God's bonus rewards…

In this world of cashbacks, offers and rewards, bonus rewards are not new to us. It seems that, the more you spend, the more you get rewarded. As Isaiah 49:4 says ‘ But I said, “I have laboured to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due to me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.” Yes, for all the struggles and hard work, God rewards. Even though you wonder ‘why I laboured?’ or think that your strength was in vain, the reward is still in God’s hand which you will inherit for sure. 

Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: ” Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live. ” Exodus 1:22

Israel cried to God when they were living a life of slavery in Egypt. They suffered so much. Working all their lives for Egyptians, they got tired. Women of Israel faced the most of the brutality. Seeing their own babies getting killed, is one of the worst scenes a mother can experience. We can imagine how mothers of Israel tried to stop their boys from crying. Imagine the plight of Israelites who had Egyptian neighbours who snitched about the babies that their neighbors have to the officials. All that Israel wanted was freedom from them but God who remembers their cry commands in Exodus 3:22 “Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothes, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians.” When Egyptians cried over their dead firstborn child, Israelite woman demands them of silver, gold, and clothes for their children to wear. A bonus reward for all the suffering Israel went through.

So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kennizite ever since,  because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel,  wholeheartedly.    Joshua14:14.  

Caleb and Joshua spied the Canaan land and gave a contrasting report to that of other ten spies. That day God promised him that hill for his loyalty. But what makes Hebron special. Caleb would have received the land just like other people. Joshua divided the land and Caleb would have received his share. But he insists to fight for that hill or Hebron. Because that’s what Caleb got as a bonus reward from God. He is ready to fight for his reward. A reward for his loyalty. Joshua became Judge and Caleb got a hill in his name. 

We all know the story of Jacob and Esau. Two twin brothers.Elder brother sold his birth right to his younger brother. And later younger brother Jacob deceived his father and brother to receive the blessing from his father. But when Esau got angry this blessed Jacob runs away. In his runaway life, he toiled for his uncle, fought with his uncle,  deceived his uncle. Later decided to return to his father’s house. Imagine the return of that blessed son Jacob. 

A man who escaped from Esau alone is returning with his wives, children, servants, flocks, and all the wealth. ‘Oh my God! How blessed this man is.’ if that’s what your thought is then change it, because when Jacob gives gifts to Esau he says “I already have plenty,  my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.” Genesis 33:9. Esau too had wives, children, servants (don’t forget about the four hundred men who came to meet Jacob) and wealth. He got all these things so easily. He never toiled or worked hard like Jacob. Hence, there’s no difference between the blessed and the unfavoured Esau. Now interestingly, just the night before meeting Esau, Jacob fought with God for one more reward and he received it. And that brought all the difference. The bonus reward for Jacob’s toil was the name ‘Israel’. We still have that name in our world map but unfortunately there’s no nation called Esau  (but we do have his descendants).

You might not know why you toiled for? Why you fought for? But when you receive your reward there will be a bonus reward awaiting you. Rewards are waiting for all those who toil in the QUIVER OF GOD.