Sreedhar's Journey

Job 3:11, “Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb? Wow! What anguish. Do you feel that way? You wonder why you are alive. This man Job has experienced first the loss of his children and his wealth. Then now he loses his health. As you read chapter 3 you can see how depressed Job was. He is totally distraught. Given up. He wishes that no one rejoiced at his birth. The chapter ends not so well. Job 3:26, I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.” If you are experiencing this, the God of the universe is waiting to hear from you. He is ready to grab you and say "Yes, my son or my daughter". Don't let the misery catch you. Instead, let God catch you. Father, so many around me feel so hopeless. I pray your peace over them in spite of their circumstances.

Have you been sick before? Did you ever fall accidentally and hurt yourself? Did someone knock into you while driving? I have experienced all these things. Why do they happen? We can never understand why specifically, but we know that God is still in control. Job had a strong perspective that we should have good and adverse experiences. Job 2:10, But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. I am reminded that with the fall of man we live in an imperfect world that will constantly challenge us physically, emotionally and spiritually. The evil around us never ceases as long as Satan prowls the earth. But God has a destination for Satan, and He does not want us there. The adversities we experience are a reminder of the sin, and our need for God. Job 2:13, So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spok...

Would you like to be the richest person in the world? You may say yes, but you are easily picked out, and you may operate with great fear from possible attacks. You also may have great difficulty helping your children grow with the right attitudes towards authority, work and money. There was once a man who was the richest in the East, he was a Godly man and his name is Job. He had these problems. Job 1:1, There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. I am reminded, yet again like yesterday, that I control very little. But one thing I do control is "doing the right thing". But you cannot do it without the influence and power of God. Your flesh is not capable. You need the power of the Holy Spirit. How do you receive this power? By abiding in Him. You see so many "religious" acting violently to the point of making life threatening statements. Are they abiding in God? Impossible...

Are you remembered in history? In the old days you would have to be of significant prominence to be worth being written about. It took time to write and sometimes copied into multiple copies. When the printing press came, the bible was printed in large quantities. This was the exception. History books were few. Now with the digital age, everyone publishes. History is recorded on the web for virtually nothing and completely searchable. However, in ancient times, when book writing was limited, there was one man that was recorded in the history of the Persian empire, Mordecai (chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia). He became great. Esther 10:3, For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen. His success is due to being in the "right place" at the "right time" with the "right people". How do you ...

Most cultures love to celebrate and it is usually over a meal. In ancient times much of the celebration centers around the end of the harvest, start of a season or year. Some cultures include celebrations during a new moon. There are others that celebrate a great deliverance, and this is what happened when a new celebration, called Purim, was instituted about a month before Passover. Esther 9:28, that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants. Tens of thousands of the enemies of the Jews were killed in these days in reverse to the scheme of Haman. It stopped possibly the biggest slaughter of Jewish people in history before the holocaust during World War 2. The Persian king gave complete liberty to Queen Esther. She was highly favored, even though she is a Jew. Her cousi...

When you read stories of successful people, you read about how many of them came from simple and humble backgrounds to be successful. They became somebody from nobody. Similarly, Mordecai came from being nobody to somebody. He was only recognized for his loyalty some time later. And now he is writing an edict with the full authority of the king. Esther 8:9, So the king’s scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all, to every province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language. In 9 months the Jews were going to be killed. That law cannot be reversed. They had little choice but to formulate a new law that says on the same day the Jews can attack those w...

There is so much going in the world today in the name of race and religion. Even my own country is caught up by this need to protect the preferential treatment of one race and people of a certain faith. On the surface it all looks good for those provided this preference, but it really does not. They are actually worse off. In another context, the Jews were picked on to be annihilated. Esther 7:4, For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king’s loss.” No preference treatment here. They were going to be removed from the face of the earth. How can anybody want to do that? It is inhuman. Only the devil could scheme such things. I believe Haman was possessed by the evil one. In the end he died a tragic death. As Christians we need to look to the Lord for wisdom when affected by preferential treatment or p...

Are you having sleepless nights? Some of my friends use that time to read books. Others, who have the wealth, power and/or liberty, would wake everyone up and read a book to them. This happened to King  Ahasuerus. Esther 6:1, That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. The king was not having a novel read to him. He had the history books of the kingdom read. Anything noteworthy would have been recorded in these books. The King had totally forgotten the details. But God had not. God orchestrated the whole thing so that Mordecai would be exalted at this point in history. I can just imagine Hamon when he was told that he needed to honor Mordecai. It would have been a great embarrassment for him. And now he's about to enter into a banquet hosted by Queen Esther and the story develops with more interesting outcomes. It's amazing how God can use circumstances and turn them around ...

