ARTICLES
CHRISTIAN FAITH
Question and Answer
S E R I E S - I
خدا کے کلام کی برکات
پڑھیں:١١٩ مزامیر مطالعہ ہمارا یہوواہ ایک عظیم برکت دہندہ ہے۔ اِفِسیوں ۳:۱ کے مطابق انہوں نے ہمیں تمام روحانی نعمتوں سے نوازا ہے۔ روحانی نعمتوں میں سے ایک ہے کِتأبِ مُقّدس، جو کلام خدا ہے۔ دنیا میں لاکھوں کتابیں ہیں جن کی ہزاروں نے تصنیف کی ہے لیکن کِتأبِ مُقّدس جیسی کوئی کتأب نہیں ہے۔
یہ بے مثال، بیش قیمتی اور خدا کا زندہ کلام ہے۔ اس میں ہر سوال کا جواب اور ہر چیلنج کا حل ہے۔ کِتأبِ مُقّدس کی 66 کتابوں میں سے ایک کتاب مزامیر ہے جو 150 مزامیر کا مجموعہ ہے۔ ان میں مزمور 119 جو سب سے طویل ہے، 176 آیات پر مشتمل ہے اور دو آیات کے علاوہ باقی 174 آیات کلام خدا کے بارے میں بیان کرتی ہیں (مترادفات کے ساتھ: شہادتیں، قوانین، اصول، احکامات، قانون اور فیصلے)۔ ان آیات میں اس مزمور نے ان نعمتوں کا ذکر کیا ہے جو ہمیں کلام خدا (کِتأبِ مُقّدس) کے ذریعے حاصل ہوتی ہیں۔ آئیے ہم اس مزمور سے کچھ نعمتیں حاصل کریں.
آیت 9 کے مطابق خدا کا کلام پاک کرنے والا ہے۔ یہ پانی کی طرح ہے ( اِفِسیوں ۲۶:۵) جیسا کہ پانی صاف کرنے کا اثر رکھتا ہے، خدا کا کلام بھی وہی اثر رکھتا ہے۔ یہی وجہ ہے کہ ییشوُعؔ نے یوحنا ۳:۱۵ میں کہا، کہ ہم اُس کلام کے ذریعے پاک ہیں جو اُس نے ہم سے کہا ہے۔ یوحنا 17:17 میں ییشوُعؔ نے اپنے باپ سے دعا کرتے کہا ہے : “اپنی سچائی سے اُن کو پاک کر۔ کیونکہ تیرا کلام سچا ہے۔” عالمی وباء کے ان دنوں میں، ہم سب “سینیٹائزر” کے اثر اور اہمیت سے واقف ہیں۔ بائبل ہمارا بہترین اور سب سے طاقتور روحانی سینیٹائزر ہے۔
آیت 11 میں ہم پڑھتے ہیں کہ خدا کا کلام ہمیں گناہ کرنے سے روکتا ہے۔ خدا کا کلام گناہ کے خلاف مُخالفت کا کام کرتا ہے۔ لیکن ہمیں خدا کے کلام کو اپنے دلوں میں گہرائی میں نقش کرنے کی شرط پوری کرنی چاہئے۔ مزامير31:۳۷ میں ہم پڑھتے ہیں کہ ہمارے دلوں میں کلام خدا ہونے سے ہمارے قدم نہیں پھسلیں گے۔ اِسراایل کا عظیم بادشاہ مزامیر 40:8 میں بیان کرتا ہے کہ یَہوواہ خدا کی شریعت اس کے دل کے اندر ہے۔
آیت 24 کے مطابق، خدا کا کلام ہمارا مشیر ہے۔ ہم سب کو اپنی زندگی میں درپیش چیلنجوں کے لیے اچھے اور صحیح مشورے کی ضرورت ہوتی ہے۔ خدا کا کلام اس خلا کو پر کرتا ہے اور ہماری ضرورت کو پورا کرتا ہے۔ آیت 133 کے مطابق، ہمیں اس کے کلام کے ذریعے اپنے چلنے کی سمت یا رہنمائی ملتی ہے۔
کلام خدا ہمیں زندہ کرتا ہے، آیت ۵۰,۲۵ اور 93 کے مطابق. اپنی زندگی کے سفر میں ہم ایسے وقتوں سے گزرتے ہیں جب ہم حالات سے مغلوب ہو جاتے ہیں۔ ہم کمزور اور تھکے ہوئے ہو جاتے ہیں۔ ایسے وقت میں جب باقی سب کچھ ناکام ہو جاتا ہے، یہ خدا کا کلام ہے جو ہمیں زندہ رکھتے ہوئے تیز کرتا ہے۔
آیت 28 میں كاتب المزمور نے کلام خدا کے ذریعے ملنے والی طاقت کے بارے میں بات کی ہے۔ کلام خدا نہ صرف ہمیں ہماری روحانی چہل قدمی، دوڑ اور اپنی روحانی لڑائیوں سے لڑنے کے لئے پرورش دیتا ہے بلکہ مضبوط کرتا ہے۔ کلام خدا کا موازنہ منّ سے کیا جاتا ہے جو اِسراایل کے بچوں کے لیے برسایا گیا تھا جس نے ان کے طویل بیابان سفر میں ان کی پرورش، پائیداری اور مضبوطی کی۔
