BENJAMIN, A MAN WHO PLEASED GOD (AUGUST 12th, 2012)

Deuteronomy 33:12 - Of Benjamin he said:  “The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him, Who shelters him all the daylong; And he shall dwell between His shoulders.”
Here in this verse we see Moses blessing the Heads of the Tribes of Israel before he dies.  When he blessed the tribe of Benjamin he said they were pleasing to God.  In other words, they were the Beloved of the Lord.  This characteristic of Benjamin is very important in our lives too.  God should testify our relationship with Him the same way He testified Benjamin.

Some might boast about their prayers and their Bible reading that took them to a certain height.  It might be true but God should testify that and not us.  When Moses blessed Benjamin he said they rested between God’s shoulders.  Men may carry their beloved on their hips but God keeps us on His shoulders when we please Him.  God expects us to please Him and desires to sit in His presence always.

The word Benjamin means “Son of the Right Hand”.  When Jacob named his son Benjamin he meant his son would be his right hand.  And as the name suggests, Benjamin was such a person who pleased God always.  When we please God like Benjamin, He will do mighty deeds through us.  So we will now see how God was unto Benjamin, a person who pleased Him.

1.    DIVINE PLAN

Genesis 42:4 - But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “Lest some calamity befall him.”
Jacob was very much afraid to send Benjamin to Egypt since he thought some evil might befall him.  This showed the favoritism showed by Jacob towards Benjamin but his other sons would not have minded at that time I think.  But God had a greater plan for Benjamin since the latter had a direct contact with Him unlike his brothers who had contact with God only through their father.  Jacob did not understand this plan of God and that is the reason he was very afraid to send his son to Egypt.  But God fulfilled His plan concerning Benjamin at the right time.

As Benjamin whoever pleases God will have the Divine plan of God fulfilled in their lives.  So ask of God if you do not understand the tough path you undertake.  There might be some confusions in your life but remember there is God’s plan concerning your life.  Just pray to God and receive your blueprint and proceed.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, I have so many confusions in my life and I really do not know what decision to take.  Kindly reveal the blueprint of my life.  I decide to please you from now on.  Let your Divine plan fulfill in my life.  Thank You.

2.     DIVINE PITY

Genesis 43:14 - And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!”
Jacob was not aware that the person in Egypt was his firstborn son Joseph.  So he prayed to God for his son Benjamin in order for Him to be merciful unto him.  The meaning of the word “Mercy” is the pity of God received by an unworthy person.  So whenever we go to God and pray in His presence He will give us everything out of His Mercy.

Perhaps someone would have denied you a certain important thing; suppose say in your office, home and so on.  Just pray to God for His mercy in that situation and He will change that situation in such a way that He will make the person who denied before give you the thing you desired for.  But you need to please God for this thing to happen like Benjamin and believe it with firm heart.  Dwell in the Lord as Benjamin dwelled in Him.  The Government job which made you wait so far will come in hand if you do this.  Good news will be waiting for those who were expecting it eagerly.

Prayer:  Lord, I have been waiting for certain blessings in my life.  Like Benjamin I decide to dwell in You and please You.  Please give all the blessings you have for me.  Thank You.

3.    DIVINE PRESENCE

Joshua 18:28 - Zelah, Eleph, Jebus (which is Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kirjath: fourteen cities with their villages. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
This verse lists out the names of cities God gave to tribe Benjamin as their inheritance.  God will never fail in His words when it comes to bless us.  Even though all the tribes received the cities there is some special blessing for Benjamin if we notice very keenly and that is the Jerusalem temple situated in Mount Moriah.  Since Benjamin inherited Jerusalem he also had the temple in Mount Moriah.

All the other tribes had to come to Benjamin in order to visit the temple of God.  So we could see the presence of God was with Benjamin since the temple of God was situated in the cities he received as inheritance.

Like Benjamin we need to feel God’s presence in our lives too.  God’s presence in us makes us different from others and also makes us special.  Those who come to our homes and those who travel with us should feel the same in us.  You might now think how God’s presence will be found in your life so that others may see it.  It is the peace of God found in our families like in Heaven which make others to feel the presence of God.  We should experience the Heaven while we are still in Earth in our families.  This will happen only when we please God.  When we are in Earth God descends down to have His presence with us but later we go to Heaven to be in His presence always.

Prayer:  Lord, I learnt from Benjamin that when I please you your presence will be with me always.  I decide to do so.  Kindly grant your presence to stay in my family so that others may see the Divine Peace.  Thank You.

4.     DIVINE PROTECTION

I Samuel 9:14 - So they went up to the city. As they were coming into the city, there was Samuel, coming out toward them on his way up to the high place.
When God addressed Saul He referred to the place he belonged to.  So God knows all details about a person.  Saul belonged to the tribe of Benjamin and God had a great plan concerning him.

Philippians 3:5 - circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
Paul also belonged to the tribe of Benjamin.  Benjamin son of Jacob would not have the understanding of Saul the OT king or Paul the NT Apostle raise from his descendants.  This is because of the Divine Anointing of God who gave Divine protection to them.

Are you worried about your generations?  The God prophesies thus, “I have given Royal Anointing to your generations.  Do not fear because many Apostles and Prophets will rise from your descendants”.  God will not suffer the generation of the Righteous and He will not forsake them.  Your generation will never go out of God’s sight but stand as a great testimony for others.

Many secrets and mysteries in the NT period would have been hidden if Paul was not there.  It was all because of Benjamin a man after God.  God has not forgotten his generations.  Even Peter who was very close to Paul could not understand the mysteries he was referring to.  So Divine Protection belonged to Benjamin who pleased God.
Prayer:  Lord, I come to know now that when I please You, there will be Divine protection and I decide to do so.  Kindly grant me your Divine protection.  Thank You.