These Days

There are many things going around the world today. Things that affect directly and indirectly. The day to day lives have been impacted and deception is increasing.

The kings and rulers in the Bible thought that they have power over God. The Pharaoh of Egypt who thought the God of Israel is not powerful, his pride blinded his eyes. Though he saw ten different disasters/plagues (the final on killing his own son) he did not learn the lesson. He sent the Israelites but followed to be swallowed  by the waters (Red Sea). The kings and authorities who think they have power to rule and control and do what they like to do end up being swallowed by the waters(may not be literally) but if they repent and trust in God they may be forgiven. God is merciful, even when he was angry against those Israelite who made the "Golden Calf" - Moses reminded God of his mercy - Exodus 32 - 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your [f]descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your [g]descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people.

If Pride is the reason for such blindness of Leaders, then comes the deception - They do it unknowingly, this is not because they does not know, but they does't want to know. Basically the Truth. Because they want the false to be the factor, either be it food, celebration, praise. They wanted to trust, believe and have faith in themselves rather than God - who created us.


Manipulation and Deception

Its not the physical eye that's blinded but the eye of the heart, that of understanding. The knowledge of God - The most high. Merely trusting and believing in the things God created would not result in worship, in fact that is "Worship of False Gods"

Romans 1
God's Wrath against Sin
…21For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.…

Food as a major concern -

Philippians 3:18-20New American Standard Bible (NASB)

18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their [a]appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 20 For our [b]citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

It was different in case of Daniel, where he denied the meat(that could have possibly offered to idols) of because its from King's plate(table) or for some specific purpose(as he says defilement it should be a major cause for consumption). God gave them strength.

Daniel 1:8-16King James Version (KJV)

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

Paul differentiates between different kinds of flesh(both physical & spiritual)

1 Corinthians 15:39-40King James Version (KJV)

39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

Jesus's care and concern about life,

When Jesus says about what is important - Food or life? Clothing or Body?

Matthew 6:25-34New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Cure for Anxiety

25 “For this reason I say to you, [a]do not be worried about your [b]life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the [c]air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single [d]hour to his [e]life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But [f]seek first [g]His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be [h]added to you.

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will [i]care for itself. [j]Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Care about life? how minute is hair, if God has numbered those of it, how much more will he not count us???

Matthew 10:29-31New American Standard Bible (NASB)

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a [a]cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Psalm 2New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed.

2 Why are the [a]nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His [b]Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”

4 He who [c]sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have [d]installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the [e]decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the [f]nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall [g]break them with a [h]rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like [i]earthenware.’”

10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O [j]judges of the earth.
11 [k]Worship the Lord with [l]reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 [m]Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may [n]soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!