آیت 52 کے مطابق ہمیں کلام خدا سے تسلی ملی ہے۔ مزامیر 23 میں داوید کا کہنا ہے کہ اسے خدا کے عصا اور لاٹھی نے تسلی دی ہے، جس کا مطلب کلام خدا ہے۔ اور رومیوں ۴:۱۵ میں ہم “کِتابِ مُقدّس کی تسلّی” کے بارے میں پڑھتے ہیں۔ مایوسی، تنہائی، بیماری اور غم کے وقت دوستوں اور رشتہ داروں کی موجودگی اور پیار ہمیں تسلی دینے میں ناکام رہتے ہیں، لیکن کلام خدا میں یہ صلاحیت اور طاقت ہے کہ وہ ہمیں ہر حال میں تسلی دے سکتا ہے۔
ہم ۹۸ آیت میں ہم اس حکمت کے بارے میں پڑهتے ہیں جو ہمیں خدا کے کلام سے ملتی ہے۔ مزامیر ۷:۱۹ میں، اس بات کا ذکر کِیا گیا ہے کہ خدا کا کلام نادان کو حکمت بخشتا ہے۔ حکمت خوشحالی کا باعث بنتی ہے۔ اسی وجہ سے یہوواہ خدا نے نوجوان یہوشوعا کو جسے اِسراایل کے بچوں کی پیشوائی سونپی گئی تهی، دن رات خدا کے کلام پر غوروخوض کرنے کی ہدایت کی جو اسے خوشحال اور کامیاب بنائے گا۔ (یہوشوعا ۸:۱)
بہت ہی معروف آیت ۱۰۵ میں ہم پڑھتے ہیں کہ کلام خدا وہ روشنی فراہم کرتا ہے جس کی ہمیں ہماری تاریک زمینی زیارت میں ضرورت ہوتی ہے۔ ورنہ ہم تاریکی میں ٹٹولتے پهرتے اور روحانی نقصان اُٹهاتے۔ یہ روشنی ہمیں پوشیدہ خطرات سے بهی بچائے گی۔
آخر میں، ہم کلام خدا سے محبت کرکے عظیم امن کا تجربہ کرتے ہیں۔ آج کی دنیا میں امن کے سوا سب کچھ ہے۔ پیسہ، حکمت، طاقت، مقام اور اکتشافات انسان کو امن نہیں دے سکتیں۔ یہ صرف امن کا شہزادہ (ییشَیاحوُ ۶:۹) ییشوع ماشِیعَخ اور اس کا کلام ہے، جو ہمیں بہت سکون دے سکتا ہے۔ یہ امن ایک کامل امن ہے (ییشَیاحوُ ۳:۲۶)؛ وافر امن (مزامیر ۱۱:۳۷)؛ عہد کا امن (ییشَیاحوُ ۱۰:۵۴) اور دریا جیسے یا دائمی امن (ییشَیاحوُ ۱۲:۶۶)۔
خلاصہ یہ ہے کہ کلام خدا (کِتابِ مُقدس)، پاک صاف کرتا ہے، مشورت، طاقت، تسلی، حکمت اور قوت فراہم کرتا ہے، روشن خیالی دیتا ہے اور ہمیں پانچ گُنا امن بخشتا ہے۔
ہمارے خُداوند یہوواہ جوہمارے عظیم برکت دہندہ ہے، آپ کو اپنے کلام کی اِن نعمتوں کا تجربہ کرنے کے قابل بنائے۔
ایس ڈبلیو
The Lord Our YEHOVAH-ROHI
Read: Psa 23 In the Scriptures (Holy Bible), we find compound titles of our LORD (Yehovah) – like Yehovah-Jireh, which means the LORD is our Provider and Yehovah-Shalom, which means the LORD is our Peace. In the Bible, we get to read much about the Shepherd. Psalm 23, which is a universally familiar Psalm to every Christian, portrays a 9-fold Shepherd (JEHOVAH-ROHI)
Personal Shepherd. In Psa 23:1, it is mentioned, the LORD is“my” Shepherd. To those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and have been forgiven by Him and washed by His precious blood, He is their Personal Shepherd. However, if this is not your experience, you too can own Him as your Personal Shepherd by confessing all your sins and asking for His forgiveness. You can then experience Him in a personal and intimate way, as your own Shepherd.
