Question:Praise the Lord Jesus! I would like to understand the difference between faith and courage. Answer: Courage is the ability to face a problem, difficulty, or challenge—it is the strength to overcome fear. Courage can be observed in any living creature. For example, you can see courage in a person, a lion, a dog, or even a snake. It is a natural quality that one can be born with. Courage does not necessarily depend on belief; it can exist independently of faith. Faith, on the other hand, comes from the word “to believe.” Faith is not something that exists by itself; rather, it is born out of trusting or relying on something else. It is through faith that one gains the power to do what was previously impossible. For instance, why do you calmly pass by a chicken on the road without fear, but when you encounter a snake, you jump and run away or prepare to defend yourself? It’s because your eyes have taught you that the chicken is harmless while the snake is dangerous. Your courageous response comes from your faith in the truth your senses have revealed. If you did not believe this, your actions would not follow. Therefore, courage is a product of faith—but faith is never a product of courage. This truth also applies to us spiritually. To have perfect faith, we must have a sure foundation to rely on. That foundation is none other than the Word of God. This is where everything ends—this is the “eye of our soul” that must be revived, for it gives us the courage to do all things and accomplish the impossible by human standards. Faith does not come by any other means than hearing the Word of God. The Bible says in Romans 10:17 (ESV):“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” When you read God’s Word and see the mighty deeds He performed, that is when your faith is born—the faith to act and move forward. For example, if you are barren, when you read the story of Sarah and Abraham, who received a child in their old age, you gain the strength to believe that if God did it for Sarah, He can do it for you too—because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). But if you do not know this truth or do not meditate on it regularly, your faith will not arise; you will remain resigned to your situation. When David faced Goliath, he reflected on how God had helped him defeat lions and bears while tending sheep in the wilderness (1 Samuel 17). He trusted God could help him defeat this giant, and indeed He did. Likewise, to do great things and unlock the impossible, you need faith—not faith in people or possessions, but faith in God and His Word. Make it your habit to love and feast on the Word of God every morning, noon, and night. The Bible also says in Hebrews 11 (ESV), often called the “Faith Hall of Fame,” about the great examples of faith: By faith Moses, when grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter (Hebrews 11:24). By faith, he chose to suffer with God’s people rather than enjoy sin’s fleeting pleasures (v. 25). By faith, he led the Israelites out of Egypt, unafraid of the king’s anger (v. 27). By faith, the walls of Jericho fell after they were encircled for seven days (v. 30). And many others who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised (vv. 33–34). These examples show that faith is what empowers believers to face trials, endure suffering, and accomplish God’s purposes. Summary: Faith vs. Courage Courage is the natural ability to face danger or difficulty and can exist without faith. Faith is trust and reliance on God and His Word, which produces genuine courage to do the impossible. May the Lord bless you as you grow in faith and courage through His Word!
A “kipaku” is a small skin lesion or rash that appears on the skin of a human or animal. This rash can be caused by environmental changes, allergies, or various diseases. In the Bible, this term appears frequently, especially in connection with the disease known as leprosy. Before leprosy fully manifests on the body, it begins as a small bright spot on the skin — this initial mark is what the Bible refers to as a “kipaku.” At this early stage, it is difficult to distinguish whether the lesion is from leprosy or a more common skin condition. To prevent further infection and protect the community, the person affected was quarantined for seven days. After this period, a priest would examine the lesion again. If the lesion had spread and sunk deeper into the skin, it was confirmed as leprosy, and the person would be declared ceremonially unclean and isolated permanently unless cleansed. Leviticus 13:1-6 (ESV) describes this examination process: 1 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,2 “When a person has a swelling or a rash or bright spot on the skin that may be a sign of leprosy, they shall be brought to Aaron the priest or one of his sons,3 and the priest shall examine the affected area. If the hair in the affected area has turned white and the lesion appears deeper than the skin, it is leprosy, and the priest shall pronounce the person unclean.4 But if the bright spot is white on the skin and does not appear to penetrate deeper than the skin and the hair has not turned white, the priest shall isolate the person for seven days.5 On the seventh day, the priest shall reexamine the lesion; if it has not spread, the person shall be isolated for another seven days.6 After this second examination, if the lesion has faded and not spread, the priest shall pronounce the person clean; they shall wash their clothes and be clean.” The Spiritual Meaning Behind Leprosy’s “Kipaku” In the