Recovered In Christ

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Thursday, March 22, 2012

CHRIST ALWAYS DEALING WITH THE INVISIBLE ENEMIES

It is striking to find that the Lord did not attempt to convince the Pharisees of His claims as the Messiah, nor take the opportunity of winning the Jews, by yielding to their desires for an earthly king. His one work in this world was manifestly to conquer the Satanic prince of the world by the death of the Cross (Heb. 2: 14); to deliver his captives from his control, and to deal with the invisible hosts of the prince of darkness working at the back of mankind (See 1 John 3: 8).

The commission He gave to the twelve, and to the seventy, was exactly in line with His own. He sent them forth, and “gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to preach the gospel” (Matt. 10: 1); to “first bind the strong man” (Mark 3: 27), and then to take his goods; to deal with the invisible hosts of Satan first, and then “preach the gospel.”

From all this we learn that there is one Satan, one devil, one prince of the demons, directing all the opposition to Christ and His people; but myriads of wicked spirits called “demons,” lying spirits, deceiving spirits, foul spirits, unclean spirits, subjectively at work in men. Who they are, and whence their origin, none can positively say. That they are spirit beings who are evil is alone beyond all doubt; and all who are undeceived and dispossessed from Satanic deception, become witnesses, from their own experience, to their existence, and power. They know that things were done to them by spirit beings, and that those things were evil; therefore they recognize that there are spirit beings who do evil, and know that the symptoms, effects and manifestations of demoniacal possession have active, personal agencies behind them. From experience they know that they are hindered by spirit beings, and therefore know that these things are done by evil spirits who are hinderers. Therefore, reasoning from experimental facts, as well as the testimony of Scripture, they know that these evil spirits are murderers, tempters, liars, accusers, counterfeiters, enemies, haters, and wicked beyond all the power of man to know.

The names of these evil spirits describe their characters, for they are called “foul,” “lying,” “unclean,” “evil,” and “deceiving” spirits, as they are wholly given up to every manner of wickedness, and deception, and lying works. (Jessie Penn-Lewis; War On The Saints, Chapter 2)

Dear God, thank you so much for opening my eyes to the TRUTH! For giving my experience and the facts of my own life that really happened to me a context in which I can understand them in wisdom and light. Thank you for opening up the Bible to me. My own personal experience with the evil things that demons did to me and my experience with all of the people who are bound by the deceptions of the Devil have been explained and revealed by the Holy Spirit leading me into all the Truth that’s contained in the Bible. What an incredible way to teach! What an incredible way to bring me into the light! To use the word of God and my own experience – woven together! I can’t thank you enough for the freedom and the power in simply knowing the truth! Please continue to draw me into a closer relationship with Jesus and reveal to me whatever it is you would have me know. Amen 

“Why go I mourning?” –Psalm 42:9

Can you not answer this, believer? Can’t you find any reason why you are so often mourning instead of rejoicing? Why yield to gloomy anticipations? Who told you that the night would never end in day? Who told you that the sea of circumstances would ebb out till there should be nothing left but long leagues of the mud of horrible poverty? Who told you that the winter of your discontent would proceed from frost to frost, from snow, and ice, and hail, to deeper snow, and yet more heavy tempest of despair? Do you not know that day follows night, that flood comes after ebb, that spring and summer succeed winter? Be full of hope! Hope forever! For God does not fail you. Do you know that God loves you in the midst of all this?

Mountains, when in darkness hidden, are as real as they are in the day, and God’s love is as true to you now as it was in your brightest moments…You shall yet climb Jacob’s ladder with the angels, and behold Him who sits at the top of it–your covenant God. You will yet, midst the splendors of eternity, forget the trials of time, or only remember them to bless the God who led you through them and works your lasting good by them. Come, sing in the midst of tribulation. Rejoice even while passing through the furnace. Make the wilderness to blossom like the rose! Cause the desert to ring with your exulting joys, for these light afflictions will soon be over, and then “for ever with the Lord,” your bliss shall never wane.

