Sreedhar's Journey

Are you the oldest child in the family? You probably became the learning child for your parents. Parenting is not easy and it is learnt mostly on the job. My wife and I are both first born. In the Jewish tradition the first born is dedicated to the Lord because the firstborns were saved when the plague of death came in Egypt. Numbers 3:13, because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the Lord.” God is looking for firstborns in every family in the spiritual sense as well. When you come to discover the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ, you become born again. You are reborn in the spirit. In the process you may be first of your entire family to come to the Lord. Then you are the firstborn. God is looking for firstborns in every family. Would you be the one? Father, help us to bless every family on earth. None missed out. L...

My first visit to New York City was in 1990. It was quite an eye opener. A Brazilian colleague followed me for the trip. One of the things I discovered was how organized the streets were. There were avenues and streets. They were all numbered. Streets run east west and avenues go north south. The people of Israel were also well organized. Numbers 2:34, Thus the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses; so they camped by their standards and so they broke camp, each one by his family, according to their fathers’ houses. The Levites dwelt around the tabernacle, while the rest of the tribes were on different sides of the tabernacle. Just like New York City, you can figure out where you are in relation to the tabernacle based on which tribe you are with. And just like a street sign, each tribe had a standard, a flag or banner. Are you lost in the crowd? Just check who you are with and check the flag. But one thing is constant. The tabernacle is in the cen...

I have fond memories of my days in management consulting. One of the things I remember was dealing with the Statistics Department and the Government agencies like the Economic Planning Unit that rely on them to plan for the country. I was privileged as a young man to deal with some very senior government people in the 80's and 90's in this regard. One of the things they did was run a periodic census of the country. The people of Israel did the same in the desert. Numbers 1:46, all who were numbered were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty. Moses led 603,550 men of fighting age (20 years and older) not including the Levites, women and the younger people. The largest tribe was Judah, from which comes the lineage for King David and Jesus. This is no small number to be moving in the wilderness. The logistics involved is no small thing. Only God could keep them together. He also gave detailed instructions on the matter of the tabernacle. Numbers 1:50, but you sh...

Since I started blogging my journals publicly I have mentioned the term counter culture a number of times. Yesterday, at church while talking about giving I used the same term. Jesus, as He preached the sermon on the mount, He shared on some counter culture stuff. Love your enemies. Go the extra mile. Do not resist an evil person. Moses got some tough instructions as well. Leviticus 27:32, And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord. Everything you have you can decide what you want to do as a good steward of what God has given you, but the tenth is without question, God's. This is what we call the tithe. The Lord has clear plans for what we own and how we manage it. Our role as His children is to submit these to the Lord and allow Him to bless us exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think. God's economy is different. This is not zakat. This is the ten percent. The tithe. It is counted ...

When I was growing up there were many things we were told to do and others that we were to refrain from. Because I grew up in a Hindu home, much superstition was used to scare us into compliance. It was simple things like don't swing the door, and don't cut your nails after dark. Moses got clear instructions from the Lord for the people of Israel on how they were to maintain a right relationship with God. Leviticus 26:1, You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the Lord your God. This was first thing repeated for the people of Israel. The peoples all around them and even their forefather Abraham's relatives worshiped idols. But here clear instruction is given. The blessings for obedience is great. You can read it in the chapter. But, disobedience will yield dire consequences. Leviticus 26:25, And I will bring a swor...

In my undergraduate and graduate study years I did some economics and finance subjects. Much of what is studied are various theories based on historical observations. This influences most government policy makers around the world for the economic well-being of their country. However, it would be interesting to see how the economic plan given by God to the people of Israel would work today. Leviticus 25:2, Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the Lord. The starting point is understanding the Sabbath rest for the land every 7 years. Which means every land in Israel stops producing crop for sale. The fruit of the land is only gathered for the landowner's, his family and servants' consumption. And every 50th year there is an extra Sabbath year where everything is automatically redeemed without any payment. Land and slaves or servants. Leviticus 25:28, But if he is not able to have i...

Many cultures have a deep reverence for Godly things. This is only natural since this involves worship of a being that has authority over your life and well-being. People of Israel were no different and they had to seek God to understand what they should do when someone shows irreverence to God. Leviticus 24:12, Then they put him in custody, that the mind of the Lord might be shown to them. They did the right thing since they have never been told what to do under such circumstances. They sought the Lord. I need to do the same when I am faced with a new situation. The wisdom of God needs to be sought. James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. This is no simple matter. We need to pray that we are always guided by His wisdom. Father, guide me each day with your wisdom. I need Godly wisdom, not human.