If we are told not to forget to forget something. Are we not actually brought to remember what we are told to forget? Yet it is that Torah commands this in Deuteronomy 25:17-19…
 

 
17 Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, 18 how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. 19 Therefore it shall be, when the LORD your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget.

 
Somewhat of an oxymoron, is this not? The Israelites had not yet crossed to the Promised Land. Yet, this command of God to forget Amalek was to be remembered through Torah when they did, as well as why.
 

Amalak is remembered a number of times in Torah…

Genesis 36:12-16

12 Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife. 13 These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. 14 These were the sons of Aholibamah, Esau’s wife, the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon. And she bore to Esau: Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. 15 These were the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn son of Esau, were Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz, 16 Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, and Chief Amalek. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the sons of Adah.

Exodus 17:8-16

8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner; 16 for he said, “Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Numbers 24:20

Then he looked on Amalek, and he took up his oracle and said:
“Amalek was first among the nations, but shall be last until he perishes.”

Amalek is also brought to not being forgotten due to the Holy Bible mentions of him in the book of Judges together with mention of the Amalekites.
 

Actually, it is that Amalek is not supposed to be remembered in a positive way. This is how Amalek is to be forgotten.

This is not exactly what the Holy Bible says…

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. – Matthew 5:22 (NASB)

Being angry is more common than most people want to admit about themselves. Do we face the judgment to be doomed to eternal torment for it?   Actually, no.

So, the Bible says I still go to “the court” for being angry? You should read about how this is said in the King James Version Bible (and those versions like it)…
 

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. – Matthew 5:22 (KJV)

Actually, the Bible does says not only that we are allowed to get angry. We are actually commanded to be angry.

Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, – Ephesians 4:26 (NASB)

Jesus Himself showed His anger when the Temple was used for profit gain. It was not the key region of the temple but rather the money changing was done in the outer Court of the Gentiles.

Thus, the gentiles were hindered from worshipping God at the Temple. This is what made Jesus angry. Are you saying that Jesus did not have a cause for being angry? Are you saying that Jesus sinned? We do NOT go to Hell for having a righteous cause for getting angry. Also, through faith in Jesus we receive the forgiveness of sins.
 

John 2:13-16 (KJV)…

13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
 

 
Yes, it is true that God gets angry and He will be angry with you if you will not repent and place your trusting faith in His Son Jesus to be saved…
 

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. – John 3:36 (KJV)
 

 
Feeling unwelcome by family is uncomfortable and certainly it is not pleasant to be disliked by your own of whom you expect to be loved. Still, if you are willing to admit it, you should realize that people can become irritating without even being aware of it due to their own behavior they are not acute to. Yet, is such the way for believers in Jesus over what may be accounted as trivial matters?
 

My mother and father used to find this prayer humorous, reading this to each other and our aunt and uncle. No, my family members were not discourteous with each other. The contest would be among them to be able to read and/or hear this prayer without laughing. They did find it difficult not to laugh.

 

 
This prayer is by Walter L. Cook…
 

O Lord, they will be driving into the yard any minute. There is no welcome for them in my heart. The conversation sill drag and there will be awkward silences. Why is it that those who are closest to us in kinship are often farthest from us in spirit, those we should know best are most difficult to understand?
 

Forgive me, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. If at first I cannot be cordial, at least may I be courteous. While the visit lasts I pray that I may show no evidence of boredom or irritation. Give me a hospitable heart and teach me that I should be gracious and responsive. Help me to find some common ground with my visitors upon which friendship and companionship may be established. Amen.
 

 
Is this the way you truly wish for you and your home? …

“Be sure you wipe your feet first before you go.”
 

 
Matthew 10:12-15 says…
 

“And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.”
 

 

Have you ever read the Book of Job in the Bible?
I did many times. This is how the book begins…

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. – Job 1:1 (NKJV)

Has this thought ever come into your mind reading this? That instead of thinking about the “land of Uz” you recall the movie, “The Wizard of Oz”? This has happened to me many times actually. Uz actually is not a mythical place, though. It resided in the land of Edom. (See Lam. 4:21)
 

I, myself, could just not resist making a comparison to notice the similarities and contrasts of Job from the Holy Bible with Dorothy from Kansas in the Wizard of Oz. Did you ever notice this yourselves? Let us discuss this if we may.

