doesn't disappoint or fail you."

..weeping and gnashing of teeth is the characteristic of the devil.

Even after such a great revelation from God, I still need an answer which can bring hope and joy into me, because weeping and gnashing of teeth is the characteristic of the devil (Matthew 13:42), which I'm not.

..you need to let go-off for a better good. This is what had happened with Noah, when Methuselah and Lamech have left Noah to lock himself behind the safest abode.

At a pleasant time, Holy Spirit started teaching me. First, He took me to Noah. The whole world was wicked and God found none to be good. He wanted to destroy it with water. Now I made the rest and concluded that, God wants to destroy the wicked, so, does that mean my frenemy is a wicked person? But God stopped me there and cautioned me not to be prejudiced and started to teach me new things. God wanted me take a look into the genealogy of Noah, his father and grand-father i.e. Lamech and Methuselah. Both Methuselah and Lamech from the line of Seth, other than Noah they are having other sons and daughters too. Let's leave the rest of sons and daughters. Methuselah and Lamech both died in the same year on which the rain and the watery depths bust open. God made me do some research, the Rabbanic literature states that when Noah was 480 years old all the righteous men were dead, except Methuselah and Noah. Book of Jasher, says that, "Methuselah lived until the ark was built, but died before the flood, since God had promised he would not be killed with the unrighteous." Josephus in his works, The Antiquities of the Jews, Book 1.3.4.88, says, "let no one inquire into the deaths of these men.. but let him have regard to their births only." This means that the day the rain and the watery depths bust open, was the same day the deaths of Methuselah and Lamech have occurred. This might be a little suspicious to the reader, but God taught me a great lesson from this. If your frenemy has to grow spiritually, he has to keep afar from certain things or people. The process in which you might not be the one who offended him, but your friendship should not hinder or be an obstacle for his spiritual growth. Keeping that in mind, you need to let go-off for a better good. This is what had happened with Noah, when Methuselah and Lamech have left Noah to lock himself behind the safest abode.

Christianity survived to this day is just because of those Christians who sacrificed their lives wilfully, became martyrs for the sake of faith as well as for their co-brothers and sisters as well.

Holy Spirit gave me time to think over it. My thoughts went wild. Unsatisfied with one example, I asked God for an another reason. This time God took me to the times of early Church persecution. Right from the execution of Apostle Paul and Peter, the initial steps for persecution of Christians has started. Roman emperors like Nero, Domitian, Nerva, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Septimius Severus, Maximin, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian, Diocletian, all these have a history of persecuting Christians. So what does God wants to teach me out of this. How if they wanted Christianity to end still survived? By the time of emperor Constantine, Christianity became the official religion of the state. God meant that, even Diocletian searched from house to house, person to person, destroying and burning every Scriptural Scroll, and executing Christian believers, man, woman and children, however, some still survived. These very Christians have not disclosed information of early believers. It is because of those early believers who survived by the lives of their co-brothers and sisters, Christianity still survive today. The spiritual growth of the early survived believers, depended upon those Christians who sacrificially leaving-off their lives for the sake of faith as well as for their brothers and sisters as well.

Characteristic  of a Christian - "When your frenemy comes back to you, don't clench your hands, but embrace and console him." 

Now I learnt the lesson, to let it go-off for the the benefit of others. But I still had my own qualms. I said, Lord thank you for giving me this revelation, but what if my frenemy was been guided wrongly to this conclusion or have been forced to act to this end? Grieving inside, I waited for God's reply. Now this time God took me to the Parable of Prodigal Son in Gospel of Luke Chapter 15. The lesson God taught me was this, the younger son seems to be a worldly, profane individual. Nobody can convience such individual. It's better to leave them off for quite some time. Let the time teach them their mistakes. When realized they themselves will learn from their mistakes as like the Prodigal Son. So, if your frenemy was been influenced by some other person in keeping you afar, don't worry; when he realizes, he will come back to you. 

In addition to the above paragraph, I was counselled by the Holy Spirit of an another verse from Book of Acts 15:38,39, "..For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God." (On 26.12.2021 at 12:59 PM).

But make sure that when he comes back, don't clench your hands, but embrace and console him.