“Faint not nor fear, His arms are near,  He changeth not, and thou art dear;  Only believe and thou shalt see,  That Christ is all in all to thee.”

-Charles H. Spurgeon

Light is the only cure for darkness. Light is the only way to dispel the darkness. There is no other cure. There is no other way. No technology, or philosophy or religion or understanding or knowledge can do this. No amount of studying the darkness will make it any brighter.

No amount of ‘good works’ or even ‘faith’ can command the darkness to depart. Imagine sitting in a perfectly dark room without any doors or windows without any light. How many books and “manifesting your destiny” cd’s do you think it would take to make the light shine in that darkness? How many random acts of kindness? How many inventories? A hundred million would be as effective as zero! Everything we do and everything we don’t do is incredibly important – but it’s all a RESPONSE to the Light that CHOSE to come into the darkness. It is only because of Him that we even know we are in darkness. It is ONLY BECAUSE OF HIM THAT WE EVEN KNOW WE ARE IN DARKNESS.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it..the true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:913)

Thank you for the hundreds of e-mails and texts supporting this and for sharing your heart with me!!!

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

EVIL SPIRITS IN THE GOSPEL RECORDS

The gospel record is full of reference to the workings of evil spirits, and shows that wherever the Lord moved, the emissaries of Satan sprang into active manifestation in the bodies, and minds, of those they indwelt; and that the ministry of Christ and His apostles was directed actively against them, so that again and again the record reads, “He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons” (Mark 1: 39); He “cast out many demons, and He suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew Him” (Mark 1: 34); “Unclean spirits, whensoever they beheld Him, fell down before Him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God” (Mark 3: 11). Then came the sending out of the twelve chosen disciples, when the spirits of evil again are taken into account, for “He gave them authority over unclean spirits” (Mark 6: 7). Later He appointed seventy other messengers, and as they went forward in their work, they, too, found the demons subject to them through His Name (Luke 10: 17).

Were Jerusalem, Capernaum, Galilee, and all Syria, then filled with people who were “insane” and “epileptic”? Or was the truth of evil spirit possession of people a common fact? In any case it is evident from the gospel records, that the Son of God dealt with the powers of darkness as the active, primary cause of the sin, and suffering of this world, and that the aggressive part of His, and His disciples’ ministry, was directed persistently against them. On the one hand He dealt with the deceiver of the world, and bound the “strong man,” whilst on the other He taught the truth about God to the people, to destroy the lies which the prince of darkness had placed in their minds (2 Cor. 4: 4) about His Father and Himself.

We find, too, that the Lord clearly recognized the devil behind the opposition of the Pharisees (John 8: 44), and the “hour and power of darkness” (Luke 22: 53) behind His persecutors at Calvary. He said that His mission was to “proclaim liberty to the captives” (Luke 4: 18), and who the captor was He revealed on the eve of Calvary, when He said, “Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (John 12: 31); and later on that this “prince” would once more come to Him, but would find nothing in Him as ground for his power (John 14: 30). – Jessie Penn-Lewis; War On The Saints, Ch.2

Dear Jesus, thank you for binding the ‘strong man’ and for teaching us the truth about God! Thank you for destroying the works of the Devil – for destroying the lies that the prince of darkness had placed in my mind about you and God. Thank you for giving me front row seats to watch as you single-handedly delivered me from the complete and absolute grave of this world. Amen

Thank you for the hundreds of e-mails and texts supporting this and for sharing your heart with me!!!

Tuesday, March 20th, 2012

THE LORD’S ATTITUDE TO AND RECOGNITION OF SATAN

The Lord was always ready to meet the antagonist whom He had foiled in the wilderness, but who had only left Him “for a season” (Luke 4: 13). In Peter He quickly discerned Satan at work, and exposed him by one swift sentence, mentioning his name (Matt. 16: 23). In the Jews He stripped aside the mask of the hidden foe, and said, “Ye are of your father, the devil” (John 8: 44), and with keen-edged words spoke of him as the “murderer” and the “liar,” prompting them to kill Him, and lying to them about Himself and His Father in heaven (John 8: 40-41).