Job went through some terrible difficulties with the loss of his family with a tremendous loss of health and property. Dorothy was separated from her family and cried out for them. While others may have looked like people she knew, there was no one in Oz that looked like her mother and father.
 

Dorothy quickly became familiar with the Wicked Witch of the West whose sister was slain by her home. Yet, Job did not know it was the devil bringing accusations against him…

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”- Job 2:1-2 (NKJV)

Dorothy’s difficulties being swept so far away into the colorful land of Oz, however, was not a lonesome experience. She made three friends, namely, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. Likewise, Job had three friends who came close to him…

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him.
– Job 2:11 (NKJV)

Dorothy’s three friends did not have everything in common with Job’s three comforters.
Let us observe below…

Eliphaz the Temanite was the first to speak to Job saying…

“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off? Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.
– Job 4:7-8 (NKJV)

I suppose that both Job and Dorothy were innocent. Let us read more.
 

Then followed the next of Job’s comforters…

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
“How long will you speak these things, and the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? Does God subvert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice? If your sons have sinned against Him, He has cast them away for their transgression.
– Job 8:1-4 (NKJV)

The last of the three was Zophar the Naamathite…

Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you? For you have said, ‘My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in your eyes.’ But oh, that God would speak, and open His lips against you, that He would show you the secrets of wisdom! – Job 11:3-6a (NKJV)

Job replies to his comforters…

“No doubt you are the people, And wisdom will die with you!
– Job 12:2

“I have heard many such things; Miserable comforters are you all!
– Job 16:2

True! Dorothy’s companions are not quite like Job’s comforters, yet you should realize and admit, though, that Job’s comforters did pick at straws, have an axe to grind, and roar in ignorant fear.
 

Dorothy was comforted by her dog Toto while Job needed to beware of the bite from the young man Elihu…

So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
– Job 32:1-3 (NKJV)

Dorothy was finally able to look behind the curtain to see the Wizard of Oz. Similarly, Job was able, remarkably enough, to see God!

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
– Job 42:5-6 (NKJV)

Finally, Dorothy was sent back to Kansas by the Good Witch of the East where there’s no place like home. Job was also restored by God…
 

“Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So Job died, old and full of days. – Job 42:12-17 (NKJV)

I know it does seem quite unusual, now doesn’t it? There are similarities that do show between these two differing individuals. Though it is that Job was real and Dorothy a mere fiction. People have had ways of relating to the character of Dorothy watching the movie but especially about relating with the person of Job in our lives. Though yet, Job is not for everyone, Dorothy.

Still, not such an unusual theme, now is it? My apologies if you will not be able to view the Book of Job, nor the movie of “The Wizard of Oz”, in the same light again.
 

I was asked this question about this product… “Does this look like cereal to you?”
 

 
Well, of course it looks like cereal to me.
Do I dare ask what you think it looks like?
We need to beware lest our imaginations run wild.
 

Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
– Matthew 12:34-35 (NKJV)
 

This is actually a fine tasting cereal, may I say.
 

King David gave this advice to his son who would be the next king of Israel…

As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.
– 1 Chronicles 28:9 (NKJV)
 

Make this your prayer in Jesus’ name…

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
– Psalm 19:14 (NKJV)
 

Study the Word of God, the Holy Bible, and have your mind renewed…

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
– Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
 

Raise up a defense!

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
– 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV)
 

Finally…

Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. – Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)

 
Hebrews 1:1-4 (NKJV)
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Hebrews 2:1-4 (NKJV)
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

Hebrews 3:1-6 (NKJV)
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NKJV)
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
 

Hebrews 5:7-10 (NKJV)
who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”

Hebrews 6:19-20 (NKJV)
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:26-28 (NKJV)
For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

Hebrews 8:1-6 (NKJV)
Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

Hebrews 9:24-28 (NKJV)
For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Hebrews 10:11-16 (NKJV)
And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJV)
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Find out about Principles you should know from the Hebrew Scriptures.

