Undeserving as I am - a short story

My name is Jazaaniah,

I'm writing this as a testimony. I belong to the Rechabite clan. Though we do not belong to any of the tribes of Israel, we are also true Israelites. We have been with them since they came to the promised land.

Yes we are different people. We are nomads, we are teetotallers, we do not own any property. Because of all these we are made fun of by others. We are called water drinkers for nothing. Me being the elder of this nomadic society I had to know how to strengthen my community.

Our ancestor Jehonadab Ben Rechab had made a vow and forbade his brothers to be stringent regarding these. He was sure, this is from God. We have been trying to be true to Jehovah. Because we were sure that He alone is God. No country would be protected and provided for like Israel, unless the Living God is with them. We were sure. Though we were gentiles, we were sure we are part of His kingdom.

It was hard to see the children go wayward as we the outsiders were looking on.

The country was divided into two. There was idol worship all around. But we stuck on to our convinctions. Our ancestors words we followed. Because we feared the Lord. No radical explanation. But we simply believed and obeyed.

I used to tell my clan. The meaning of my name is 'The Lord hears'. Yes the Lord will hear what we are doing and why we are doing and we will be rewarded. Though we are literally aliens, though we live like aliens, we are His children too.

I used to tell them that all these pleasures and all these settling in this world is useless. That is why we are called to do this. It's indeed a privilege to do this. Even to the real children we are a testimony, adopted children as we are, we love our God. Let them see our love to God and repent and come back.

We are nomads, we are aliens, because we look above with faith for a better kingdom. The kingdom promised to David, where His descendant would reign forever.

We are called to obey what our ancestor has told. We will continue to do it.

Years have gone by. Centuries have passed. Our obedience was looking useless. Slowly there were some grumblings arising within our community.

That was when one day Jeremiah the great prophet came to meet me. He has been running around the whole nation asking to repent. He is a man of God. He comes over. We provided our greatest delicacies. But He doesn't touch those. He invites us over to the Temple over a drink of wine.

I'm shocked. Doesn't he know that we have our vow. Is he trying to make fun of us too? But he is a man of God? Is God making fun of us too?

Has all these obedience amounted to nothing. And if we reject, will he curse? Will He punish?

I'm not that strong in faith. Is God telling us to come out of this vow? What if the vow was unnecessary?

I prayed to God Almighty. Help us Lord. Give us wisdom. As a community we prayed. We fasted.

No, Jazaaniah, you have been called to obey. Rechabites have been called to obey. We will continue to obey. We will tell Jeremiah.

"No, we don't drink wine because our ancestor Jehonadab, son of Rechab gave us this command"

We will continue to obey our ancestor, because we believe our ancestor has been instructed by our God.

Not sure, how Jeremiah will react. Fearful we make our commitment. We stand our ground.

Then Jeremiah says something which we couldn't even fathom.

The Rechabites know how to obey. Why don't you oh! Children of Israel. Did he compare us as an example to emulate? Is God telling that we did the right thing? Wow.

"The descendants of Jehonadab will always serve me, says the Lord"

Is this true? I can't believe my ears. Oh!

Yes the Lord has heard our plea.

We are no longer aliens. We are His children too. Our obedience and our persistence He has seen. Because He enabled. He now blesses. What a privilege, to serve Him always. We were not worthy. But He has been gracious to include us too in the fold. Though in this time of exile, He has chosen to bless. Jeremiah is smiling at me, patting at my shoulder. I know that's the smile of God.

I did not win any contest or a match. But this is beautiful. This is a privilege. This is for eternity he says. Wow. What have we done to receive this.

This means the exile will be over as Jeremiah prophesied. This means that the coming of the Messiah is also true, of the lineage of David. We will be serving Him. Wow. What a privilege. We did not deserve.

Eternally grateful for the eternal privilege.

Image credit: https://www.newfoodmagazine.com/news/168361/humanitarian-organisations-call-on-leaders/

Comments

For you

They began to spit ------ Beat him with their fists ----- Some slapped him, jeering Matt:26:67-68 It would be humiliating to be spat upon the face. His face would have been fully red out of bruise. A racoon eye probably. It is menial to be made fun off - more menial when people make fun of you disbelieving what you claim or what you really are. Matt:27:26 Jesus was flogged with a lead tipped whip Skin might have shredded to pieces, pieces of muscles torn away, splurting blood everywhere. Pain unable to be described in words. Psalm:129:3 The plowers plowed upon my back. Hematomas everywhere. Anaemic because of the blood loss. Internal organs lacerated. Excruciating pain from the tip of the hair to the toe. Dehydrated. Stinking. Stripped naked and made to walk through the streets in front of the ones you loved, the ones who loved you. Thorns on His brow. Nails driven through the median nerve. Struggling to breath hanging on the cross. He has to pull Himself up to expand ...

