Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

The first mention of the word table in the Bible is in Exodus 25:23: “Thou shalt also make a table of shittim (acacia) wood.”

This table was to hold the shewbread. The table also represented the sinless humanity of Jesus Christ who is the true Bread of Heaven. This wood was resistant to decay, corruption, and disease.

Men, we do not know if Adam and Eve gave any counsel to Cain and Abel concerning how to establish a personal relationship with God through the offering of blood sacrifices. If they did, we can’t help wonder why Cain expected God to have the same respect to his bloodless offering of the fruit of the ground as God showed to Abel’s blood offering of “the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof” (Genesis 4:4).

I believe it is important for fathers to instruct their children on the importance of establishing daily communion with God our Father, through the blood of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 38:19 says: “The father to the children shall make known thy truth.” It seems strange that many accept the great sacrifice of all sacrifices that God Himself provided for man, i.e. the offering of His Only Begotten Son (John 3:16) and yet do not use this great sacrifice to establish a daily prayer life and communion with God.

During the incident of man’s fall in the garden of Eden and God’s encounter with both Adam and Eve, I do not see any sign of remorse, godly sorrow, or repentance. It seems that Adam and Eve took their judgment as final, e.g. what they deserved for their disobedience. It is sad that we do not read that they ever earnestly sought to establish any sort of renewed relationship with God.

Even though God drove them out of the Garden of Eden, in His love He never completely withdrew His presence from them. His presence was still with them even though we do not read about them seeking, petitioning, or calling upon Him for a closer walk.

The tabernacle is a tangible type of God’s redeeming love in restoring fellowship and communion with man back to Himself. Adam and Eve experienced fellowship and communion with God, their Father and Creator, before they succumbed to the devil’s temptation to partake of the forbidden fruit.

God warned them not to partake when He told them in Genesis 2:17: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shall surely die.” When they ate, they did not die physically, but spiritually.

It is an amazing truth that our most High God desires to fellowship and commune with His creation that so greatly sinned, but have now been redeemed by the blood of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. It was indeed an amazing price to pay--to plan the death of His Only Son to re-establish the sweet communion He once had with man in the Garden of Eden.

How wonderful the Garden of Eden must have been? It was created as an environment for beautiful, pure fellowship, not only for the man and his wife, but also for God and His precious communion with Adam and Eve.

This table was made of acacia wood (shittim wood) and overlaid with pure gold (Exodus 25:23). The wood speaks of the sinless humanity of Jesus Christ. The Septuagint calls it “incorruptible wood.” The prophetic word in Isaiah 53 tells us that Jesus is “a root out of a dry ground.” Zechariah 6:12 calls him the Branch: “Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place.”

Jesus’ humanity is overlaid with pure gold speaking of His divine nature. He was “God manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16).

My wife, Nancy and I have now returned from four weeks away, ministering in The Netherlands, Belgium, and Poland. It was a busy and blessed time, but we are always glad to back home amongst our family.

We were kept very busy with often several one-hour sessions per day each. In Poland we both spoke at 18 different speaking sessions with 16 different interpreters between us! We counted it an honor to share with these precious people in these countries. God gave us strength to give it our very best effort in both small and larger gatherings. The people were all very friendly and looked after us very well. We give God all the glory and continue to pray that He will cause good fruit to spring forth in the hearts of all the hearers.

Amid the cares of married strife
In spite of toil and business life
If you value your dear wife—
Tell her so!

Now that you’re a father,
There’s some things that you should know,
The way you walk from now on
Is the way your child will go!
And he’s going to follow you
To find out just what is the best
And what is good and true.
 
His little eyes will watch you
In everything you do.
His little hands will copy
And his feet will follow you;
You’re his brave and fearless hero,
The one he loves the best.
Stand firm and strong, please, daddy,
‘Cause he’ll put you to the test.
 
He’ll make you feel so happy—
Your heart will burst with pride,
And deep down you’ll be feeling
A love you cannot hide;
Then sometimes he’ll be naughty
And you’ll have to spank him too,
But even then he’ll trust you
‘Cause he so depends on you.
 
His mind is very active,
And his memory’s extra good,
So be careful how you teach him
To do the things he should.
You’re setting an example
In all you say and do,
For the little boy who’s waiting
To grow up to be like you.
 
By G. Gallon

We best oppose error by promoting a solid knowledge of the Word of Truth.

~ Matthew Henry

A father’s hands are gentle,

A father’s hands are strong,

Guiding, helping, teaching,

Showing right from wrong.

The protection of a father’s hand

And the love that’s in their touch

Give the feeling of security

A child needs so much.

And although they may be rough from toil,

A child still understands

How much of life’s true beauty

Comes from a father’s hands.

~ Anonymous

“To feel his little hand in mine,

So clinging and so warm,

To know he thinks me strong enough

To keep him safe from harm:

To see his simple faith in all

That I say and do;

It sort o’ shames a fellow,

But it makes him better, too.

And I’m trying hard to be that man

He fancies me to be,

Because I have this chap at home

Who thinks the world of me.

I would not disappoint his trust

For anything on earth,

Nor let him know how little I

Just naturally am worth.

But after all, it’s easier

That brighter road to climb,

With the little hands behind me

To push me all the time.

And I reckon I’m a better man

Than what I used to be

Because I have this chap at home

Who thinks the world of me.”