Satisfying Shepherd. When He becomes our Personal Shepherd, He satisfies us with good things, as we read in Psa 103:5. He is our Great Satisfier. We can then say, by experience, “I shall not want” (Psa 23:1). This was also the experience of the children of Israel, about whom it is said “they lacked nothing” (Deut 2:7), because as their Shepherd (Shepherd of Israel: Psa 80:1), He provided for all their needs in their 40-year wilderness journey. None can satisfy us like our Yehovah-Rohi (Psa 107:9).
Feeding Shepherd (v2). In this verse, it is mentioned that “He makes me to lie down in green pastures”. This doesn’t mean that He puts us to sleep. He first feeds the sheep, and then. This is what the shepherds in Palestine did, as we read in Ezk 34:15: “I will feed my flock and I will cause them to lie down”. The sheep lie down only when they are fully satisfied. According to the Scriptures, our Heavenly Jehovah-Rohi provides a 5-fold pasture for His sheep: (a) Green Pasture (v2): speaks about fresh and tender grass, which are loved by the sheep. (b) Good Pasture (Ezk 34:14a): Whatever our Good Shepherd gives is always good. There is nothing ever bad in what our Good Shepherd provides for His sheep. It is always safe and good. (c) In the same verse we also read about the Fat Pasture. There is taste in the fat and it is also good for health. Our Shepherd always wants to feed us with fat, strong and rich pasture, to keep us spiritually healthy and strong always. (d) Large Pasture or Pasture in Abundance (Isa 30:23): There is no lack of Pasture for His precious sheep. It is always in abundance, for any number of sheep and, at any point of time. Hence, His sheep are abundantly satisfied (Psa 36:8). (e) Continual Pasture (John 10:9): Whenever His sheep come to Him (into His House) they find Pasture. It is always available. His House is never empty nor does he send away any empty. Mephibosheth (the sheep) had such an experience of dining at the Shepherd and King David’s table always (2 Sam 9:10).
Leading Shepherd (Psa 23:2b): The sheep, by nature, are innocent and foolish and can get lost easily or can go astray. That is why the good and caring shepherds always go before their sheep to lead them by the proper and safe way (John 10:4). The sheep, on their part, simply go after their shepherd, by hearing and following his voice. The shepherds in Palestine go before the sheep to also face and counter the wolves that attack the sheep. Our Jehovah-Rohi too leads and protects us. All that is required of us is to follow our Shepherd, by faith.
Restoring Shepherd (Psa 23:3): In spite of a shepherd’s love and sacrificial care, the sheep still go astray and get lost, as we read in Luke 15:4. This is not because of the shepherd’s neglect or mistake, but because of the sheep’s independent attitude. At such times, the true shepherd does not abandon it, but goes in search of it, with great patience and love, until he finds it, and restores it back joyfully, as we read in Luke 15:5,6. It is the believer’s continual experience. That is why we read in Psa 23:3, He “restoreth” my soul (in the present continuous tense).
Accompanying Shepherd (Psa 23:4): Like the earthly shepherds, our Shepherd also never leaves nor deserts His flock that He leads, even when they go through the “valley of the shadow of death”. He is always with them and is even prepared to sacrifice His life for them. That is His encouraging promise in Heb 13:5: “I will never leave you, nor forsake you”. He has also promised to be with us even unto the end of the world (Mat 28:20). Sometimes, our loved ones and close friends may leave us or forsake us, for some reason or the other, but our Yehovah-Rohi, would never ever do so.
Comforting Shepherd (Psa 23:4): Our Good Shepherd not only satisfies, feeds, leads, restores and accompanies us, but He also comforts us. Our Yeshua says in John 14:18: “I will not leave you comfortless”. In Isa 66:13, He has promised to comfort us like a mother. We read in Rom 15:4, that we are comforted through the Scriptures, which is why we read in Psa 23:4, Thy rod and Thy staff (which mean the Scriptures), they comfort me. Again, in Isa 66:13, last part, we read that it is only in Jerusalem (which means the Church and the House of God) we find this comfort, not anywhere else.
Strengthening Shepherd: In Psa 23:5, we read about a “table” being prepared in the presence of enemies. Normally, food is supplied in small quantities in a battlefield, which leave the soldiers dissatisfied sometimes. There is no possibility for a table to be furnished in the battlefield. But the table that the Lord prepares in the battlefield is to nourish and strengthen us to face our enemies boldly. On this table a royal, rich and nourishing food is lavishly spread.
Honouring Shepherd: “He anoints our head” (Psa 23:5). Those days, only the King, High Priest and the Priests were anointed, which was a rare privilege and honour. According to Rev 1:6 and 5:10, we are kings and priests to our God, and so, it is our enviable privilege to be anointed and honoured, because such an honour is not bestowed on any of His holy and heavenly angels. Even though we are worthless and valueless like the dust of the earth (Gen 3:19) and worm (Job 25:6), and our lives are brief like the wind, shadow and vapour, yet, He has chosen us and redeemed us to bestow this great honour upon us.
