GOD’S SHADOW MINISTRIES | PROMISE | JUNE 2026
Psa 56:9 Then my enemies will turn back
in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. (ESV)
Beloved Brothers and Sisters
in Christ,
Loving Greetings in the matchless name of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ
What an eventful and exhausting month,
May 2026 proved to be, particularly for those in Tamil Nadu, India. Besides all the political upsets, the city
(even the whole state) experienced one of its most horrible summers. The temperature was (and is) steadily above
108F on most days. Surely, it was a
scorching season. Now, having stepped
into June, we only hope that the temperature would cool down and give some
relief to us in the days to come.
All day Long
Like the heat, in life as well, sometimes
pressures, problems and persecutions keeps increasing. Psalm 59 narrates what Psalmist David went
through in the most difficult phase of his life. A
time, when he felt that he was being attacked, cornered, hated not some day,
but all the day long. One can handle
some problems during some part of the day.
But how miserable would life be,
if we are battered all the day long.
That is what Psalmist was going through.
· Be gracious to me, O God, for man
tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; (1)
· my enemies trample on me all day
long, for many attack me proudly. (2)
· All day long
they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil.(5)
If we are ill, we will feel pain in the
head or any part of our body. At best, we can tolerate it for few minutes. But if our head is spinning, 24/7 and 365
days an year, will we be able to manage?
No . We will resort to the pain killers or rush to the doctor. Here the Psalmist is troubled all day
long. He is cornered by both Philistines
and Saul’s men. While Philistines are
enemies, Saul was his own father-in-law.
Problems, sometimes, can come to us from all directions, including
family members. In your work place there is constant nagging and when you come
home there is endless conflicts. Yes,
sometimes, we would be trampled upon by people all day long.
Tears and Tossings
Psa 56:8 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears
in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
An head-ache, if it becomes worse,
will even lead to tears. Such is the
consequence of pain. The Psalmist chooses many words and expressions to explain
the agony that he is going through. He says, his enemies
1. Stir up a fight to weaken him
2. Follow him wherever he goes to
threaten him.
3. Scheming a plan to completely
remove him
In our own life, we face situations of
people rousing up an argument, triggering a conflict and even engage in a brawl. Even if we choose to stay apart, they will
follow and victimize us. They are people
who will not easily budge but will only push us to destruction. In such
circumstances, what is that we can do?
The Greatest Knowledge
Job_19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the
last he will stand upon the earth.
Jesus said, “Knowing the father and
his son Jesus Christ is eternal life”.
He also said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you
free”. The Bible also says that “Jesus
is the way, truth and life”. The best
and the worst thing that can happen to us is the knowledge of God or the lack
of it! “My people perish because they lack knowledge” says the Lord! It is not about knowing the Bible. It is
about knowing Jesus. That knowledge comes not by just reading but
by walking closely with the Lord. This is not a knowledge dictated by the
circumstances, but directed by your covenant with the Lord.
The Psalmist, in spite of all the
adversities, chooses to say, “I know that my God is for me”. It is that assurance
which assures him of his deliverance. It is that understanding which makes him
cry out to God for help. It is that revelation
which makes him walk in freedom.
Prophetic Declaration
Psa 56:9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I
call. This I know, that God is for me. (ESV)
The enemies begin to turn back in the day that he called unto the Lord. That’s
a powerful promise. It is not after many
days, weeks or even months. The same day he sees the turning away of enemies. Even in this month, when you choose to cry
out in faith, when you choose to pray, when you choose to seek his face, you
will definitely see the Lord intervening in your life. “Call unto me in the day of trouble”, the
Bible says. I do trust that in this
month, in faith, in submission, when you call unto the Lord, he will certainly
make your enemies to turn away. It could
be your human enemies or even the devil himself. God himself will fight and drive your enemies away!
As part of our meditation, we shall
look at the three significant aspects of the knowledge that one should have concerning
God’s delivering presence in our lives. These
three attributes are hidden in the three prophetic names of our Lord
1.El Rohi – God who Sees!