Where in the Scriptures does it say there were only ten plagues coming upon the Egyptians? What I find is that there were eleven plagues. This additional plague is not normally counted as a plague. Yet God said that He would bring “one more plague”. There is a plague mentioned between the usually counted ninth plague and commonly spoken of tenth plague upon the Egyptians that the Holy Bible speaks about. This plague is commonly counted as part of the tenth plague yet it is as a unique plague. Though mentioned before the death of the firstborn, it happens after. Let us read the Biblical mention of this often excluded plague…
 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether. Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver and jewels of gold.” – Exodus 11:1-2 (KJV)

NO!  The plague after the darkness that came upon Egypt was not simply the death of the firstborn of the Egyptians. It was the “borrowing” of silver and gold jewelry from the Egyptians. Have you never read this before? How did you miss it? It is said in the passage that God told the Jews to borrow this jewelry. Well, did they? What you find is that the Jews did borrow the jewelry but they never returned to Egypt to return what they borrowed. There is a term describing such borrowing of items from someone’s house and not returning them. The term is “Tingo”.
 

According to Adam Jacot de Boinod, the author of the book “The Meaning of Tingo”, we read…
 

“It’s called ‘The Meaning of Tingo’ and it’s about all the world’s most extraordinary, telling, thought-provoking, culturally informative, funny, wacky and bizarre words. TINGO itself is from Easter Island, and it means to borrow objects from a friend’s home one-by-one until there is nothing left.”

Sounds like a game now doesn’t it? Like Bingo! Yet, it was no game for the Egyptians. Still, the Jews certainly found it fun! Wouldn’t you? Still, I cannot say that the Jews did everything God told them to do about this. They never returned what they borrowed, did they now? With the laws of inheritance disrupted by the death of the Egyptian firstborn this could have become complicated for restitution.
 

I am only speaking about what is actually written or not written in the Bible. I see what can be called the eleventh plague coming upon the Egyptians in Scripture but I do not see a mention in the Bible that there were only ten plagues.
 

However, what I see is that when God said He would bring “one more plague”, that He would bring an additional plague besides the other ten, namely, the financial plague of the borrowing. Pharaoh thrusted the Israelites out of Egypt after the death of the Egyptian firstborn, resulting in the “borrowing” plague. This is not necessarily the case but is another way of seeing it.
 

And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:  And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required.  And they spoiled the Egyptians. – Exodus 12:35-36 (NKJV)

The Jews received from the Egyptians the silver and gold. Yet, what kind of plague upon Egypt was “Tingo”? It was a financial plague. You never heard of a financial plague in the Bible before? Read Revelation 18:8-19 (NKJV) of another financial plague…
 

⁸ Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. ⁹ “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, ¹⁰ standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’ ¹¹ “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: ¹² merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; ¹³ and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. ¹⁴ The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. ¹⁵ The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, ¹⁶ and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! ¹⁷ For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance ¹⁸ and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’ ¹⁹ “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’

I am not adding to the word of God by citing about the command of God for the Jews to “borrow” from the Egyptians. This is mentioned in Scripture and it is among the plagues that came upon Egypt. What is being sought here is to reveal the whole testimony of the Word of God. This is to address issues like when there is a list of the Ten Commandments. How often we need to quote what the Roman Catholic Church commonly leaves out, namely, Exodus 20:4-6…
 

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

We see, therefore, that the financial plague of the “borrowing” of the riches of the Egyptians by the Jews was commanded by God and was a plague counted together with the 10th plague upon Egypt during the time of Moses. It maybe referred together with the tenth plague yet acts as plague of its own and frequently unmentioned. Certainly not referred to as a plague, though perhaps should be as the eleventh plague.
 

During the Passover Seder, this plague is not spoken. Should you attend a Jewish Passover, as you mention each plague as you spill a small drop of wine, just after you all mention the tenth plague, saying “death of the firstborn”, shout “TINGO!”
 

No, I do not speak about goats here from my own personal experience. Actually, this is what happened to someone which the Holy Bible speaks on. It was Samson, the son of Manoah, that came up with this to help smooth out his own marriage problems. Often when we hear about Samson we are told only about Delilah. Who we do not hear often about is Samson’s wife.

Do you suppose that perhaps it worked? To bring a goat to the bedroom? As odd as that sounds, let us first get some background about this…

Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.” – Judges 14:1-2 (NKJV)

 
After marrying this Philistine woman, Samson held a common seven-day feast afterward. Then, he posed a riddle to his Philistine guests with a bet of clothing. They could not solve the riddle, therefore they threatened Samson’s wife with a death threat to her own family for her to find out the answer to the riddle and tell them. Samson’s wife pestered Samson until he told her the answer to the riddle. She then told the Philistine young men who later replied correctly to Samson.
 