Isn’t it a unique privilege and blessing to have our LORD as our Yehovah-Rohi? There is none like Him nor any beside Him. He is incomparable. Happy is that people whose God is YEHOVAH (Psa 144:15). Let us, therefore, be grateful and thankful to our Yehovah-Rohi.
CHRISTIAN FAITH
Question and Answer
S E R I E S - II
Who is the Lord Jesus Christ?
Let us know the answer from the Holy Bible, because our faith is based only on the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible says that Lord Jesus is the Son of God. But which God? What is His name? The original Hebrew Bible declares that God’s name is - “YEHOVAH.” Let’s read what the Bible says about this.
Exo 3:15 – And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
The Bible declares that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of this true and only God YEHOVAH.
Let’s read what the Bible says about this.
Joh 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The Lord God Yehovah sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, into this world to look for sinners who have strayed from God.
Let’s read what the Bible says about this.
Luk 19:10 – For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Mark 10:45 – For the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
The Lord Jesus said –
Mat 26:28 – For this is the blood of my covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
The Lord Jesus has the power to forgive the sins of all human beings.
Mat 9: 6 – But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith unto the sick of the palsy), Arise. Get up your bed and go home.
The Bible commands us to confess all our sins, so that we may reach this true God Yehovah.
1 John 1: 9 – For if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Bible, which is the Word of God, says that we can reach the Lord Yehovah and have fellowship with Him, after being washed in the blood of the Lord Jesus, who offered Himself as a ransom on the cross for all of us.
1Jn 2:2 – And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1Ti 2:6 – Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
1Jn 1: 7 – But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
The Lord Jesus is the only way to the true God of Yehovah.
1 John 5:12 – He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Great Storm, Great Panic, Great Calm
Read: Mark 4:35-41 In Mark 4:37, we read that there arose a “great storm”. Verse 38, gives us a summary of the “great panic” among Yēshūa’s disciples. And in verse 39 (last part) we read that there was a “great calm” – great storm.... great panic ... and great calm.
The storms and winds speak of the tests, trials and troubles the Sovereign Yehovah allows in our lives and, in Job 5:7 we read that, man is born unto trouble. But, let us remember, nothing happens to God’s children without His explicit permission, like in the life of Job (Job 1:12; 2:6).
Today’s world is also going through great storms – physical, economic, financial and health-related (pandemic), as a result of which there is universal panic. But, what is lacking is “the great calm”, which we read here.
Great Storm: Storms are inevitable and to be expected on every sea. There is no exception for this sea. The impact of the storm and wind brought water into the ship in which Yēshūa and His disciples were sailing. However, the wonder is that the ship did not break or sink. The ship speaks about our lives in the sea of this world. Even though the Lord allows storms and winds in our lives, our ships (lives) don’t break or sink, because He never breaks or destroys, but only builds.
Great Panic: Because of the impact of the storm, the disciples panicked. They thought they would perish in the sea, as they expressed to their Master. Actually, they need not have panicked. First, they should have realised that it was at His command (verse 35: “Let us pass over unto the other side”) that they embarked on their journey, and not on their own. It was His will and desire. And hence, they should not have worried but be confident of reaching their destination. Whenever we seek to do the Lord’s will and fulfil His desire, we will encounter storms, hurdles and opposition. But we must remember that our Master is always with us; He never leaves us nor forsakes us (Heb 13:5) and, He is always a very present help (Psa 46:1). Secondly, Yēshūa, their Master Himself was on board the ship and He is Sovereign and Able. They forgot that. That was because they looked at the waves and the wind and not their Master. This is what Peter did and began to sink. This is the strategy of the Enemy; he will always divert our look and attention from our Author, Continuer and Finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2) to the storms and winds that come against us. We should instead cast all our burdens and care upon Him, who is able to care, sustain and save us (Psa 55:22; 1 Pet 5:7: Mat 10:29-31; Heb 7:25). Thirdly, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself was at peace amidst the storm and the waves and could sleep, on a pillow. How astonishing this is! He is the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6) and Giver of Peace (John 14:27). When the Master Himself was at peace, the disciples should have held their peace too. Instead, they panicked. Are you also a panicking believer? Once, during a long international flight, the airplane encountered a very rough and turbulent weather. All the passengers were frightened and screaming out of fear. But on the same airplane was a teenager who was calm and quiet all along. Her co-passenger was surprised at her attitude and asked her, aren’t you afraid of this turbulence? The girl replied, no. When her co-passenger asked her why, she replied saying, when my dad is the pilot, I don’t fear or worry, because he is there to take care. This ought to be the attitude of the disciples and our attitude too. When the Lord is the Pilot of our lives we need not panic.