2.El Shama - God who Hears!
3.El Yireh - God
who Provides!
As we to get to know more and meditate
these names, you will definitely see your problems taking a back seat, you will
assuredly begin to enjoy God’s blessings in our life.
Travails of a Slave
In the life of Hagar, we find these three
salient attributes of God coming to play.
She was a Bondwoman in the family of Abraham and Sarah. Hagar was destined to carry and bear the
child of old Abraham. But, after her entry, things did not go too well with her
and mistress Sarah. She left the family
in a hush.
When the forlorn Hagar, went through a
period of great distress and disappointment, the Angel of God (refers to Lord
Jesus Christ) met and revealed himself as the one who sees, hears and provides! Amen.
From Hagar’s life, we shall look at
two incidents, one before the birth of Ishmael and the other after it. In both these occasions, she was troubled and
agonized, not knowing what to do
next? It was a wandering in the
wilderness situation But God graciously
intervened in her life . In other
words, God proved that he was with
Hagar, even if she had been hated and forsaken by the own family members. If God could be with the bondwoman to fulfil
the divine purpose concerning her, how much more certain that he would be with
you, in your times of trouble, to fulfill the plans concerning your life.. We just need to know without any doubt that
‘God is for us side”. Amen!
Let us know and apply the prophetic perspective
hidden in these names.
1.El Rohi – God who Sees!
Gen 16:7 The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of
water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur.
The Angel of the Lord in the Old
Testament refers to the second person in the trinity – Lord Jesus Christ. During the days of His ministry on earth,
Lord Jesus saw “people in need” and then performed miracles of healing and
deliverance When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy,
Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.(Mark 2:5) When Jesus saw her, he called
her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability(Luke
13:12) When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been
there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”(John 5:6) .Yes
the maker of heaven and earth does not close his eyes to your problems; nothing
is hidden before his eyes.
The slave woman Hagar who was permitted
by Sarai to sleep with Abraham to give birth to an heir suddenly loses favor in
the family. After she conceived, she may
have spoken things that could have hurt the feelings of Sarai and she in turn
began to deal harshly with the pregnant woman.
Unable to bear the taunts, she chose to run away from the family. It is during this time the Lord meets with
her says,
And the angel
of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to
Shur. And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither
wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress
Sarai. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy
mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. And the angel of the LORD
said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be
numbered for multitude. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold,
thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael;
because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man;
his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he
shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. And she called the
name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I
also here looked after him that seeth me? Wherefore the well was called
Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. (Gen 16:7-14)
At a time when she was about to run
away from her destiny, quit her life in despair and misery, God met her and
advised her to take an U turn. He
revealed the greats plans and purposes that he has got for her and her offspring
and asked her to go back and remain under her mistress.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know
the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for
evil, to give you a future and a hope”.
Many a time, before the plan of God could come to pass in our life,
there will be a phase of trials and suffering.
The people of Israel had to cross the Red Sea, go past River Jordan and
run through the Jericho Tower, conquer the Kings and Kingdoms before inheriting
Canaan. Joseph had to go through many
ups and down in his life including several years in prison before being
elevated as the Governor of Egypt. Even
this month, if you feel like running away from your current responsibilities, I
do trust that the Lord is stopping by you and saying “don’t run away, remain
where you are, I will exalt you”.
Whatever be your present crisis, take heart, the Lord God sees you. Yes, the Lord is very much on your side and his eyes are open to your
suffering.
2.El Shama– God who
Hears!
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with
child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD
hath heard thy affliction. (Gen 16:11)
Our God is not someone who just sees
what you are going through, his ears are much open to your petitions, prayers,
including your unsaid groaning and crying.