On the lake in a storm, fast asleep, and awakened suddenly, He is alert to meet the foe, and stands with calm majesty to “rebuke” the storm, which the prince of the power of the air had roused against Him (Mark 4: 38, 39).

In brief, we find the Lord, right on from the wilderness victory, unveiling the powers of darkness, as He went forward in steady aggressive mastery over them. Behind what appeared “natural,” He sometimes discerned a supernatural power which demands His rebuke. He “rebuked” the fever in Peter’s wife’s mother (Luke 4: 39), just as He “rebuked” the evil spirits in other, and more manifest forms, whilst in other instances He simply healed the sufferer by a word.

The difference between Satan’s attitude to the Lord, and that of the spirits of evil, should also be noted. Satan, the prince, tempts Him, seeks to hinder Him, prompts the Pharisees to oppose Him, hides behind a disciple to divert Him, and finally takes hold of a disciple to betray Him, and then sways the multitude to put Him to death; but the spirits of evil bowed down before Him, beseeching Him to “let them alone,” and not to command them to go into the abyss (Luke 8: 31).

The realm of this deceiver-prince is specifically mentioned by the Apostle Paul in his description of him as “prince of the power of the air” (Ephes. 2: 2), the aerial, or “heavenly places,” being the special sphere of the activity of Satan, and his hierarchy of powers. The name Beelzebub, the prince of the demons, meaning the “god of flies,” suggestively speaks of the aerial character of the powers of the air, as well as the word “darkness,” describing their character, and their doings. The Lord’s description of Satan’s working through “fowls of the air” strikingly corresponds to these other statements, together with John’s language about the “whole world lying in the evil one” (1 John 5: 19); the “air” being the place of the workings of these aerial spirits, the very atmosphere in which the whole human race moves, said to be “in the evil one.” –Jessie Penn-Lewis; War On The Saints, Ch.2

Dear God, you are the light that shines in the darkness. Being in your presence reveals the work of your Son Jesus Christ and it also reveals the work of Satan. You are the light that shines in this world. You are the light that shines on everyone – and yet most have chosen darkness. You are the light that has shown me things that years of study or maturity could never have produced. Thank you God for sending your True light into this world to rescue us. Without you I wouldn’t even know that I was lost. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Amen.

Thank you for the hundreds of e-mails and texts supporting this and for sharing your heart with me!!! Here is a  beautiful post today that came from one of my closest friends – the most solid Christian man I know, Chris P.

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

Who Owns Your Heart – You…Or God?

“I” don’t want to fall into the same sin, over and over and over again. So why do “I”? I tell myself that “I” hate it, “I” tell everyone else that “I” want to change, yet “I” fall back into it, again. “I” repent after “I” do it, “I” tell the Lord that “I” want it to be removed, “I”  promise to never do it again. But “I” do it, again and “I” find myself in the same position with the same poisoned mind and polluted heart. Why do “I” still have an attachment to it? Why do “I”  long for it, like “I” long for the Lord – can it be true that “I” want both the light and the darkness at the same time? Is it possible to love the Lord with all my heart and yet still search for certain parts of  “my old self”, those parts that “I” used to call my God.

There is no “I” in the true Spirit of God. In God there exists a comforting peace that “I” can’t create, or will myself into. But in me, “I” find all things to the contrary and they will always lead me astray – that is the promise and the reality of what “I” find, in the dark. Who am “I” to think that “I” can remove what “I” hate and what my Lord despises? How could “I”,  when deep down, in my flesh “I” desire both, for when “I” turn to me, “I” drop an anchor into my flesh and it takes a hold and so desperately wants, what is wrong. Is that what “I”  practice over and over, giving my heart to God only to take it back when I want? I call desire into action and it pollutes my heart. Didn’t my loving Father give me free will? Can’t “I” have it back, just for a minute of carnal pleasure, just for a minute of anger, just for an hour of deceit, just for half of a day in lust, just for an entire day of fear,  just for a weekend of delight? Is there any part of “me” that “I” can reclaim, for any part of my time left on this earth? “I” can and “I” will, because we are all sinners in heart, body and mind. But if  “I” continue to take back what is “not rightfully mine”, then I will never truly experience Christ.  Yes, we came from the Father, He made us from the earth, our flesh came from dust, and it will return to the dust, but our spirit is eternal, if we have accepted Christ as the one and only redeemer. In Christ we find the life that we have always been seeking.  The new life in Christ protects you from the flesh, if you completely turn away from the “I” in your life.