Great Calm: Even though the disciples panicked, our Yēshūa did not, because He Himself is the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6) and also a Great Giver of Peace (John 14:27). David experienced this peace. He wrote Psalm 3 when he was fleeing from his son Absalom, who was seeking for his life. David was not in the palace at that time; there was a threat to his life. He should have panicked with fear of death, but we read in verse 5, that he laid himself down and slept and, Yehovah sustained him. He could sleep in the battlefield because he had the Prince and Giver of peace with him and, also experienced the Peace of God in him. The peace that the Prince of Peace gives is a Great Peace (Psa 119:165). But the disciples of Yēshūa were not like David, and so, woke the Master up, saying that they were about to perish. However, our Yēshūa did not get angry on them. Instead of rebuking them, He only rebuked the sea. The result was, that there was a great calm on the sea and, in turn, the disciples too got a great calm. The Prince of Peace exercises His authority to only rebuke the storms and winds, so that it results in peace and calm in our lives.
Are you also experiencing storms, winds and waves in your life? Remember, they are allowed by the Lord, not for your boat to sink or for you to perish. Do not panic. Look to the Lord and not at the storms or waves. He is the Pilot and Captain of our lives. He never leaves or forsakes us nor abandons us. He is an ever present Help, Refuge and Strength. Allow Him to Pilot your life and to be the Captain of your ship. With Christ in your ship, you can smile at the storm!
CHRISTIAN FAITH
Question and Answer
S E R I E S - III
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. He lives in every true believer and is a constant companion in the journey of faith.
In the Bible, He is called the Spirit, the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit first appears in the second verse of the Bible during the creation, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1- 2).
The Virgin Mary conceived through the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20), and during the baptism of Lord Jesus, He descended on the Lord Jesus as a dove. On the day of Pentecost He rested like a tongue of fire on the Apostles.
In the divine work, He participated in creation with the Father and the Son; filled the prophets of God Yehovah with the Word of God Yehovah; assisted the Apostles in their activities; helped men to write the Bible. Today, He leads the Church and walks with the Christian believers, urging the believers to be sanctified. He gives spiritual gifts to strengthen the body of Christ. Today he offers the presence of the Lord Jesus on earth, teaching and encouraging Christians in the struggle against the temptations of the world and the forces of Satan.
We will learn more about Him in the next issue.
CHRISTIAN FAITH
Question and Answer
S E R I E S - IV
what is TRINITY?
The Trinity is ‘one God existing in three Persons’. But remember that, this is not in any way suggesting three Gods, because the Bible categorically states that our God is One. (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:5). The word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible, but the concept of trinity is found everywhere in the Bible.
It is not a man made concept but it is eloborated in the whole scripture by the Lord God Almighty YEHOVAH.
But what is Trinity? Let us see from the Scripture what our God
YEHOVAH declared in His holy scripture.
The Trinity consists of three Persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Let us see from the Bible few verses where the verse talks about the three divine persons in one God.
Matthew 3:16
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him”
Matthew 28:19
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”
Romans 8:9
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his..”
1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
2 Corinthians 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
Galatians 4:6
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Because our God declared in His Scripture that Divinity is in three persons, we ought to believe in what He said in His Scripture, the Bible.
Manna: The Word Of GOD
The children of Israel were in great affliction, bondage and slavery in Egypt for 430years. But they were wonderfully delivered and redeemed by the great power of our Yehovah. Thereafter, they commenced their 40-year long wilderness journey.
Like them, we were also in the bondage and slavery of sin. But our Redeemer Yēshūa, by the great price He paid for us on the Cross, delivered and redeemed us from the Egypt (the world) in which we were. Now, we are also in our wilderness journey. In their journey, Yehovah was not impertinent about them. He provided for their needs and sustained them. Hence they lacked nothing, as Moses mentions in Deut 2:7. Yehovah Himself went before them in a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. The garments that they borrowed from the Egyptians did not wear out and become old during their long journey and, their shoes also did not wax old. Further, the Lord fed and sustained them with “Manna”, and quenched their thirst with water from the rock. Manna was not in God’s creation in the book of Genesis. It was the exclusive privilege of and provision for the children of Israel. No other nation could see or taste Manna. In the Scriptures, it is called as “Bread from Heaven” (Ex 16:4), “Corn of Heaven” and Angel’s Food” (Psa 78:24,25). Manna alone nourished and sustained the children of Israel throughout their long journey (Ex 16:35). Similarly, in our journey too, the Word of God is our Manna, to nourish, strengthen and sustain us.
