Uncommon Sense From An Uncommon God

By Goh Kgoon Liang

We know the story: David versus Goliath. Small versus Big.

Against all odds, David kills Goliath in a single shot. The enemy’s champion slain, it’s a resounding win, nothing short of a miracle.

But that’s not all. Behind this story lies a deeper meaning still.

As the legendary 9-feet tall giant towered over the Israelite army, he was said to be literally covered in heavy bronze—body armour, helmet and javelin. Not to mention his sword and a heavy shield borne by a bearer (read 1 Samuel 17).

Along comes young David who convinces King Saul to give him a fighting chance. Saul then tries to impose his way by putting his very own set of armour and weapons onto David. But David protested, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them” (vv. 38-39). In the end, he chose to use his own shepherd’s equipment and picked stones from a riverbed.

Isn’t this scene familiar? Approaching life’s problems and challenges with methods we’ve tried and tested? And if something doesn’t seem like it can be done, then don’t even bother wasting your time and energy.

King Saul seasoned in his battle-tested methods seemed to be dressing David in the very ways of the Philistines (the same bronze armour and weapons). Even when the challenge towered way beyond man’s natural ability, King Saul still clung on to his common sense and worldly ways. To be fair, this must have helped him win battles past. But surely this was an uncommon challenge demanding an uncommon approach.

So the crux is this: When it comes to the crunch, WHO and WHAT do we rely on? Common sense and proven ways of the world? Or an uncommon God whose ways are out of this world?

David chose the latter; Saul chose the former. Read the rest of 1 Samuel to see how their fates forever diverged: One became Israel’s greatest king; the other lost everything—his kingdom, his family and even his own life.

It’s amazing how God’s smallest ways can result in the biggest life victories. When challenges loom ahead, who and what would you choose?

What’s in a Name? (Part Two)

By Edmund Ng

Picking up from Part One, we continue this study of biblical names. As we learnt earlier, names significantly reflect the circumstances of a person’s birth and even mark his destiny in life.

Now let’s look at one unlikely hero whose name was changed during a life-transforming event.

Jacob was so named because he literally came out of his mother’s womb clinging onto his twin brother’s heel—his name means “heel holder”. His name also means “supplanter” and true enough, Jacob schemed his way to steal his older brother’s rightful firstborn blessing from Isaac their father (read Genesis 25 and 27).

New Name, New Fame

The event that really marked Jacob’s life transformation was when he encountered God and wrestled with him for a divine blessing. “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” marked his determination and God was so impressed that he gave him a new name:

And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32:28)

Israel means “he struggles with God”.

The Name Game

Receiving a new name also reflects the acceptance of a new authority. Other than God (and our own parents who names us at birth), human kings understood this, as they sought to impose their rule over the nations they conquered.

When Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquered Judah and took their people captive, the children of Israel who served in his court were given new names.

Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego. (Daniel 1:6-7)

Daniel means “God is my Judge” while Belteshazzar means “Bel protect his life” (Bel refers to Marduk, a pagan god). The other names bore similar references to Babylonian pagan gods.

Other significant name changes include Pharoah Necho conquering Judah and changing the king’s name from Eliakim to Jehoiakim (read 2 Kings 23:34). When Nebuchadnezzar conquered Judah, he appointed Mattaniah as king and changed his name to Zedekiah (read 2 Kings 24:17).

No Longer The Same

Returning to Jacob, this descendant of Abraham and Isaac only received God’s covenant promise made to his forefathers after God eventually confirmed him as Israel (read Genesis 35:9-12).

Let’s realize that when God gives a new name, it goes beyond changing a person’s identity and self-image. A new name truly marks the beginning of a new and bold relationship—which we’ll look at in part three.

Stay tuned.

What’s in a Name? (Part One)

By Edmund Ng

As we encounter one name after name in the bible, have we ever stopped to ask ourselves the meaning of these names, countless as they are? Is there even anything we can learn, simply by studying their names? There certainly is, if we would dig deeper into their origins. For a start, let’s look how names came about in the bible.

In the Beginning…
Recall Eve, our very first proud mother of two. She named her first son, Cain, which in Hebrew actually sounds like “acquired” or “brought forth”, as she must have been conscious of how she had been given her first son by God. Her own name means “living” because she would become the mother of all living people. And Adam and Eve could not have know the ominous meaning of Abel’s name for it actually meant “breath” and in Hebrew, even sounds like “temporary” or “meaningless”, as evinced by his short-lived life.