Samson perceiving they got the answer from his wife resulted in Samson staying away from his wife for a short season.

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave the changes of clothing, to those who had explained the riddle. So his anger was aroused, and he went back up to his father’s house. – Judges 14:19 (NKJV)

 
This was just the beginning of Samson lashing out vengeance against the Philistines. It continued on again and again afterwards. This was all before he ever later met Delilah. A read of Judges chapter 14 will tell you the details of this event with his wife. Unknown to Samson until later, this happened… 

And Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man. – Judges 14:20 (NKJV)

 
After this, the sordid tale continues when Samson returns with a present for his wife. Yes, a goat!
 
Please read this verse carefully…

After a while, in the time of wheat harvest, it happened that Samson visited his wife with a young goat. And he said, “Let me go in to my wife, into her room.” But her father would not permit him to go in.
– Judges 15:1 (NKJV)
 

Wait a minute! Samson wanted to go into his wife’s room with the goat?
 

 

The strange part of this verse is that you never hear about Samson first placing the goat in the corral outside the house or anything like that. Apparently, Samson wanted to bring the goat kid into the house and even into the bedroom! Hey, did you ever have a sharp disagreement with your wife and think of some strange way to seek to patch things? It seems as though Samson’s solution to this was a bit kinky.
 

Her father said, “I really thought that you thoroughly hated her; therefore I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister better than she? Please, take her instead.” And Samson said to them, “This time I shall be blameless regarding the Philistines if I harm them!” – Judges 15:2-3 (NKJV)

 
This romantic(?) reunion of Samson with his wife never happened. Samson lashed out revenge against the Philistines by burning their standing grain with another one of his unusual ways…

 

Then Samson went and caught three hundred foxes; and he took torches, turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails. When he had set the torches on fire, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up both the shocks and the standing grain, as well as the vineyards and olive groves.

 
The Philistines did not like this, yet they considered that Samson did have grounds for his vengeance. In order to still Samson’s temper on the matter, the Philistines thought they would take control of the matter. At least that is what they thought. Would what the Philistines did next satisfy Samson? Let us see…
 

Then the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” And they answered, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.” So the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire. – Judges 15:6 (NKJV)

 
The Philistines did not burn the father’s new son-in-law who also committed the adultery together with Samson’s wife. Perhaps the Philistines should have thought of burning him instead? There was no mention about him getting fried. Maybe he would just move on and just find some other man’s wife to marry. This got Samson so outraged that he slew a thousand of the Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey.
 
My friends, there are better ways to handle marriage issues regarding intimacy and fidelity than performing extremes.
Consequentially, you also don’t need a goat…
 

1 It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
– 1 Corinthians 7:1-5 (NKJV)

Are you still Feeling crabby? Learn the secret to a happy marriage…

Various people have wanted and even gotten some very significant changes made in their lives.
Yet some changes cannot be made, such as…

What?! You want to change the place where you were born? Are you kidding?
You were born where you were and that does not change. That is right, I cannot change where I was born and neither can you.
 

Well, you may ask people who are in charge of records but they will turn you down. These are legal documents and proof of who you are. Perhaps, with a great amount of evidence you may be able to prove you were born somewhere else and to have this changed in birth documents. Still, it would remain quite difficult to get this corrected. Nonetheless, you were born where you were and that does not change even if records were adjusted to your own personal preference. You do NOT have a new birth place!
 

If the issue is simply about records and you are serious to get matters set straightly accurate, feel free to see this link. However, if you are just trying to change the established matters of your life, awaken to the reality. In life you can change the color of your hair, find ways to make yourself appear taller, work your way up to change your status in life. You may even modify the color of your skin and have an operation to become the opposite gender but you cannot change where you were born. Oh, you may try to fool some people but you are still the person born where you were and when you were. It is immutable.
 

For example if, hypothetically, you were living in and you were really born somewhere else, you aren’t born in just because you currently live there. Where you were born does not change in life. Also, be aware that the age you are today is how old you truly are. No matter how you make yourself appear to others does not change the reality of how old you really are. Sorry!
 

Yet, there have been people who have sought such a change for themselves. Perhaps even such as Barack Obama.

 
To this day, there remains the question as to where he was actually born. Birth certificates found for him were shown as forgeries. Were any of them legitimate? Was he actually born in the United States? For if he was born outside, he would not be qualified by U.S. Constitutional law to become the President of the United States.
 