It is good for us to know of certain characteristics of Manna as seen in Exodus 16:14,16 and 31. They all point to the personality of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can notice five of them in these verses. As we feed upon our Spiritual Manna, we are brought into a five-fold influence of Spiritual Manna. Firstly, Manna was a “small” thing (v14). This speaks to us about the humility of Yeshua. This is what we observe in Him. To come into the world, He humbled Himself (Phil 2:7,8). He left the form of God and took the form of a servant. He even humbled Himself to wash His own disciple’s feet. Yeshua said in Mat 11:29, “I am meek and lowly in heart”. It is the the Word of God, which is our Spiritual Manna, that brings in us the humility of our Yēshūa. The more you love and feed upon the Word of God, the more humble you will become. Secondly, Manna was “round”(v14). This speaks about the perfection in Yeshua. He was absolutely perfect and without sin. He knew no sin, nor was sin found in Him. That is why He challenged in John 8:48, “which of you convinceth me of sin?” Pilot, after interrogating Yeshua, said, “I find no fault in Him at all” and, “He is not worthy of death”. Even one of the thieves said, “He has done nothing amiss”. This is the second impact of the Spiritual Manna. This is what Apostle Paul mentions as the result of the Word of God (Manna) in the believer’s life ( 2Tim 3:16,17). We are brought into perfection by feeding upon Manna. Thirdly, Manna was to be gathered at the rate of one omer per person (v16). However, even if they gathered less or more, it was adequate and sufficient. This points us to the sufficiency in our Yeshua. He is able to satisfy us abundantly through His Word. In Ruth 2:14, we read that Ruth, at the invitation of Boaz, joined his maidens at the meal time and, by the parched corn that Boaz reached to her, ate and was sufficed, and left. This is the sufficiency in our Yēshūa. That is why we read in 2 Cor 3:5: “… our sufficiency is of God”. Fourthly, Manna was white in colour. This indicates the holiness of our Yēshūa and the efficacy of the Word, His holiness into us. The Word of God has the power to cleanse us and make us holy. In His Upper Room Discourse, our Yehovah mentioned in John 15:3, that they would be clean through His Word. In Eph 5:26, We read that the Church is sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water, which is the Word of God. Finally, Manna tasted like honey – speaks about the sweetness of our Yēshūa in His Word. We read in Psa 19:10 and Psa 119:103, His Word is sweeter than honey. There is nothing sweeter than honey, but our Yēshūa, the Heavenly Manna, (the Word) is sweeter than honey. Honey can change any bitterness into sweetness. Similarly, our Lord and His Word can change our bitter experiences into sweetness.
In conclusion, an important instruction regarding the gathering of Manna in verse 21. It should be gathered in the morning itself and, if not, when the sun waxed hot, it would melt. The heat of the sun would make Manna not gatherable. This is true about the Spiritual Manna too. If you miss meditating on the Word of God in the morning itself, which is the right and prime time, it would become not gatherable. So, wake up, rise up early, and gather your portion of the five-fold Manna before it melts.
May our Yehovah richly nourish and strengthen you through His Precious and Heavenly Manna and sustain you in your wilderness journey!
The Might that Yehovah Desires
Read: Judges 6 Gideon was one of the great Champions in Israel. He accomplished a unique victory over the Midianites with only a contingent of 300 men as against 135,000 Midianites (a ratio of 1:450).
Like them, we were also in the bondage and slavery of sin. But our Redeemer Yēshūa, by the great price He paid for us on the Cross, delivered and redeemed us from the Egypt (the world) in which we were. Now, we are also in our wilderness journey. In their journey, Yehovah was not impertinent about them. He provided for their needs and sustained them. Hence they lacked nothing, as Moses mentions in Deut 2:7. Yehovah Himself went before them in a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. The garments that they borrowed from the Egyptians did not wear out and become old during their long journey and, their shoes also did not wax old. Further, the Lord fed and sustained them with “Manna”, and quenched their thirst with water from the rock. Manna was not in God’s creation in the book of Genesis. It was the exclusive privilege of and provision for the children of Israel. No other nation could see or taste Manna. In the Scriptures, it is called as “Bread from Heaven” (Ex 16:4), “Corn of Heaven” and Angel’s Food” (Psa 78:24,25). Manna alone nourished and sustained the children of Israel throughout their long journey (Ex 16:35). Similarly, in our journey too, the Word of God is our Manna, to nourish, strengthen and sustain us.