We Malaysians love food. Much of our hospitality is around food. When someone visits, we make sure they do not leave without first being well fed. When I was growing up, this was our practice at home. Sometimes the cooking can go quite late because of late guests and we children have to wait in hunger. There was another great feast about to happen. The king (based on this I see that the king does consume wine eventhough he does not force others to drink) has a banquet of wine with Haman hosted by Queen Esther. Esther 5:6, At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!” Esther now invites them back for a full banquet. Haman is besides himself. He is elated and boasts about his standing with everyone, including the queen. However, he is very disturbed by the presence of Modercai. He is ready to kill him and was urged to build the gallows for him. Esther 5:14, T...

The city was perplexed and Mordecai ran out like a mad man. Wearing only sackcloth and looking grimy from ashes, Mordecai makes a big cry in the middle of town. Esther 4:1, When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry. This scene is repeated throughout the kingdom. I wonder if the king heard this. Or perhaps because no one is allowed to approach him, he does not know. But he will soon know when Esther informs him. A great fast is called for 3 days among the Jews, including Esther's maid servants. Esther is about to embark on a life and death mission to save her people. Esther 4:16, “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” Young lady Esther is c...

Governments around the world are constantly looking at what policies to implement and new laws to enact. Most of these have a positive reason, and most times it is for the long term benefit of the country and its citizens. However, King Ahasuerus issued a law to kill all the Jews in his kingdom in 11 months. Esther 3:6, But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai. All this came about because of one man's anger against another. When you are in power it is sad when you use it for wickedness. The Jews must be celebrating the Passover in some form (assuming they still do it in the 15th day of the first month, Nisan) when they received this news. And now they need to prepare to be no more in about 11 months. What would be your reaction if you were a Jew? Civil action? March the streets? Write to your local leade...

I grew up with many cousins from both sides of the family. But because of my years overseas studying and my busy corporate life, I did not keep up with them much. In a way I wish I did because they all need Jesus. It was especially sad when one cousin passed away without knowing Jesus. However, in history there was a famous pair of cousins where one raised the other and they became very close. Esther 2:7, And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. Esther was given the best beauty treatment of her time. 12 months of it. I am not sure what was actually done, but maybe some of the ladies reading this have done some research on this. But the important reason she got the best was that she pleased the eunuch and found favor. Esther 2:9, Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so ...

The Egyptians had world dominance primarily driven by the abundance of food and surrender of other regions due to famine. After them came the Assyrians, then the Babylonians and then the Persians took great control of the region. In this new book of Esther you can see that the extent of the reported territory is huge. Esther 1:1, Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia). This kingdom had very good laws and even provided for temperance. Alcohol was optional, and I believe this was said because the king was not drunk when he called the queen. Esther 1:8, In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household, that they should do according to each man’s pleasure. In this context a queen disobeyed the most powerful man on earth. He sought counsel from wise men and decided to strip the queen off her position...

I am sure you have heard the expression, when the cat is away the mouse is at play. I remember growing up with a cartoon of how a family of mice would survive daily routines while dodging a cat that seemed to survive many accidents. The people of Israel seemed to have the same problem. When Nehemiah went back to the king, Judah stopped following God's ways. Nehemiah 13:30, Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also assigned duties to the priests and the Levites, each to his service, Nehemiah came back and did some aggressive things to stop the people of Israel from sinning against God. As it says in verse 30, he cleared it all out and brought them back to God. Sad that only Nehemiah could do it. What happened to the other leaders and priests? Poor leadership is probably the best guess. It is very easy to go back to the "easy" ways. What our human flesh desires. We need to do what God desires. And, it is always the best. Father, I need to know from you what is bes...

I love to listen to music that soothes and gives good harmony. There are some music styles that is pure noise. I would not even call them music. One of them is techno music. I get a headache listening to the high pitched music. No offense intended to those that are into it. However, if you review the great music of the world it always has a link to worship. The people of Israel kept good records of their people. As you read the chapter you will see how they took the priestly office very seriously and kept music as an important part of worship. Nehemiah 12:22, During the reign of Darius the Persian, a record was also kept of the Levites and priests who had been heads of their fathers’ houses in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua. Music and singing is a strong part of the Jewish worship. This was recorded as part of the responsibilities of the priests. Nehemiah 12:46, For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise a...