Has anybody ever given you something, and then they come back to take it away from you, because they have changed  their minds and they want “it” back? How about when someone promises to do something for you and they don’t do it? Well…that is exactly how God feels when you try and take back what you have promised to give to Him. The difference is, it was never yours to claim in the first place. Who are you, to think and pretend that you own, any part of your heart? That action of thinking and pretending always leads down the same path of despair and destruction. You must return your heart to its rightful owner, you must give up all your free will and give up the absurd notion that you have the freedom to choose parts of “I” … and still live a healthy life. For God will not be mocked and his son did not die on the cross, for any part of the “I” to be left for “you” as an option.

God Bless

Chris P.

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:12-18)

Thank you for the hundreds of e-mails and texts supporting this and for sharing your heart with me!!!

Monday, March 19th, 2012

DISTINCTION BETWEEN SATAN AND EVIL SPIRITS

“The distinction between the workings of Satan as prince of demons, and his evil spirits, should specially be noted, so as to understand their methods at the present day; for to many the adversary is merely a tempter, whilst they little dream of his power as a deceiver (Rev. 12: 9), hinderer (1 Thess. 2: 18), murderer (John 8: 44), liar (John 8: 44), accuser (Rev. 12: 10), and a false angel of light; and still less of the hosts of spirits under his command, constantly besetting their path, bent upon deceiving, hindering, and prompting to sin. A vast host wholly given up to wickedness (Matt. 12: 43-45), delighting to do evil, to slay (Mark 5: 2-5), to deceive, to destroy (Mark 9: 20); and having access to men of every grade, prompting them to all kinds of wickedness, and satisfied only when success accompanies their wicked plans to ruin the children of men (Matt. 27: 3-5).

SATAN’S CHALLENGE OF CHRIST IN THE WILDERNESS

This distinction between Satan, the prince of the demons (Matt. 9: 34), and his legion of wicked spirits, is clearly recognized by Christ, and may be noted in many parts of the Gospels (Matt. 25: 41). We find Satan in person challenging the Lord in the wilderness temptation, and Christ answering him as a person, word for word, and thought for thought, until he retires, foiled by the keen recognition of his tactics, by the Son of God (Luke 4: 1-13).

We read of the Lord describing him as the “prince of the world” (John 14: 30); recognizing him as ruling over a kingdom (Matt. 12: 26); using imperative language to him as a person, saying; “Get thee hence”; while to the Jews He describes his character as “sinning from the beginning,” and being a “murderer,” and a “liar,” the “father of lies,” who “abode not in the truth” (John 8: 44) which once he held as a great archangel of God. He is called, also, “that wicked one” (1 John 3: 12, A.V.), the “Adversary,” and that “old serpent” (Rev. 12: 9).

In respect of his method of working, the Lord speaks of him as sowing “tares,” which are “sons of the evil one,” among the wheat–the “sons” of God (Matt. 13: 38, 39); thus revealing the Adversary as possessing the skill of a master mind, directing, with executive ability, his work as “prince of the world,” in the whole inhabited earth, and with power to place the men, who are called his “sons,” wherever he wills.