It is good for us to know of certain characteristics of Manna as seen in Exodus 16:14,16 and 31. They all point to the personality of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can notice five of them in these verses. As we feed upon our Spiritual Manna, we are brought into a five-fold influence of Spiritual Manna. Firstly, Manna was a “small” thing (v14). This speaks to us about the humility of Yeshua. This is what we observe in Him. To come into the world, He humbled Himself (Phil 2:7,8). He left the form of God and took the form of a servant. He even humbled Himself to wash His own disciple’s feet. Yeshua said in Mat 11:29, “I am meek and lowly in heart”. It is the the Word of God, which is our Spiritual Manna, that brings in us the humility of our Yēshūa. The more you love and feed upon the Word of God, the more humble you will become. Secondly, Manna was “round”(v14). This speaks about the perfection in Yeshua. He was absolutely perfect and without sin. He knew no sin, nor was sin found in Him. That is why He challenged in John 8:48, “which of you convinceth me of sin?” Pilot, after interrogating Yeshua, said, “I find no fault in Him at all” and, “He is not worthy of death”. Even one of the thieves said, “He has done nothing amiss”. This is the second impact of the Spiritual Manna. This is what Apostle Paul mentions as the result of the Word of God (Manna) in the believer’s life ( 2Tim 3:16,17). We are brought into perfection by feeding upon Manna. Thirdly, Manna was to be gathered at the rate of one omer per person (v16). However, even if they gathered less or more, it was adequate and sufficient. This points us to the sufficiency in our Yeshua. He is able to satisfy us abundantly through His Word. In Ruth 2:14, we read that Ruth, at the invitation of Boaz, joined his maidens at the meal time and, by the parched corn that Boaz reached to her, ate and was sufficed, and left. This is the sufficiency in our Yēshūa. That is why we read in 2 Cor 3:5: “… our sufficiency is of God”. Fourthly, Manna was white in colour. This indicates the holiness of our Yēshūa and the efficacy of the Word, His holiness into us. The Word of God has the power to cleanse us and make us holy. In His Upper Room Discourse, our Yehovah mentioned in John 15:3, that they would be clean through His Word. In Eph 5:26, We read that the Church is sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water, which is the Word of God. Finally, Manna tasted like honey – speaks about the sweetness of our Yēshūa in His Word. We read in Psa 19:10 and Psa 119:103, His Word is sweeter than honey. There is nothing sweeter than honey, but our Yēshūa, the Heavenly Manna, (the Word) is sweeter than honey. Honey can change any bitterness into sweetness. Similarly, our Lord and His Word can change our bitter experiences into sweetness.
In conclusion, an important instruction regarding the gathering of Manna in verse 21. It should be gathered in the morning itself and, if not, when the sun waxed hot, it would melt. The heat of the sun would make Manna not gatherable. This is true about the Spiritual Manna too. If you miss meditating on the Word of God in the morning itself, which is the right and prime time, it would become not gatherable. So, wake up, rise up early, and gather your portion of the five-fold Manna before it melts.
May our Yehovah richly nourish and strengthen you through His Precious and Heavenly Manna and sustain you in your wilderness journey!
CHRISTIAN FAITH
Question and Answer
S E R I E S - V
Why do we believe the Bible is actually the word of GOD?
Let us see the reasons for our belief in brief. The Bible claims to be the word of God YEHOVAH. The Bible is otherwise called as “THE BOOK OF YEHOVAH” (Isaiah 34:16). It is inspired by God Yehovah, the One true God of all the prophets of the Bible. He is the God of both Christians and Jews.
In the Bible, several verses have the phrase “thus saith YEHOVAH” that appears more than 400 times in the Bible, indicating that God YEHOVAH Himself spoke those words and had them recorded in the Bible for future generations to read.
Also, the words of 2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is God-breathed” indicate that the words of the Bible came from God YEHOVAH only and not from any other God.
The Bible has been passed down accurately over the centuries
Among all the ancient texts of various religions, the Bible has the most surviving copies of its original documents.
The Bible translations are always done from these copies of original documents, hence all the Bibles present all over the world are reliable in their content.
The unity of the Bible
Even though the Bible was written by over 40 different writers, yet their messages remain the same. It was written in 3 different continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe), in 3 different languages. But, the underlying unity of purpose and consistency of thought running through it are the same, indicating that all these inspired writers had the same Spirit of God YEHOVAH.
The accuracy of the Bible is confirmed by archaeology and history
Over the years, archaeologists and historians have made discoveries that confirm what the Bible says about ancient customs, cities, towns, and battles.
Because of its accuracy, the Bible is often used as a guide for archaeological excavations.
The Bible speaks of prophecies that are already fulfilled
In the Old Testament book of Daniel, the rise and fall of the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans was prophesied accurately several years before these events took place.
Also, Old Testament prophecies concerning the birth, life, ministry, betrayal, death, and resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ all came true.
The Bible and science are in agreement
First, the position of the sun, moon, and stars in the sky is exactly as the Bible describes them. Second, the astronomers have often said that the stars are yet to be fully enumerated, a statement that is echoed in Jeremiah 33:22 – as countless as the stars in the sky.
Third, geological studies indicate that the great flood of Noah took place. Lastly, the water (hydrological) cycle as scientists know it today is accurately described in Job 36:27-28 and Ecclesiastes 1:6-7. What other proof do you need!
The Bible was written by eyewitnesses
The writers of the Bile, particularly the New Testament, described everything to the most insignificant of details, indicating that they witnessed everything first hand.
The accuracy of these eyewitness testimonies is supported by the fact that there was always additional evidence to support what they said.
The claims of Christ concerning the Scriptures
Another reason you can trust the Bible is the fact that what Lord Jesus claimed in the Scriptures came to pass. He foretold His resurrection before He died, and three days after He died, the tomb was empty!
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples, and He directed them back to the Word of God. As a result, most of the early believers died confessing and defending the facts of His death and resurrection.
The Bible has the power to change lives
The words in the Bible are powerful enough to change lives, some of whom include the apostle Paul, CS Lewis, Martin Luther, etc.