In many cultures where you live determines your standing in society. It reflects either your authority or your financial success. Some make every effort, by hook or by crook, to get there. Sometimes this can stem from human pride and/or greed. Now if you currently live in one of these places, please don't take my statement as a generalization. You be your own judge. In the case of who gets to live in Jerusalem, it was decided in a very civil way. Nehemiah 11:1, Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine-tenths were to dwell in other cities. Jerusalem is the capital. It was also dangerous to live in the capital. Many kingdoms of the day are eyeing this place for conquest. Nehemiah as governor would be staying here. The leaders were acknowledged for their willingness to stay in Jerusalem in spite of the security risk. Nehemiah 11:2, And the people blessed all the men who ...

Have you made a verbal commitment before? Did you stick to it? If you said yes, congratulations. Many today hold lightly to their verbal commitments. And so we need trained lawyers (in the old days there used to be letter writers who did this job) to draft proper agreements that penalize those that break the agreement. In the chapter of Nehemiah that I read yesterday it concluded by saying there was going to make a written agreement to obey the Law of God. Nehemiah 9:38, “And because of all this, We make a sure covenant and write it; Our leaders, our Levites, and our priests seal it.” This Nehemiah generation took obedience for God very seriously. Many details were mentioned in today's reading. I find it very fascinating to see that they talk much about contributions and money. They were ready and willing to give. Nehemiah 10:35, And we made ordinances to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the...

When you discipline children for things they ought not to do, it can get a little exasperating. Why? Because they keep doing it. Why do we not just kick them out of the house and let them loose? Maybe some of you have threatened to do that. The bond of love is too strong. The people of Israel were no different. They continuously sinned against God. They would repent and sin again. Nehemiah 9:35, For they have not served You in their kingdom, Or in the many good things that You gave them, Or in the large and rich land which You set before them; Nor did they turn from their wicked works. God's reaction to all of this is truly amazing. He keeps taking them back. Generation after generation. The people in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra started to dig deep into God's Word. Nehemiah 9:3, And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for one-fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God. The Word...

Have you missed doing something really important? Did you feel bad about it? Were you able to put things right? Did you lie in the process? Or, did you admit your failures and appeal to be able to make it right? This can happen with submission of taxes, bill payments, or a promise you made with or without much thought. The chapter today recaptures a serious moment when the Jews were reminded of the teachings from the Book of the Law. Nehemiah 8:10, Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” The people discovered they missed doing many things, and they were weeping and mourning. But Ezra says to rejoice instead. And, allow the joy of the Lord to become their strength. They had missed doing many things since the days of Joshua. This is sad. One generation was all that was needed to forget the commands of G...

I have mentioned that leaders are easy targets, and rightly so. Most times, when an organization is failing, the problem usually starts with the leader. If you are trying to turnaround a business, start with the leader. Either the person needs to change or they need to be changed. For the people of Israel the choice of those who serve priests was very important. Nehemiah 7:64, These sought their listing among those who were registered by genealogy, but it was not found; therefore they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled. If they failed the needed criteria, they were excluded from serving in the temple. The priesthood is held as a very important office because you are the mediator with God and you need to be in an acceptable position in body, soul and spirit. With Christ's death and resurrection, we are all part of the priesthood. Am I following that role well? Am I in that intimate relationship with God that allows me to be effective as a priest of God? I need that mome...

When you get up there (become a leader), you are an easy target. Everyone sees you. You stand out. Some may enjoy your leadership, some are indifferent, but others wish you failed. Nehemiah from cup bearer to leader of the Jews rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem. Nehemiah faced great opposition. Nehemiah 6:9, For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done.” Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. Where does my help come from? From the maker of heaven and earth. It is not a mere human. We go to the God of the universe. Why settle for less? Nehemiah prayed a simple but effectual prayer. He was given wisdom, boldness and strength. Nehemiah 6:15-16, So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this wo...