Old Testament, leprosy symbolized a divine judgment or punishment from God. God often sends warnings before executing His judgment — the “kipaku,” a small mark or sign, serves as this initial warning. However, if no repentance follows within the given time (the seven days), the disease spreads, symbolizing the spread of sin and separation from God. Jesus Christ, during His earthly ministry, called people to repentance, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17 ESV). He warned that before the final judgment, there would be signs and tribulations — what He called “the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:8 ESV). These include natural disasters, wars, plagues, and rumors of wars — the spiritual equivalent of the “kipaku” in our souls, early signs of the deeper spiritual decay and judgment to come. God has granted humanity a period of grace — symbolized by these “seven days” or “seven times” — allowing people to repent before final judgment falls. This grace period corresponds to the church age, roughly 2,000 years, represented by the seven churches described in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. We are currently in the final church era, Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22 ESV), which is marked by spiritual lukewarmness and warning. Thus, these early “kipaku” signs are God’s merciful warnings. After the grace period ends, judgment will come decisively. Soon, the rapture will remove God’s people from the earth, and thereafter, the final wrath of God described in Revelation 16 will be poured out on the world. Ask yourself: if you have experienced this spiritual “kipaku” — a warning sign of sin or spiritual disease — have you sought the cure? The only true remedy is Jesus Christ. Do not wait for the rapture or judgment to pass you by. Turn to Him now for cleansing and salvation. In the days of the prophet Elisha, many lepers lived in Israel, but only Naaman, a foreigner, was healed because he obeyed God’s instructions and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan River (2 Kings 5; Luke 4:27 ESV). This teaches us the importance of obedience and faith in God’s provision for healing. Today, many shy away from reading the Book of Revelation with its clear warnings to the churches and the signs of the times. Yet understanding these messages helps us avoid the spiritual leprosy that God is warning about today. Instead, many prefer only to hear messages about health and prosperity, which is dangerous because it may leave them unprepared for God’s judgment or the coming rapture. May the Lord help us love His Word and respond to His call to repentance. Maranatha!
The same things that the Israelites did in the wilderness are still being done today by God’s people. It is important to understand the origin of what is formed inside the heart so we can grasp deeply how such idols are made even now in people’s hearts. The Scriptures reveal that the Israelites had no material resources to craft an idol, nor the conveniences to prepare a proper feast. They were in a desert with no access to good food or wine to celebrate their worship. Yet, amazingly, despite these difficulties, everything was provided—golden calves were made, food and wine appeared, music played, and celebrations followed. Exodus 32:2-6 (ESV) records: “And Aaron said to them, ‘Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.’ So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and made a golden calf. And they said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, ‘Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.’ And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” You might wonder, how did they manage all this? This proves that when a person’s soul is determined to pursue something, no matter the circumstances, they will find a way. The Israelites remembered the gold they had worn as jewelry—earrings, necklaces—and they collected and melted them down to create a shining golden calf. The Bible does not specify where they got the food and wine, but clearly, they must have arranged to buy or obtain them somehow—perhaps from nearby towns or through people like Korah who had influence. Whatever the means, the feast was ready, the people ate and drank, and a glorious idol was fashioned. However, what is striking is that while they put great effort into making this golden calf and organizing a feast, they never thought of offering God, who had miraculously delivered them from Egypt at great cost, such a gift of genuine worship or gratitude. They did not even consider building a simple shelter for the LORD to dwell, unlike Moses who climbed Mount Sinai and communed with God for a long time. Instead, they quickly turned to crafting idols of gold that could never help them, forgetting the true God who had done great things for them. Do you think such behavior would not provoke God’s jealousy? This pattern continues among Christians today. When a wedding is being planned, we eagerly organize every detail, often spending lavishly and forming committees to make it perfect. We give generously and offer many suggestions, and the event succeeds—even on a modest budget. But for the God who redeemed us, died on the cross for us, fights for us day and night, and gives us breath freely, we often have no time. We neglect His house and His work, passing by in spiritual blindness, saying, “God will take care of it.” We invest more time, money, and energy into worldly celebrations than into God’s kingdom. Brothers and sisters, when we do this, we create many golden calves