Some of the passages that have turned lives around over the ages include the Psalms of David (Psalm 23 in particular), The Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes and 1 Corinthians 13 (teaching on love).
The Bible’s primary writer can be trusted
The primary writer of this Book, God Yehovah is behind its unity from beginning to end. It has a clear plan for mankind, pointing them toward the Cross of Christ for redemption, from the promise in the Old Testament to the fulfillment in the New Testament.
Through the life and death of Lord Jesus, the Bible proves to mankind that God is loving and trustworthy.
These are the main reasons why we believe in the Bible, otherwise named as the “BOOK OF YEHOVAH” (Isaiah 34:16). May God YEHOVAH, grant you Grace to read from His Book and be saved.
CHRISTIAN FAITH
Question and Answer
S E R I E S - VI
Who is the Prophet like Moses?
In the Book of Yehovah (Bible) we find a very important prophecy regarding the advent of an important prophet. The Bible records this prophecy in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 18. This prophecy is very important because ALL THE PEOPLE are commanded to hear Him and if anyone does not obey Him, God Yehovah will punish him or her with eternal consequences.
The Bible is very clear that this prophecy refers to Lord Jesus Christ. But some Muslim Dawah speakers have created some confusion in the minds of people by teaching that this prophecy points to their prophet Muhammad. So, let’s see in detail what this prophecy is and to whom it refers.
Below is the prophecy as given in the Bible by God Yehovah – Please pay attention to the underlined words:
Deuteronomy 18th chapter, verses 15 – 20.
15The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16according to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.
17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. 20But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
Now, from the above prophecy, we understand the following important facts.
That Prophet will be sent by God Yehovah Himself (verse 15). God Yehovah is the God of the Bible and the God of Jews and Christians. (Isaiah 42:8). All the Jews and Christians believe only in God Yehovah, but never in any other God. Lord Jesus Christ said that He is sent by the same God, the Father of Jews and Christians. (John 5:23, 30, 37; 6:39, 44, 57; 8:16, 42; 10:36; 17:21, 25; 20:21). But, the Prophet of Islam, the prophet Muhammad, never said that the Father, God Yehovah had sent him.
That Prophet shall be unto the People of Israel (verse 15). In Matthew 15:24, the Lord Jesus Christ said that He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Hence, He was born in the country of Israel, and lived amidst the people of Israel. But, the Prophet of Islam, the prophet Muhammad, was not born in the country of Israel nor did He ever live amidst the People of Israel.
That Prophet shall rise from the MIDST OF ISRAELITES only (verse 15). The Lord Jesus Christ was a born Jew. But, the Prophet of Islam, the prophet Muhammad, was not a born Jew.
He shall be from the tribes of Israel only (verse 15), because, all the tribes are called as brethren to each other tribe (verses 1 & 2). The Lord Jesus Christ was born in the tribes of Israel only. But, the Prophet of Islam, the prophet Muhammad, was not born in the tribes of Israel.
He shall be like Moses (verse 15). Various people have given various comparisions between the Prophet Moses, Lord Jesus Christ and the prophet Muhammad of Islam and tried to convince the world according to their own views. Being aware of this before hand, the God of the Bible, God Yehovah had given the CRITERIA for a prophet to be like Moses. In the same book of Deuteronomy, in the last 3 verses 34:10-12, God Yehovah said that, for a prophet to be like Moses, the following 2 Criteria ONLY must be used.
That Prophet MUST know God Yehovah face to face. In John 16:28, the Holy Lord Jesus Christ said that He came from the same God. Hence, He only knows God Yehovah face to face. No other person knows God Yehovah face to face.
That prophet MUST do many great signs and wonders before all the people like Moses. Only the Holy Lord Jesus Christ performed great signs and wonders as documented in the Bible. He even rose the dead people to life again BY THE POWER OF God Yehovah. No other person could ever do such miracles.
God Yehovah promised to put His words in the mouth of that Prophet (verse 18). In John 7:16 the Lord Jesus Christ said that all the doctrine which He taught is not His, but is of the Father, God Yehovah. But, the Prophet of Islam, the prophet Muhammad, never said that God Yehovah had put His words in his mouth.
He shall speak only that God Yehovah commands Him to say (verse 18). In John 10:18, 14:31 the Lord Jesus Christ said that, the Father, God Yehovah had given Him commandments. But, the Prophet of Islam, the prophet Muhammad, received no commandments from God Yehovah, the God of all the Jews and Christians.
After studying all this, we understand that the Holy Lord Jesus Christ is the Prophet like Moses but not the Prophet Muhammad of Islam. That is why the Bible clearly declares to us in the book of Acts 3:22-23 and 7:37 that the Prophet like Moses is nobody but the Holy Lord Jesus Christ. As Christians, we are on the right path. We shall surely reach heaven, to be with our God Yehovah, because we believe that Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross to save us (John 6:54-56, 10:15, Matthew 26:28). We do not follow the prophets of other religions because we are forbidden from following other gods.