Not my will, but yours - a poem

Yes, Jesus was distressed and anguished too He was also grieved to the point of death So it is okay, dear one to be frustrated It might not be as grievous as that of Jesus, but it's fine. But how Jesus handled, that is a lesson for us He did not over react. He did not brood over. He did not vent it over. He did not blame Himself He just prayed - not my will, but yours. How you handle your stress makes you stronger and bolder Either you succumb and grow weaker But face it in faith, and you will grow stronger. Equipping you to face the next one. Ultimate purpose is to be transformed into His likeness Live as Jesus lived. Do as Jesus did. Here how did He handle stress and anguish? Not my will, but yours He prayed. Image credit: https://www.artisor.com/artwork/morgan-weistling/thy-will-be-done/

Coming back

Matt:24:37-51 When the Son of Man returns In those days When the Son of Man comes The Lord is coming The Son of Man will come If the Master returns and finds The Master will put The Master will return unannounced and unexpected The owner of the whole universe, the Master, has Himself announced that He is one day coming back again. To reclaim. To reward. It is foolish to think He is not. It is utterly foolish to think there is no such master. It is foolish to sit unprepared. Because Jesus Himself has said that He is coming back. There is no ifs there. The only if that we find here is that - if the Master finds... Coming is certain. When you see earthquakes, when you see wars, when you see false Messiahs and false prophets, be assured that He is coming back. These are signs that His coming back is near. Whether you believe it or not. Whether you want to accept it or not. Reinstate with Him, while there is yet time. Before it is too late. Image credit: https:/...

Plain and true

Mark:1:1-8 John the Baptist preached the gospel - plain and true. v4: He proclaims about repentance and turning to God to be forgiven. v7: He proclaims that Jesus is the only way. Acknowledging my sinfulness is the first step to salvation. By nature I am sinful. By my choices I am sinful. Realisation that I need forgiveness is the next step. And only God can give that. I need to turn to God to be forgiven. And finally Jesus is the only way to reach to God. He is the only way that this forgiveness is practicalised. Once I can approach God, through the forgiveness granted on the cross, of the sinfulness of mine, then the beautiful amazing journey starts. Have you taken this first step? If not, all other efforts are wasted Image credit: https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/what-does-gospel-mean/

Silence

I am often amazed by Jesus' silence on the cross. For all the accusations and false testimonies, how could he keep quiet. There was no " I never said that" or " "for whom am I doing this, why should I go through this for them" or "why don't you understand". Why can't I keep quiet when falsely accused or pointed fingers at? Why should I justify? Will that bring about a change in the situation? Will they stop accusing? Why do you want to defend? More or less because of the pride. To protect our own self. By defending ourself we think our tarnished image would be protected. Learning from Jesus' example is a difficult thing to do. Let the accusers say whatever. As long as you are a child of God. As long as you are loved by Him. As long as you are His beloved. Be secure in His love. Image credit: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/image/pictures-of-jesus-nails-feet-6723253?lang=eng

The Parable of the ten Bridesmaids

Matt:25:1-13 The foolish ones were not ready with the oil. The wise ones also slept off, but they had the oil. What has been told about Him, beforehand has been proved right. The same book says He is coming back. And when He comes back, will He see you waiting and ready with the oil of Holy Spirit; the oil of faith. Shouldn't the wise ones have shared their oil with the others? Isn't that what Christianity teaches to selflessly share. It doesn't work that way at the last hour when He comes. You have to have your own oil. The wise ones job is to tell the others about the need of the oil when the bridegroom will some day come, in an unexpected time, the need for faith in Jesus before it is too late. The choice is yours. Whether to be on the wise side or the foolish side. Would you keep oil for yourselves before He comes. If not, you would be called foolish, you would be labelled not ready, the door will be closed to you. Do not be foolish. Do not be on the unread...

Joseph of Arimethea

Joseph of Arimethea had chosen Jesus but was secretly following Him. We never come across him elsewhere in the gospels apart from the time of burial of Jesus. But at that point, he decided to go public. This is the time I should stand up for Jesus to give Him a decent burial- and that is how the prophecies came true. Being a silent follower of Jesus is good. Yes it is between you and God. But openly proclaiming that you belong to Jesus is a different level. It is a higher way of obedience. In your workplace do people know that they cannot mess around you? In your college / school, do people approach you to pray for them? Do people fool around you? Do they hush their conversation when you enter the room? Would your presence make no difference? Do people want to gossip about others to you? The basic question is - Do others know you are a Christian? Do others know you are a child of God? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinf...

The halfbaked Bard

Search This Blog