in our hearts and worship them unknowingly. This deeply provokes God’s jealousy. We respond quickly to parties, birthdays, and entertainment, but for God, we need constant reminders to pray or serve. This is very sad. Let us break this golden calf—the false idols in our hearts. Let us remove these worthless gods and turn our hearts fully to God. Let Him have first place, because He alone deserves it. We should not see others as foolish for their idolatry; many of us who have seen examples still repeat the same sins. Theological Reflection: This passage reminds us that idolatry is not just about physical statues but about what occupies the throne of our hearts (Ezekiel 14:3). The golden calf incident is a vivid picture of how people can replace the true God with created things—even good things like gold, celebrations, or traditions—when faith is weak. Paul warns us in Romans 1:25 (ESV) that people “exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” The golden calf is a type and warning for believers today to examine what they truly worship in their daily lives. Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:21 (ESV), “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” This calls us to evaluate what treasures or priorities consume our time, resources, and energy—are they God-centered or self-centered? True worship requires giving God the “firstfruits” of our lives (Proverbs 3:9), not leftovers or distracted devotion. When we prioritize God above all else, our hearts are free from idols, and His presence can dwell richly within us (1 Corinthians 3:16). Let us love God, value His salvation, and honor His work in our lives. Efatha.
Numbers 11:6 – “But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” (ESV) Greetings in the powerful name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Today is another gift of grace from the Lord, and I invite you to reflect with me on His Word. When the Israelites entered the wilderness, they had no idea that their diet would consist of only one kind of food—manna. At first, they were amazed by it. The manna was sweet, fresh, and miraculously provided every morning by the hand of God. But as time passed, their excitement faded. They began to grow tired of it. Seeing the same food every day—morning, noon, and night—they started longing for something else. They asked themselves, “How long will this go on?” They craved variety—meat, fish, cucumbers, garlic, and perhaps if they lived in our time, pizza and burgers. Numbers 11:4–6 (ESV) tells us:“Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, ‘Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.’” They had forgotten that the foods of Egypt, though appealing, came with bondage, disease, and suffering. They longed for the delicacies of slavery rather than the simplicity of freedom. The manna, though repetitive, was life-giving. It kept them healthy and sustained. As Moses later reminded them: Deuteronomy 8:3–4 (ESV):“And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna… that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years.” Theologically, manna is a symbol of the Word of God. It represents Christ Himself, who is the true bread from heaven (John 6:31–35). When we come to faith in Christ, we must understand that our nourishment comes from one source alone: the Word of God. This is the spiritual food for our souls. We wake up with it, walk with it, go to bed with it. It is our life, our strength, and our daily bread. We were not given Scripture plus self-help books or entertainment to comfort us. We were not given the Word alongside worldly distractions like sports or pop culture to keep us occupied. The Word is sufficient on its own. But how easily our hearts drift. Like the Israelites, many believers today grow tired of the Word. At the beginning of our faith journey, we eagerly listened to sermons, devoured Scripture, and meditated on it with joy. We valued the Word above all else. But over time, many begin to find it repetitive, boring, or too demanding. We want “something more”—new forms of stimulation, emotional excitement, or cultural relevance. Soon, believers start mixing the Word with worldly music, entertainment, and philosophies. The Word no longer becomes the main course, but just one of many “dishes” in their spiritual diet. Like the Israelites, we begin to despise the manna—the very thing that sustains our lives. The consequences are serious. When the Israelites rejected manna and craved meat, God gave them what they wanted—but it came with judgment. Numbers 11:33 (ESV):“While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague.” This should sober us. When we choose other “foods” over God’s Word, we risk spiritual weakness, confusion, and even judgment. God’s Word is not optional—it is vital. As Jesus said to Satan in the wilderness: Matthew 4:4 (ESV):“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Beloved, let us not be like the Israelites who rejected the food that gave them life. Let us learn to love the Word again. Even if the world calls it outdated or unappealing, we know that it is the only food that truly satisfies the soul. It strengthens, purifies, and prepares us for eternity. We must stop wandering in search of flavor. Obey the Word. Trust the Word. Depend on the Word. Leave worldly cravings to the world. May God help us to find daily joy in His Word alone. If we feed on it faithfully, we will not weaken, but be strengthened, blessed, and made ready for His Kingdom. Be encouraged. Be nourished. Be steadfast.And may the Lord richly bless you.