 
 
There have been people who have sought such a change for others, such as what the Book of Mormon says regarding the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

The Book of Mormon (no, not the play) says…

And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God. – Alma 7:10

The Holy Bible clearly states that Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem…

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting. – Micah 5:2 (NKJV)

Messiah actually was NOT born in Jerusalem. Everyone knows that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem is five miles away from Jerusalem.

There have been people who have sought such a change for with fictious people such as the character “Rudy” in the movie “Born in East L.A.”

Rudy was deported from the United States as an illegal immigrant when he was really born in East L.A.
It was tricky for him to get back into the United States and get his identification to prove himself, yet he did.

Is there something you are seeking to hide about your life from public view?
Are you living honestly in the sight of God?
 

 
The lesson from the Lord to be learned here is…

Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. – 1 Corinthians 7:20 (NKJV)

Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.
– 1 Corinthians 7:24 (NKJV)

Like a bird that wanders from its nest
Is a man who wanders from his place.
– Proverbs 27:8 (NKJV)

Do you need immediate help? Yes, you can get this from God. Yet, take care since the quickest and fastest provided answers in the world are not always the best ones. I knew about a young woman who did not want to pray to God but to pray to Satan instead because she says that the devil at least was fast. She may get a quick answer but it will certainly not work out for her best. The painful repercussions will eventually or even soon follow.   So, how do you get help from God fast?   We must not forget the word fast!
 

It is not that God is slow. He is rather quickly working out the details for a much larger grand scheme…

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
– Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

There are a lot of different kinds of prayer to God but there is one kind of prayer that God answers fast. In fact, it puts in the dust behind it all other kinds of prayer the speed it gets answered. It is called “Desperate Prayer”.

The problem of our prayers getting answered is often to our own lack of humility. When you seek to become humble, the difficulty is, you find yourself becoming proud. Are we becoming proud of our own humility? Hence the “Catch-22” of it and the trap we fall into.

However, when we are desperate, there is no question of our humility…

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
– James 4:10 (NKJV)

Unquestionably, this IS the way to quick answers in prayer but read more!

When I was a new Christian, there was a time when I was seeking God for help and not noticing any answers. Then matters went from bad to worse. I became desperate and called on God in Jesus’ name and there was God answering on the spot! He was even speaking loud and clear with me. I then said to God, “Thank you God but what took you so long? I have been calling out to you for a long time, again and again, yet you gave me no answer. Now you are finally listening! Again, what took you so long?” Then the Lord’s reply stunned me. He said,“That is what I have been saying to you all this time.”
 

The issue is NOT that God is poor at hearing. Nor is the issue that He is not answering prayer. He is speaking to those who believe in Him. God speaks all the time. It is we who have the problem listening for God. When we become desperate, though, we are quite attuned to listening for Him. Still, do we need to bring ourselves to such desperation for ourselves to listen to God? No, what we need to do is to simply get quiet, trust Him, and listen for Him.

Is there perhaps some sticky issue in your life and you do not know what it is that you need to bring to God first? Oh, be sure you do not neglect such issues. Repent!

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you,
so that He will not hear. – Isaiah 59:1-2 (NKJV)

If there may yet be an issue at hand, that is not easily dealt with, then FAST. You didn’t forget that word, now did you? That’s right, abstain from food for a short season. Just three days should be enough. It may startle you to see God answer within even a day!

Have you ever watched Popeye cartoons on television or on the internet? For nine minutes of the ten minute cartoon Popeye gets beaten up or just having problems with Brutus. It goes on and on until Popeye gets so frustrated that he says, “That’s all I can stands. I can stands no more!”   Popeye then takes the can of spinach, squeezes it open, eats the spinach, beats up Brutus and blows away the problem. How easy that was!

The question is,“What took Popeye so long?” Why couldn’t Popeye have eaten the can of spinach in the first minute of the cartoon and get rid of the problem right then? I don’t know. Maybe he didn’t like the taste of spinach. The point is, how long will it take for us, putting up with our own problems until we fast before God with faith in His Son Jesus and blow away our own problems?
 

God’s help is ready and available.

Yet remain cool if there still needs to be a wait…

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. – 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV)

Why might that be?

Hebrews 10:35-39 (KJV)
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

 
Does God yet seem far away from you?
Go to the next step… Pull the curtain, there He is! GOD!