Of Moms and Babes
So this tradition of naming one’s child according to the circumstances of his birth continues throughout the Old Testament. If you want to find out how the twelve tribes of Israel got their names, read Genesis 29 to 30 about how Leah battled with her womb to gain Jacob’s affection over Rachel. In those days, a woman’s crowning glory was how many children she could bear. Read 1 Samuel 1 and see how God remembered Hannah, his mother, and answered her heartfelt plea for a child of her own.

Named by God?
God himself knew how important names were. He personally gave Abraham his name—it means “father of many”—as a reminder of his covenant promise of how He would multiply his descendants. Sarah means “noblewoman” and implies how she would become Abraham’s accompanying mother of the multitudes. God even named Abraham’s son, Isaac which means “he laughs”, not only as a reminder of how Abraham had laughed within himself when God promised that his 99-year old wife would conceive, but also of the limits of his human reasoning.

Take Time…
As you read through the bible, take time to appreciate these biblical names. Referring to a study bible is actually immensely fascinating (where do you think all the information above came from). Otherwise it also helps to refer to the Strong’s dictionary (available at websites such as www.blueletterbible.org).

In part two, we’ll look further into the study of biblical names. Meanwhile, keep on reading!

Growing Pains

By Goh Kgoon Liang

Now these are the nations which the LORD left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan (this was namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of H only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), amath. And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. (Judges 3:1-5 NKJV)

Joshua’s generation had just passed away, and the new generation of Israelites were one “who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10). They then proceeded to sin against God, committing idolatry; calamities then befell them from their enemies. Yet, when they cried out to God, He raised up a judge over Israel to lead and deliver them from their troubles. However, as soon as the judge passed away, Israel reverted to its idolatrous self. It was then that God decided to leave some of the pagan nations in Canaan to “test Israel”.

Why didn’t God continue to raise judges up and ensure Canaan stayed free of Israel’s enemies?

For a very simple reason: God wanted the Israelites to grow up and mature.

Israel’s experience mirrors that of our personal walk with God. As we start out on our walk with God, we depend a lot on the guidance of a God-ordained leader like Joshua. However, without enough maturity, without the guidance of the leader, we start to go astray. This is what happened when Joshua and his generation passed away. God then miraculously bails us out time and time again as we cry out to Him, until it comes to the point where we have to learn to handle our troubles properly.

It is said that maturity is the acceptance of responsibility. Israel was not ready to accept responsibility for their own fate. To ensure that they were ready to, God decided to test them.

What does this mean for you and me?

Often, as we go about our daily lives, we face unexpected trials and tribulations. Perhaps your new boss is very strict and critical of  your quality of work. Perhaps your new popular classmate looks down upon you. Perhaps you aren’t able to meet your business targets for the month due to a financial crisis.

Rest assured, for Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Like the Israelites, during times of trials and tribulations, perhaps God is teaching and helping us to mature and be able to handle our situations better. But we are not alone. For even when God was testing Israel, he still raised up judges like Shamgar and Samson to help deliver Israel from their troubles.

Even as we fight our trials and tribulations, let us not forget the purposes of God, and be encouraged by the reward of increased maturity that cannot be gained by any other way!

Restored

By: Edmund Ng

When John yelled, “It is the Lord!”, realisation hit and Peter near panicked. Grabbing his coat and loincloth, he plunged into the cold murky water and got dressed underwater.

Was it dread he felt? Remorse? All he felt now was relief and joy. It is the Lord!

As they drew ashore, they kept their eyes fixed on Him. Somehow He looked different. Yet they knew it was Him—His face, His voice. But no one said anything. Only the sound of water lapping the shore could be heard.

It made sense now. The empty tomb. The words spoken before, “After a little while you will see Me.”

After eating, Jesus got up as if to walk. Peter followed.

“Simon, son of John,” Jesus suddenly asked. “Do you truly love Me more than these?”

This time he thought before he spoke. More than these…the disciples with whom he shared their lives? His fishing boats and livelihood? Certainly he loved the Lord. Yet he knew his limits.

“Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Peter looked back at Him.

“Feed My lambs.” He asked again, “Simon, son of John, do you truly love Me?”

Peter thought again. What else did he have left? The past three years had changed his life from the moment he decided to follow this Man.

“Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Peter kept silent.

“Take care of my sheep.” Jesus looked at him. This time He said, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”

Something broke inside. He had no doubt that Jesus knew he denied Him three times just as He said he would. But he had also chosen to lay his life down for Jesus and he would choose it again. It was different this time though. Peter knew Jesus was looking inside of him.

“Lord, You know all things; you know that I love You.”

“Feed my sheep.”

Peter would never forget the rest of His words till the day he died.