We read also, of Satan watching to snatch away the seed of the Word of God from all who hear it, this again indicating his executive power in the world- wide direction of his agents, whom the Lord describes as “fowls of the air”; in His own interpretation of the parable (Matt. 13: 3, 4, 13, 19; Mark 4: 3, 4, 14, 15; Luke 8: 5, 11, 12); plainly saying that He meant by these “fowls” the “evil one” (Gr. Poneros, Matt. 13: 19); “Satan” (Gr. Satana, Mark 4: 15); or “Devil” (Gr. Diabolus, Luke 8: 12); whom we know, from the general teaching of other parts of the Scriptures, does his work through the wicked spirits he has at his command; Satan himself not being omnipresent, although able to transpose himself with lightning velocity to any part of his world-wide dominions.” – Jessie Penn-Lewis; War On The Saints, Chapter 2

Dear God, through prayer we have come to know you better, through prayer, you have revealed your character to us and your heart and Spirit. Through prayer is the Bible opened – truly opened. Through prayer have you removed the veil of ignorance and the bedazzlement of Satan – to see him for who he really is. Through prayer have our hearts become aligned with yours. Through prayer; humble, honest prayer have vast armies of the Enemy been destroyed, strongholds torn down and deliverance won. Through prayer is your power and love and mercy unleashed through us. Help us Jesus, have mercy on us and help us to keep praying with you, in all things. Unceasingly. Amen.

Thank you for the hundreds of e-mails and texts supporting this and for sharing your heart with me!!!

Sunday, March 18th, 2012

BELIEVERS MAY RECEIVE EQUIPMENT TO DEAL WITH SATANIC POWERS

“The hour of need always brings the corresponding measure of power from God to meet that need. The Church of Christ must lay hold of the equipment of the apostolic period, for dealing with the influx of the evil spirit hosts among her members. That all believers may receive the equipment of the Holy Spirit, whereby the authority of Christ over the demon hosts of Satan is manifested, is proved not only by the instance of Philip the deacon in the Acts of the Apostles, but also by the writings of the “Fathers” in the early centuries of the Christian era, which show that the Christians of that time (1) recognized the existence of evil spirits, (2) that they influenced, deceived and possessed men, and (3) that Christ gave His followers authority over them through His Name. That this authority through the Name of Christ, wielded by the believer walking in living and vital union with Christ, is available for the servants of God at the close of the age, the Spirit of God is making known in many and diverse ways. God gives an object lesson, through a native Christian like Pastor Hsi,  in China, who acted upon the Word of God in simple faith, without the questioning caused by the mental difficulties of Western Christendom; or He awakens the Church in the West, as in the Revival in Wales, by an outpouring of the Spirit of God; which not only manifested the power of the Holy Spirit at work in the twentieth century, as in the days of Pentecost; but also unveiled the reality of Satanic powers in active opposition to God and His people, and the need among the Spirit-filled children of God, for equipment for dealing with them. Incidentally, too, the Revival in Wales threw light upon the Scripture records, showing that the highest points of God’s manifested power among men, is invariably the occasion for concurrent manifestations of the working of Satan. It was so when the Son of God came forth from the wilderness conflict with the prince of darkness, and found the hidden demons in many lives aroused to malignant activity, so that from all parts of Palestine crowds of victims came to the Man, before whom the possessing spirits trembled in impotent rage.

The awakened part of the Church of to-day, has now no doubt of the real existence of the spirit beings of evil, and that there is an organized monarchy of supernatural powers, set up in opposition to Christ, and His kingdom, bent upon the eternal ruin of every member of the human race; and these believers know that God is calling them to seek the fullest equipment obtainable for withstanding, and resisting these enemies of Christ and His Church.

In order to understand the working of the deceiver-prince of this power of the air, and become acute to discern his tactics, and his methods of deceiving men, such believers should search the Scriptures thoroughly, to obtain a knowledge of his character, and how spirits of evil are able to possess, and use the bodies of men.” – Jessie Penn-Lewis; War On The Saints, chapter 2

Dear God, wow!! Thank you for giving us such a gifted and humble teacher in this writer, Jessie Penn-Lewis. Thank you God for confirming what you showed us and what you provided for us in the Bible. Thank you God for removing the veil through Christ so that we can see the truth, and discern concurrent manifestations of the working of Satan when there is an outpouring of your Spirit. And thank you so much God for the truth in what she says!!! That this authority through the Name of Christ, wielded by the believer (us) walking in living and vital union with Christ, is available for the servants of God!!!! YES! YES! YES! Amen! 