~ Anonymous

When the pace seems slow

And few there be to care or know

That the world’s crept in the doors

And slackened every godly cause,

When folks no longer want to pray

And seek the Lord to know His way,

For sloth and ease have broken in

And robbed the church of the power to win,

Then do not let this crippling sin

Take hold of you and lock you in.

Buckle up as ne’er before,

Take hold of heaven and knock its door.

Smash every tendency to be

Like others around who cannot see.

When the tempting battle gets to boilin’

Treat the world as deadly poison!

No matter how many may be your foes,

They will never stand your knockout blows.

When all around are misbehaving,

Sound the trumpet with banners waving.

Though the world and devils around may scoff

Just lift your sword and write them off.

There’s no time for messing about,

Tell the lazy ones, “Stop being a lout!”

For there will be a sure reward

For those who diligently seek the Lord.

It’s true you see, the surest way to victory

Is always on the bended knee.

By COLIN CAMPBELL

Somehow a fellow can’t express

The feelings he has had,

While through the years he’s walked and talked

And laughed and played with Dad.

He cannot put in words the love,

The pride that wells within,

The admiration in his heart

Whene’er Dad looks at him.

Dad is the hero of his dreams,

This king upon the throne;

The pattern for that ideal life

Which he would make his own.

He knows that Dad well understands

The conflicts in his breast,

And shares the problems he must face

Though often unexpressed.

The pressure of his Dad’s strong hand,

The look deep in his eyes,

Speaks volumes to a fellow’s heart,

When cares of life arise.

And when he kneels with Dad in prayer

Before the throne of grace,

The glory of the unseen world

Illumines all the place.

How could a fellow go astray

Who with his Dad has stood,

Within the secret place of prayer—

Before a holy God!

And this my constant prayer shall be,

Until this life is done,

My conduct here shall honor him

Who proudly calls me, “son.”

~ Anonymous

Painting by Daniel Garhantz

Right from the beginning and down through the ages

God revealed Himself through prophets and sages,

But He waited until the fullness of time

To show the whole world what was most in His mind.

Though God is high and very great

And through His power the world has state,

Yet above all this He wanted rather

To show the whole world that he is a Father.

God sent His well-beloved Son

To reveal Himself in a world undone,

If you have ears to listen you will hear Him say

So much of His Father in a very proud way.

Father keeps every promise to me, His Son,

He will never fail one word, no not one,

His discipline strong has a purpose you see.

For righteous character to be formed in Me.

My Father’s a teacher, a Vinedresser too,

He hears me and tells me what I am to do,

My Father protects, never leaves me alone,

I’m so one with my Father, such unity I’ve known.

He’s my greatest companion and loves me so much

I want others to know of His special touch,

If you want to find my Father, don’t ask me, “Where,”

Just look at Me for His image I bear.

Let fathers throughout this world behold

That this is the pattern our lives to mold,

If we would sons and daughters raise

Let God the Father be our gaze.

For God ordained that father’s role

Should have a high and noble goal

To hold, show forth that special part

That shineth most from His own heart.

So now the world has much to find

What God has shown to all mankind,

True fatherhood will not just happen

Unless we follow close to His own pattern.

By COLIN CAMPBELL

A careful man I want to be—

A little fellow follows me.

I do not dare to go astray,

For fear he’ll go the self-same way.

I cannot once escape his eyes,

Whate’er he sees me do, he tries,

Like me he says he’s going to be,

The little chap who follows me.

He thinks that I’m so very fine,

Believes in every word of mine.

The base in me he must not see,

The little chap who follows me.

I must remember as I go,

Through summer’s sun and winters snow,

I’m building for the years to be—

The little chap who follows me.

~ Anonymous

Painting by Emily Elizabeth

There is a rock of much strength filled,

For upon this rock the nations build,

As granite cliffs rise strong and tall

The rock of fatherhood should never fall.

When fathers of wisdom, strong and bold,

Stand up for their families, God’s ways to hold,

Blessing will flow from heaven above

And fill those families with God’s great love.

But forces of darkness, cunning and sinister,

Much disturbed that fathers should minister

To the needs of their families, small or great,

Have unanimously decided, ‘Fatherhood – liquidate.’

The fight is on, hell’s in a storm,

Destroy this image to which man was born,

Get rid of fatherhood, whate’er the cost

And earth will suffer man’s greatest loss.

Make fathers small, make them a shrimp,

Turn them into a jellyfish wimp,

Alcohol, drugs, anything goes,

Even to bash his family with blows.

Make him too busy to take the family away

On a fine day’s outing or school holiday,

Better to hit golf balls around the green

Than take family away to a nice mountain stream.

“Adultery, adultery,” the devil cries.

This wrecks the family and fatherhood dies.

Let feminists rise and take his place

And this will give God a slap in the face!

Let’s change his appetites, make man a boar,

Who follows his lusts for a sleazy whore.

Oh yes, oh yes, if that’s not effectual,

We’ll turn him into a gay homosexual.

Yet ignorance, plain ignorance is the best tool

To destroy fatherhood and make man a fool.

For who will take time to study, excel,

To raise sons and daughters, God’s ways to tell.

Fathers arise, stand up and be counted,

Be a part of the army that God has mounted

To revive, restore, and bring back from the sand

The highest role God has given to man!

 ~ COLIN CAMPBELL

Painting: Art print by John D. Benson