Tag: Faithful

New Beats Old

~ Sowmya Gali

Esther 5: 5, 11 In the story of Esther, Haman’s hatred towards Mordecai and Jews was the sole reason for conspiring to annihilate Jews in the entire kingdom of King Xerxes. With the king’s permission and approval, he sent out edicts to destroy Jews in all provinces on a particular day – the 13th day of the 12th month – the month of Adar. Couriers were dispatched swiftly. However, tables turned and Haman was executed on the same gallows that he built for Mordecai.

After Haman’s execution, Queen Esther approached the king and requested him to overturn the edict. She informed the king that the old edict would still destroy all the Jews, her people in the kingdom. The king couldn’t reverse the old edict but issued a new one – the right to protect themselves and destroy enemies of Jews. Mordecai personally wrote the new edict and sent couriers to all provinces of the kingdom. Mordecai, now esteemed in the sight of the king, was emboldened to take a swift action to protect Jews all across the land.

The old law was still valid and the new law didn’t nullify the old. However, the new law allowed the Jews to defend themselves and destroy their enemies. If the Jews in the kingdom had not believed in the new law and were bound by the old law, they would have surrendered and succumbed to their destruction. Romans 8: 1-3 declares that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. If we don’t operate under the power of the new law, we will succumb to the power of the old.

The wages of sin is death, which is the first law. But Jesus through His life, death and resurrection gave us a new lease on life. Life through the Spirit is the second law. With the power given to us through the new law, we can fight our enemies and destroy them. We might not deal with physical enemies but principalities of darkness, finances, health, etc. By the power of the second law, we can fight every spiritual battle. For this new law is far better than the first: living under His grace where there is salvation and no condemnation.

The Three Thousand

~ Sowmya Gali

Numerical facts are important to God so they must be important to us too when we read the Bible. In the Book of Exodus, as God was pronouncing His law to Moses on Mount Sinai, the Israelites at the bottom of the mountain grew impatient waiting for Moses to return and committed a great sin – the sin of idolatry. Instead of waiting expectantly in fear and reverence, they rebelled against God and Moses. When Moses learns of the sin and returns to the camp, he witnesses a disgusting sight. The people were running wild and so became a laughing stock to the enemies of Israel (Exodus 32: 25).

With anger burning against these people, Moses says. “If anyone is for the Lord, come to me.” Immediately the Levites rallied towards him. Moses then commands these Levites to armor themselves with swords and then go out into the camp from one end to the other, back and forth and kill the people. That day, three thousand people died in front of the Lord (Exodus 32: 28). Moses returns to Mount Sinai to atone for the sin and seek forgiveness from the Lord for their sin. God afflicts them with a plague for their grievous sin.

When God’s Law came down at Mount Sinai, judgment and death followed. Grace was no longer available for free. The people could not approach God with empty hands. Some sort of sacrifice or offering was required of the people to receive God’s grace. Unless they fulfilled the Law, their prayers were not answered, their diseases were not healed and their enemies were not defeated. The people of Israel entered a new phase in time.

Jump ahead to Acts 1. Jesus ascended to heaven commissioning His disciples to preach the good news of the gospel and making disciples of all nations. However, He asked them to wait in Jerusalem for the gift that His Father promised – the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that the power of the Holy Spirit will guide them to the ends of the earth. As the disciples were awaiting the Holy Spirit to descend from heaven, they chose Mathias to replace Judas and remained together constantly praying (Acts 1: 14). In this instant, the disciples were waiting the Holy Spirit’s arrival expectantly in prayer and fellowship. What a contrast from the days of Moses!

On the Day of Pentecost, a sound like the violent blowing of the wind came from heaven and filled the whole house (Acts 2:2). Tongues of fire came and rested on each of the disciples and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in other tongues or languages. Later, Peter stood up and addressed the crowd that gathered to witness this amazing miracle unfolding right in front of their eyes. That day about three thousand accepted the message and were baptized in the Holy Spirit. The grace of God once again descended from heaven not to condemn any man but to redeem and bring them into the fold of God. Our Heavenly Father, who is utterly pleased with the sacrifice of His beloved Son, saw us through the eyes of His Son Jesus Christ. From then on, there is no condemnation. Praise God for His Grace!