Thank you for the hundreds of e-mails and texts supporting this and for sharing your heart with me!!! Here is my prayer today that came from meditating on the Bible!

Sunday, March 18th, 2012

Descendant Of A wild Donkey!

Do you know how beautfiful God is? How long suffering He is? He knows what we are like – and yet is UNWAVERING in his determination to make us His sons and daughters. My DNA is stamped with Ishmaels’s rebellion – the father of the Arab tribe! And yet God went after Hagar – twice! An unchosen slave – and her son who God knew would be the ancestor of those who OPPOSE Him and his Son! And yet blessed them both!

Who on this planet could even come close to understanding the depth of God’s love and patience. Who?

He could have spared Himself and the world centuries of rebellion and disobediance and war by snuffing them out in that desert. But instead he chased after her into that desert and blessed her. He could have just let them die – the unchosen slave and her “wild donkey” son – but the angel said that God heard the boy’s voice and God Himself then showed her the well.

You see, the child he had chosen to become the ancestor of The One, was not chosen to be the leader of a superior race, he was chosen to be bring forth the descendant who would one day die on a cross to save that “wild donkey” and his descendants, as well as every single human being who puts his trust in Him, Jesus Christ.

Let’s be quiet today and think with our spiritual minds on the millions of moments and details that God has maneuvered through without overriding humanity’s free will to bring about this Plan Of Redemption. The more I think about it with my spirit, the less that I can speak – except to say, thank you God for your mercy and your love. Thank you for hearing our voice and for coming into the desert and showing us the well that has become rivers of living water pouring out of our hearts. Amen

“Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37)

Genesis: God and Hagar

Ch.16: v7 But the *angel of the *Lord found Hagar in the  desert. Hagar was near a well that gave water. That well was on the way to Shur. v8 The *angel said, ‘Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from? And  where are you going to?’ Hagar replied, ‘I am running away from my boss Sarai.’v9 The *angel of the *Lord said this to her. ‘Return  to your boss and obey her.’ v10 The *angel of the *Lord also said, ‘I  will give many *descendants to you. Nobody will be able to count them.’ v11 The *angel of the *Lord then said this to  Sarai. ‘You are now *pregnant and you will have a baby son. The  *Lord has heard that you are suffering. So you will name your son Ishmael. v12 Ishmael will be a man that is like a wild *donkey. He will oppose  everyone, and everyone will oppose him. He will always fight against his  relatives.’v13 Hagar called the *Lord, who spoke to her, this  name. ‘You are God, who sees me.’ She said, ‘Here I have seen God, who cares  about me.’ v14 That well is called Beer Lahai Roi. (Its name means ‘the  well of the Person who lives, who sees me’.) Hagar called it that because there,  God saw her. The well is between Kadesh and Bered. v15 Hagar had a baby  son for Abram. Abram named his son Ishmael. v16 Abram was 86 years old  when Hagar had Ishmael

Ch. 21 v14 So, early in the morning, Abraham gave bread to  Hagar. And he gave to her a bottle that someone had made out of skin. The bottle  had water in it. He put those onto her shoulder and he sent her off with the  child. She left. And she wandered in the desert near Beersheba. v15 When they had drunk all the water from the bottle,  she put her son under one of the bushes there. v16 She went and she sat  down by herself. She did not want to see her child die. So she sat a little  distance away, about as far as an *arrow goes. She sat there and she began to  cry loudly. v17 But God heard the boy’s voice. So the *angel of  God called from heaven. The *angel called to Hagar and he said this to her: ‘You  need not be upset, Hagar. Do not be afraid, because God has heard the boy’s  voice. He has heard the boy there where he is. v18 Go and get the boy up.  Hold him firmly with your hand. I will make him into a great nation.’ v19 Then God showed to her a well with water. She had  not seen the well before. So she went. And she took the bottle that someone had  made out of skin. She filled it with water and she gave a drink to the boy. v20 So God was with the boy. The boy grew up and he  lived in the desert. He became skilful with a bow and *arrows. v21 He  lived in the desert called Paran, and his mother chose an *Egyptian wife for  him. (Chapters 16 & 21: Genesis)