This passage from Ecclesiastes presents a striking and sobering reality: a man may have all the outward signs of a successful life—many children, long life, material wealth—yet still live an unfulfilled and empty existence. If his soul is not satisfied with good things, and worse still, if he dies without even the dignity of a burial, the Preacher (Qoheleth) concludes that a stillborn child is better off than he. This statement may seem harsh at first glance, but it confronts us with a powerful truth: a life without purpose, peace, and godly contentment is ultimately meaningless, no matter how prosperous it appears on the outside. Two Types of People: Those Who Love Their Lives and Those Who Long for Eternity The Bible often presents two broad categories of people regarding how they view life: 1. Those Who Renounce the World for the Sake of Eternity These are saints who have denied themselves, choosing to live as pilgrims and strangers in this world. Abraham, though exceedingly wealthy, lived in tents, never attaching himself to earthly luxury because he looked forward to a heavenly city: “By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents… For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”(Hebrews 11:9–10, ESV) Such people—like Moses, John the Baptist, the apostles, and the prophets—did not seek comfort in this life. Their hearts were set on the world to come. Many of them suffered, were persecuted, and even martyred, yet Scripture declares they will be highly honored in the Kingdom of God: (Hebrews 11:23–40 provides a full picture of such faith-filled lives.) As followers of Christ, we are called to have this same mindset—to fix our minds not on earthly things but on things above (Colossians 3:1–2), storing up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19–21). 2. Those Who Prosper but Remain Spiritually Empty This is the person Ecclesiastes 6:3 describes. They experience great earthly success: a large family, wealth, honor, and long life. Yet something critical is missing: satisfaction of the soul. Despite their achievements, they remain discontent, always striving, always hungry for more—yet never fulfilled. They labor for years, amass wealth, plan for enjoyment, but never actually enjoy what they’ve earned. Some even die without receiving proper burial, a cultural disgrace in ancient Israel and a symbol of a wasted life. The Preacher says that a stillborn child is better off than such a person. Why? A stillborn child never experiences the futility and sorrow of this world. It enters and exits life without enduring the burden of unmet longing. Meanwhile, the prosperous but unfulfilled soul lives a long life without tasting the goodness of it—a life of accumulation without enjoyment, striving without rest, and wealth without worship. A Related Verse: The Tragedy of Unenjoyed Blessings “A man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.”(Ecclesiastes 6:2, ESV) This verse reinforces the same idea: true enjoyment is not in possessions themselves, but in the grace to enjoy them—a grace only God can give. A Word of Warning and Hope This passage is not only a warning but also a call to wisdom: do not anchor your life in what is temporary. Wealth, family, honor, and long life are good, but they are not ultimate. Without a relationship with God and a heart surrendered to Him, even the greatest blessings become vanity. Jesus put it plainly: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”(Mark 8:36, ESV) Application: Store Up Treasures in Heaven If God has blessed you with resources, use them to glorify Him and bless others. Live not as one building an empire on earth, but as one preparing for eternity. Do not be enslaved by possessions, but let them serve your eternal purpose. Invest in what endures: faith, love, truth, the Gospel, and godliness. The “treasure” warned against here is not your basic savings or wise financial stewardship. Rather, it is a lifestyle that hoards and trusts in wealth, refusing to let go, living as if earth is your forever home. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”(Matthew 6:19–20, ESV) Conclusion Ecclesiastes 6:3 challenges us to evaluate the true meaning of life. What is the point of earthly success if it leaves the soul empty? A life without God, no matter how long or prosperous, is ultimately a tragedy. But a life lived with eternal purpose, even in poverty or obscurity, is a treasure in God’s sight. May we live as sojourners, not settlers—investing not in what fades, but in what lasts forever. Shalom.