Meribah

They were both admitted into the university 
the same year
His elder brother was admitted to study 
Physics
He was admitted to study Economics
Their parents were entrepreneurs
Things had always been tight for their 
family economically
But they were determined to break 
the yoke
They were both born again Christians
They had to be!
They needed faith to be admitted into 
the university
Not for lack of brains but for lack of 
money
University education was not cheap 
and their parents were not rich
They were just determined that God 
would make a way somehow...
His elder brother's faith was somehow
He wouldn't use drugs when he was ill
He would not eat for many days just 
because he was too proud to ask for help
Though by nature he was an introvert
He spoke in a lot of strange ways with 
his attitude and mannerism towards 
life and himself
He acted as if it was his fault that they 
were suffering
Carried the burden of guilt and shame 
for every difficult patch they went 
through
He believed in God but in a carnal way
Like believing God but not believing in 
God!
The weight of poverty and self-abuse 
was tough and harsh
When his elder brother fell sick, he 
wouldn't go to the Hospital
If it is God's will, I will be healed or 
I will die
"The pain in my body is a trial of my 
faith from God
God is using sickness to draw me closer 
to him& teach me some serious lessons 
on faith and spiritual maturity"
It was the most ridiculous thing he ever 
heard!
Whenever his elder brother fell ill, which 
was often, he would cover his head with 
his bedsheet and pray in tongues until 
he sleeps off or felt relieved!
He wouldn't take any pill and often he 
would be fine after a few hours or days
One afternoon, without any warning 
when they were in final year, his elder 
brother died!
He had been battling with typhoid and 
malaria for years and had refused all 
medical treatments
It was a rude shock!
God had failed woefully
What would be the essence of believing 
again?
He was bitter against God, the church 
and life
He graduated and got a job
Things started moving in the right 
direction
He discovered that living free of God 
had perks
It felt as if the idea of God was a scam 
he wisened up to just in time
He got married and had a son
Life was good
Suddenly he took ill and was diagnosed 
of bone cancer
The affliction came out of nowhere
They gave him three months to live
He couldn't blame God for his travails 
because he had discarded God for five years
And yet he blamed God!
There was no one else available to blame!
He cursed and raved at God
"God is a tyrant! Because i didn't serve 
him, he brought this affliction on me"
It didn't make any sense but he had to 
vent!
His wife reached out to the Brother in 
Jeans and T-shirt
"Sir, we have a three months old baby! 
How can you help our family?"
The Brother in Jeans and T-shirt met 
with them!
The husband was still very angry!
The Brother in Jeans and T-shirt told 
him the anger, bitterness and grief and 
malice were the reason he was sick
His body was shutting down because he 
had overburdened himself with vile and 
venom!
"Would you come to Jesus? He will bear 
your burden and heal you of your infirmity!"
"Jesus didn't heal my brother!" 
He lamented and told the whole story
The Brother in Jeans and T-shirt 
embraced him, there was no need for words
He cried and cried
Then he gave his life to Jesus!
The first thing he felt was a burden 
being lifted
There was a pain that had been in his 
heart for many years.
It left!
He was suddenly relaxed
The Brother in Jeans and T-shirt rebuked 
the cancer
He said the bitterness that allowed it to 
thrive was gone and it had to go too!
He was filled with the Holy Ghost and 
started praying with love and confessing 
the word
Within three months, the cancer was 
completely gone!

Ps: What are you doing with offence and 
bitterness?
It is like preparing a room for demons to 
abide in your body
Forgive
Be free
Be Christ