Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men
By Sherly Isaac
 
Luke 2:14, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Hundreds and hundreds of children are born everyday around the world. No one sings this type of song for those kids. In fact parents worry and wonder, “What type of life he or she will lead when the child will grow up?” But at the time of Jesus’ birth angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" What was so unique about this child? The child was not an ordinary child but the very creator who made heaven and earth and the whole universe. The Prince of Peace, the God who is willing to bless our lives, Himself came down in this world. Just to make us happy, just to give us peace and for our welfare.

We read about Jacob In Genesis 25th chapter onwards. Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob. When both grew up Esau sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob. After a while Isaac asked his elder son to bring him his food of choice so that he could bless him. But before Esau could reach his father, Jacob went with the choicest food and took all the blessings which his father intended to give to Esau. When Esau came to know about it, he cried and cried but it was too late for him.

Now Jacob ran for his life and reached Laban’s house. Laban, Jacob’s uncle had two daughters. Jacob fell in love with Rachel the younger daughter. He worked for seven years under Laban to marry Rachel. But when marriage took place he realized that Laban had cheated him and given Leah the elder daughter as wife instead of Rachel. So he had to work for another seven years for Rachel. The more you read in the story you can understand that Jacob’s wages were altered by Laban several times. Whenever Jacob had a chance of profit Laban reversed it cunningly.

See Jacob’s statement, Gen 31:41-42, "Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night."

When Jacob fled from his brother to a new land, he might have thought that everything will be all right and that he could start a brand new life. But there was no end of his misery. Twenty years of his stay with Laban brought nothing but affliction and sorrow. Laban knew that no matter what comes, Jacob would stay with him because he had himself fled from his brother. He extracted work from him unjustly seeing that he was helpless. You can find people like Laban everywhere even in the churches where they would change their rules just to serve their purpose.

But a day came when Jacob took a bold step to kiss Laban goodbye. Now he came back to his land. God helped him and delivered him from the hands of his brother. But his life remained rough in his own land too. One by one he faced problems including losing his beloved wife Rachel and later their son Joseph who was sold to be a slave in Egypt. His heart was completely broken as we read in Gen 37:33-35, And he recognized it and said, "It is my son's tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces." Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, "For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning." Thus his father wept for him.”

Jacob wept and refused to be comforted. Oh, he lost his peace. He was a man of sorrow. My dear friend, you could be in the same situation where you might have no peace in your life. Have you lost a loved one and lost your peace and joy? Are you in tears because of an impossible situation in your life? Please do not lose your heart, God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob has not forgotten you. He will come for your rescue. Just like He came for Jacob’s rescue. A day came when Jacob saw with his own eyes carts coming that were sent by Joseph. With his own eyes he could see his lost son for whom he mourned so long. How his heart would have rejoiced seeing these blessings!

Bible says that his heart was revived when he heard the news about Joseph as we read in Gen 45:27-28, “But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. Then Israel said, "It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."

His heart was in peace after many years of sorrow when he met Joseph as we read in Gen 46:30, “And Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive."

Have you ever thought how Jacob’s story did not end in tragedy but was a perfect happy ending? The reason is very simple. God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the everlasting living God who really cares for His children. The whole story tells us how marvelous our God is who is really interested to bring peace and wellness in our lives. God turned the years of sorrow and pain of Jacob into joy and happiness. The same God can do the same for us even today. Come and pour your heart, your tears, your sorrows and your pains at the feet of Jesus, He will turn it to joy and happiness.

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Standing in the Gap - Fasting prayer on 9th Jan. 2007

 
As the Bible says in Ezekiel 22:30 "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it." And also the Bible says in Numbers 16:48, "And he (Aaron) stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped." We have fasting prayer every second Tuesday of each month. Our next fasting prayer meeting will be conducted on 9th Jan. 2007

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Allah and Elohim - Are they the same God? Book

 
Now available "Allah and Elohim - Are they the same God" and "Is Jesus God?"Books in major book stores like http://amazon.com, http://bn.com (barnes & noble), http://booksamillion.com etc. Both books compares the Bible and the Quran and read eye opening facts about Jesus, God of the Bible, Allah and Islamic faith. I am sure that you want to read this. Here is the link:
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Also read:
Book Title: Is Jesus God?
Author: Sherly Isaac
ISBN: 0759628092
http://insearchofpeace.org/books.htm