"Those who look to Him(Jesus) are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame" (Ps 34:5)
Embarrassment or Humiliation is a worse yet strong feeling in one's life that lowers the person's mental and emotional ability. The trauma caused as a result is always subjected to the victim's inner personality. A lot of times, people who are considered to be strong in faith collapse in such a situation. Often people handle it by reacting violently towards an oppressor or a situation. they choose to fight back verbally, some people start to tear out, some stops talking to such people, while some other come to a hopeless conclusion. Many characters in the Bible too faced such indignity, however, some faced it within the family and rest from the outsiders. what are the situations people go through dishonors? From the scripture, the circumstances included, when the chosen men/women lacked certain blessings, for a failure in a battle, for a weak personality, for a darker skin tone, for being righteous, and finally when they sinned.
The bible records a couple in the New Testament named Zechariah and Elizabeth. Zechariah comes into the division of Abijah and his wife Elizabeth was the daughter of Aaron the Priest. They lived righteously before the Lord God of Israel obeying His commandments through Moses. Zechariah served as a Priest in the Holy temple for many long years. Although they lived blamelessly in the sight of God, they had no children as Elizabeth was barren and they are old. I wonder the number of times, they prayed to God for a baby. If we look around, both ancient and modern society considers infertility to be a misfortune or a stroke of bad luck. Many families choose to abandon the childless woman or get the man married to another woman. And it is heartbreaking to witness such pitiful moments women around go through. But thanks to Zechariah, Zechariah was always by the side of Elizabeth. As they are old now, I assume that they would have probably stopped praying for the child but remained true to God. Zechariah doing his priesthood sincerely and Elizabeth supports her husband in everything.
Sometimes, God's bigger plans/visions for us demands such loyalty and trust. People pray to God for a year, and two wait patiently before Him for an answer, and when it delays, they soon find various other ideas and move on. Onto Zechariah, God decides to answer the couple's prayers in an unexpected moment in their lives. Let me remind you, that God hears every prayer offered to Him. It may be on our knees for hours or it could be tiny whispers from within, God listens to every thought, every desire we tell Him, and every tear of soul. It could have been submitted to Him yesterday, or years back but God never forgets it. So, God blessed Elizabeth to conceive a baby boy in her ripe age who was named John, John the Baptist. She declared, " The Lord has done this for me, in these days, he has shown His favor and taken away my disgrace among the people." (Luke 1:25)
There lived a man called Jephthah, who was a mighty warrior (Jud 11:1). Although he was a strong personality outside, Jephthah was put - down all his life because of his prostitute mother. Jephthah embodied disgrace even as he lived a righteous life. He was mocked by his half brothers and they drove Jephthah away without granting any of his father's inheritance. His rights were not given to him and were misused by the elders and his brothers. Unable to bear the shame, he ran away from his father's home into the land of Tob. At times, we ought to live in discredit for somebody's mistake or someone else sins. However do not worry, because God is a God of Justice. He is not going to punish us, criticize us, or withheld the blessings for others' immorality.
Although, Jephthah couldn't validate his integrity to others God never left Jephthah's side. God waited for a perfect opportunity to turn Jephthah's life. It was during the days when Ammonites rose and were fighting against Israel, To save the country, the elders who knew Jephthah came running to seek his help to fight against Ammonites as Jephthah was the only warrior at that period. All who teased Jephthah now offered him to be their lead-head over them if he will save the Israelites from Ammon. Hence, agreeing to the offer made, Jephthah made sure to inform everything before the Lord in Mizpah before planning. When things didn't go the way he wanted, as he insisted to go in peace with the opponent king, Jephthah went to war. The spirit of the Lord came on him, He(Jephthah) devastated twenty towns of Ammonites and thus Israel subdued Ammon. Thus The God who Jephthah served detached the shame in his life and blessed him in Honor. In fact, God made him shine like a radiant star by adding his name to the list: " the clouds of witness ". for us to believe Him(God) just like Jephthah did(Heb 11)
God, sent His only Son who was and is at His right throne in all majesty and glory to the earth as an atonement. Lord Jesus to whom the millions of angels served, the heavenly bodies praised, the saints humbled and bowed lived His entire life in rejection. He was mocked by the people, filled with griefs and sorrows. Yet, on the cross, He brought us victory and purchased us by giving His own life. Looking onto this savior, we too will be glorified and victorious.
Roman 8:29,30 says "Those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
Do not worry my dear beloveds in Christ, God will indeed answer your prayers and will honor you and your family among the people.
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