A true friend is he as Jesus said in Gospel of John, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends.." (John 15:12-14). Frankly, this is too hard for me to fulfill, but I can "give my coat if asked for a shirt, can walk two miles if asked to accompany one, can share whatever I can, so that I can imitate my Lord in heaven" (Matthew 5:40-43,45).

After all this pedagogical revelations, I madeup myself and let my frenemy go free. Now he is no frenemy to me as well; just a brother in Christ. No hate or grumbling for the past. But when I feel lonely, I remember what David in his full faith says, "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and rescue them from all their troubles. The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit. One who is righteous has many adversities, but the Lord rescues him from them all" (Psalm 34:17-19).

Source : Wikipedia; Halley's Bible Handbook; Complete works of Josephus; Eusebius Church History.

Arrogance Never Works.

 King Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great, who had been exiled to island of Capri by emperor Tiberius for expressing a desire of having his friend Caligula to be the successor of emperor Tiberius. Tiberius might have thought of some treachery behind this and exiled Agrippa and Caligula to the island of Capri. Agrippa might have died over there undertrial. In his sixth month of his exile emperor Tiberius died naming Caligula as his successor. 

As soon as Caligula became emperor, he made his friend Agrippa king over tetrarchy of Philip, son of Herod the Great. In the conflict between jews and greeks, Agrippa sided jews and was successful in abandoning the plan of erecting the statue of emperor Caligula in the temple of Jerusalem.

After the murder of Caligula, the praetorian guards kidnapped Claudius and made him emperor going against democracy. But Agrippa spoke to the Senate and diplomatically persuaded Senate in making Claudius the emperor. In return Claudius made Agrippa a king extending his domain more compared with Caligula. Agrippa made great wealth and strengthened the walls of Jerusalem. May be because of the jews on his side or to strengthen his support from jews, he cut off the head of James, the brother of John and put Apostle Peter in jail and planned to put him on trail in public after the Passover (Book of Acts Chapter 12), on whole Agrippa was against Christians.

From rags to riches, from life sentence(?) to the kingship, Agrippa's stature grew. As his stature grew, his tyranny grew. His judgements over James and Peter is a best example of his tyranny. The sway of his power with jews on his side and above all the support of the emperor made Agrippa a substantial power in the region. This predominance brought arrogance. Out of this arrogance, Agrippa in the city of Cesarea on the second day of games on a certain festival in honour of Caesar, came into the theater at dawn, dressed in a garment woven in silver being illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun's rays upon it. Upon the luminesce of the bright light, his flatterers at once addressed him as god. They shouted, "be thou merciful to us, till now we have feared you as a man, from now on we agree that you're more than a mortal". Upon this king Agrippa neither rebuked them nor reject their impious flattery. Book of Acts Chapter 12 reads, "22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died."" The picture attached, a reconstructed theater is the very place where king Agrippa died instantly. 

The resultant of sinful character either ego or arrogance is death. Book of job Chapters 38 and 39 gives us a picture of God's sovereign dominion over everything seen and unseen. In Chapter 40, the Lord challenges, "Would you discredit my justice? ..Do you have an arm like God’ ?" (v8,9). Let's conclude this lesson with a firm belief knowing our true nature as humans can't challenge the sovereignty of God and by accepting His dominance a blessing over us.

A Fulfilled Purpose.

Paul's journey to Rome was interrupted with a shipwreck and gone with winds to Malta. It's a no trade or commerce route, so there will be no frequent ships. The purpose of God was to take Paul to Rome. God had His plans, a ship that was there with full of grain enroute to Rome from Egypt has stayed to spend winter there, Although it's not the regular route, why that ship came to spend winter is unclear. The regular shipyard is on the other side. This ship which is called Castor and Pollux, the name after the two sons of a roman god Jupiter, carried Apostle Paul to Rome. Even while they were crossing different waters of the sea with different sea currents between Rhegium and Messana which is highly dangerous before reaching Puteoli, there is clear evidence of purpose of God behind Paul.

We are made with a purpose and to fulfill that purpose God has His own plans and He knows how to fulfill them. Just be obedient to be thank ful. Perhaps the purpose in Paul's journey to Rome was not the death sentence but to preach about Jesus between the well learned, atleast for two years.