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ONLY Scripture – Sola Scriptura

The HOLY BIBLE IS: The written word of God from scripture.

  • A Temporary Throne – 46

    A Temporary Throne – 46

    CHAPTER 46

    WOULD YOU SAVE JOSEPH FROM THE PIT?

    WOULD YOU SAVE HIM FROM HIS STEP-BROTHERS?

    Once more I sat on the Temporary Throne in the Throne-room of Heaven in conversation with the Living God, Judge of all men.

    The LORD had shown me the ongoing competition of Leah and Rachel. The LORD had shown me the step-mothers of Joseph: Bilhah and Zilpah. The LORD had shown me a hundred-year-old Israel with the young boy Benjamin as Joseph had now traveled to encounter his brothers, watching over thousands of sheep on hillside pastures.

    Joseph was wearing a colorful royal-looking robe as he approached these older men in their working clothes.

    Of course, they were jealous. (They had reason enough.) And I knew of the dream Joseph was about to reveal to his step-brothers.

    Yes – all ten were step-brothers!

    Now I understood even more that Joseph’s only brother, son of his deceased mother Rachel, remained behind under the watchful eyes of grandfatherly-looking Israel, father to them all – yet still mourning the great loss of Joseph’s mother, Jacob’s most beloved wife of so many years.

    Yes… in thinking about the LORD’s question. Of course I would save poor young Joseph from any more suffering.

    Joseph had gone through enough already. This young man had suffered enough (even as my own young daughter had suffered when her mother had died when she was a child). Joseph’s mother had died. (He deserved some consolation.)

    His father was of age he was certainly near death… and then Joseph (and Benjamin, for whom he would be responsible) would be at the mercy of Reuben and the other step-brothers (who were unlikely to show any mercy).  Why… they would do anything to further their own blessings; like the supplanting of Esau by Jacob his father, I thought – but there were ten of them – 10 brothers.

    Yes! I would do something to save Joseph from all that.

    But what?

    To be continued…

    A Temporary Throne is an original work of Roger Harned,

    © Copyright 2014, All Rights Reserved by the author.

  • A Temporary Throne – 45

    A Temporary Throne – 45

    CHAPTER 45

    Genesis 37:4  But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.

    “I guess I understand the competition between twelve brothers,” I said to the LORD as I observed Joseph in his glorious robes approaching his four half-brothers.

    YOU UNDERSTAND COMPETITION BETWEEN STEP-CHILDREN FROM YOUR OWN LIFE.

    “That I do,” I either thought or said in response to the LORD.

    YOU HAVE SEEN AND UNDERSTAND COMPETITION BETWEEN BROTHERS AND FAMILY LEADERS.

    YOU HAVE SEEN COMPETITION BETWEEN FATHER-IN-LAW AND SON-IN-LAW.

    I remembered the competition between Laban and Jacob, which seemed to be ongoing until Jacob and his wives and family departed to return to Canaan.

    YOU HAVE NOT UNDERSTOOD HOW THE RESULT OF THE COMPETITION BETWEEN SISTERS AND WIVES IS SEED OF THE SCENE BEFORE US.

    JOSEPH HAS NOT ONLY ELEVEN BROTHERS, HE HAS THREE COMPETING STEP-MOTHERS.

    To be continued…

    A Temporary Throne is an original work of Roger Harned,

    © Copyright 2014, All Rights Reserved by the author.

  • Blessed are you Poor

    Blessed are you Poor

    “Blessed are you poor,
    For yours is the kingdom of God.
    Blessed are you who hunger now,
    For you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now,
    For you shall laugh.

    “But woe to you who are rich,
    For you have received your consolation.
    Woe to you who are full,
    For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now,
    For you shall mourn and weep.
    Excerpt from Luke 6

    Today’s writing is in place of our regular M-F continuing series: A Temporary Throne, which will continue tomorrow, 5 August, 2014, God willing. – RH

    WE are rich! And the world would entice us to buy even more.

    However we fail to realize how some followers of Islam do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. We fail to see how some followers of Judaism do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. WE turn to the focus of evil used by the world to view the poor and the helpless, yet Christ Jesus, our returning Lord and Savior cautions us to LOVE our enemy and pray for those who persecute us.

    In fact and deed most of us have no concept of the sacrifice of Christians and others among the poor of the world. Some dare not speak boldly: even against forces of evil at work in every country, every religion and every place where the rich buy and sell weapons – even the weapon of food.

    Take as just one example one neglected place of people not deemed worthy of news: Niger (no, not Nigeria – Niger.)

    The average lifespan of a person in Niger is approximately fifty-five years. Niger has the highest rate of child marriage in the world. Every 3 in 4 girls marry before their 18th birthday. (source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201407220901.html )

    The average income per person for one year (except for the rich) is approximately $360 (source: World Bank, 2011). Niger’s main exports are livestock & uranium (by some rich) and major religions are Islam and indigenous beliefs. (Source: BBC)

    Imagine trying to survive on less than $1 per day! IF you will not be fed and educated and live as one who will feed you, you will be persecuted, driven out or murdered by sword or starvation. This is the new war of the radical evangelizing jihadists.

    Here is the Strong’s definition of the word Jesus uses for “POOR” – Reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms; destitute of wealth, influence, position, honor; lowly, afflicted, destitute of the Christian virtues and eternal riches; helpless, powerless to accomplish an end: poor, needy

    What are we to do?

    I do NOT have an answer. Only God has an answer for how each of us ought to help personally and help through our church.

    Yet let us open our eyes to the severe suffering throughout the numerous battlegrounds – Niger, Gaza, Syria, Iraq, Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, West Africa and so many more – for the lives and souls of so many who have not come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and God!

    This day brings but rumors of war. The poor of the world will suffer much, even until the end! Even so, come Lord Jesus.