If you are a leader, how do you lead? Many are familiar with the term servant leader. Ever wondered where this approach to leadership came from? I am sure you are thinking of many authors who have written on this style of leadership. Nehemiah practiced this as well. Nehemiah 5:15, But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God. Nehemiah ensured that he did not "tax" the people of his constituency to cover his expense as governor. Instead he found his own means. Wow, zero taxes? Yes! Our politicians could learn from this. Including, how to spend within your means. Instead, we make "popular" decisions that costs money to the constituents to keep us in power. The greatest example of servant leadership is Jesus. This is the source of this concept that people have been talking a...

We make choices everyday. Choices for good or bad. You may ask how do you know it was a good choice or a bad one. Choices need to be driven by our God given conscience. The problem is that our spirit man is dead and we fail to hear our God given conscience. Nehemiah made mention that the builders had a mind to work. Nehemiah 4:6, So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. These that committed themselves to build the wall made a wise decision for it. They had a mind to work and nothing could stop them. They were threatened with attack, but they made a choice to keep working. Nehemiah 4:21, So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared. However, it is sad to note that they were probably at 50% efficiency since they had to carry weapons to protect themselves from possible attacks. This is probably true in most of our lives. There is always opposition. So...

Malaysians are generally not the "do it yourself" types. We have been spoilt by cheap labor. The implication of this is that there is no room for unskilled Malaysian labor, delayed investment in mechanization, processes become labor intensive and inefficient, our people become lazy, majority of mothers work, children are brought up by foreigners with poor values, and the next generation is not ready to take the growing nation to the next level. But, we have a great surprise when Nehemiah goes about rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah 3:10, Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs in front of his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabniah made repairs. Nehemiah 3:12, And next to him was Shallum the son of Hallohesh, leader of half the district of Jerusalem; he and his daughters made repairs. Nehemiah 3:22, And after him the priests, the men of the plain, made repairs. All kinds of people, including priests and women were engaged. No hired han...

Are you a salaried employee or wage earner? Under these circumstances you are obligated by contract (written or otherwise) to deliver a service under certain conditions. You do not have freedom to do as you like. For periods in my corporate life I had great freedom to do what I liked but it meant complete reliance on my ability to secure business to support the family. Nehemiah was also an employee. His boss is the king of Persia. Nehemiah 2:18, And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, “Let us rise up and build.” Then they set their hands to this good work. He was a trusted member of the king's household as the cup bearer. He was close not only to the king but the queen. His welfare was important to the king. He had great favor with him due to his quality of work and character. This was an important requirement to get the resources and support he needed to rebuild the walls...

Most times it is only when we are desperate we go back to God. We simply forget Him and do our own things. It is sort of like our families. We only reach out to them when we have struggles. This is the reason why many commit suicide. They have no God or family to go to. But Nehemiah knows that he has a God to go to. Nehemiah 1:9, but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name. Nehemiah repeats God's promise for the people of Israel. Jeremiah prophesied that the people of Israel will be in captivity for 70 years. And now the time of release is near. There is great expectation of something new. Many like Nehemiah serving in the king's courts are sensing the time is near. This is all confirmed by Daniel who served as one of the top leaders in the Persian kingdom. They have a hope and a f...

The best mates are soul mates. Soul mates go deeper than just friendships. You share everything and the relationship is intimate. And so when a man and a women get married, they become one. They are no longer separate. Children form part of the union as they are born. When God looks at us, He sees families. Not individuals. That is His design and ecosystem. This is the reason why God took a serious view of the people of Israel taking foreign wives. Ezra 10:44, All these had taken pagan wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children. The book of Ezra ends with this verse. At the beginning of the last chapter Ezra is crying before God for the sin they had committed. Large numbers, including priests, had done this. Their soul mates were worshiping other gods. They were separated from God for this. Ezra 10:1, Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered t...

In case you are wondering, and some of you know this well enough, my wife is not Indian. She is Chinese. And in case you are wondering, I am not Chinese. Our children will look at you funny if you ask them their race. They may say "human race". But one thing is for sure, we are all children of God. The people of Israel were however told by God not to marry foreigners. They disobeyed. Ezra 9:15, O Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we are left as a remnant, as it is this day. Here we are before You, in our guilt, though no one can stand before You because of this!” Ezra prayed for forgiveness on behalf of the people. He is thankful and seeks God's forgiveness. It was a great wrong because with each foreign marriage they were bringing the worship of other gods into the family and nation. That is how Solomon fell. As 3 of our children move towards the next phase of their lives in the next 1 year, I pray that they seek our blessing for the right spouse. The person ...