When Lord Jesus Christ was passing by a place, a blind-beggar by name
Bartemaeus came to know of this. Since he was desperate to receive an healing
touch from the Lord he began to crying out “Son of David, Have mercy on
me”. Since Lord Jesus was already
surrounded by people and was just on the move, the disciples told the blind man
to not shout but be quiet. But he was in
no mood to listen to their counsel. The
more he was discouraged, the more he shouted, “Son of David, Have mercy on
me”. And this cry fell into the ears of
the Lord and he at once asked the disciples to bring Bartemaeus unto him. The Lord touched the eyes of Bartemaeus and
he was able to see! Yes, the Bible
calls him a “prayer hearing” God! His
ears are not shut to our petitions. He still hears! That is the knowledge one
should have about the Lord.
In the incident of Hagar, when the
Lord began to speak to her about the plans that he has for her son, he advised
her to name the child as “Ishmael”. The
name of Ishmael is derived from the word El
Shama meaning, God who hears.
After the birth of Isaac, we read that
Hagar along with her son Ishmael were asked to leave the family of Abraham and
Sarah. This we read in Genesis 21:8-21
And the child grew
and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was
weaned. 9 But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had
borne to Abraham, laughing. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman
with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son
Isaac.” And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his
son. But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and
because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you,
for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. And I will make a nation
of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” So
Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave
it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her
away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. When
the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the
bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the
distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the
child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept.
And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from
heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard
the voice of the boy where he is. Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him
fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation. Then God opened
her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with
water and gave the boy a drink.
Here again, when Hagar was in the
wilderness, having exhausted the water which was given to him by Abraham, she
wept so bitterly and could not bear to the see his son dying in thirst. Once again, the Lord intervened and spoke to
her and reassured saying no harm will take place to Ishmael but he will gone to
be a great nation.
In an isolated place when no could
hear the voice of Hagar or the child,
God heard. In the crowd, when no
one was bothered to address the cry of the blind beggar, Jesus stopped to
hear. In both these occasions, we see
that either man was unable or unwilling to help. The water given by Abraham could not last
long. The disciples could in no wise help the blind man. But Jesus heard and
helped.
Even in your life, if you are feeling
forgotten and forsaken by men. Maybe your messages, phone calls or emails are
either being ignored or not replied. But
just as the Psalmist did, if you choose today to stop depending upon men and
start crying out to God in your privation, you shall receive your help. Because he is the God who hears. He is El
Shama. The Lord is in your side and his
ears are open to your cry. You will be able to say one day, But truly God
has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. (Psalms 66:19)
3.El Yireh– God who provides!
Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of
water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a
drink. (Gen 21;19)
The God whom we worship is not only
someone who sees and hears, but he also is someone who provides. The
name Yahweh Yireh or Jehovah Jireh meaning the “Lord who will provide” appears
for the first time in the incident involving Abraham and Isaac. When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only
son Isaac, he obeyed the same and took his only begotten son to be offered as a
sacrifice on a mount predestined by
God. Not knowing that he is going to be
the sacrificial animal, Isaac enquired his father as to where is the
sacrificial animal for offering. The
father Abraham, in response, said to his son Isaac’s question said, “God himself
provide the lamb to be offered as sacrifice”.
When Abraham was about to raise the knife to kill his son, God stopped
him. In the same mount, God had already
kept a “substitute” lamb in the place of Isaac. Abraham took that lamb and offered it as a
sacrifice. That is where the Bible introduced
us to the name “El Yireh” – God who provides.
In the wilderness, Hagar was left to
fend for herself after the stock of water given by her Master was
exhausted. Not knowing where to go and
what to do, she left the son in one corner and kept crying and wailing. Hearing the lament of Hagar and the cry of
Ishmael God intervened and directed her attention towards of pool or well of
water. It was indeed a miraculous provision
in an unlikely place. God opened a
water spring in the dry and desolate land.
Yes. He is a God who provides for you
in the most unlikeliest of circumstances and in incredible ways. In the wilderness Lord Jesus Christ fed a
multitude of more than 5000 people.
During famine, God sent meals to Elijah through a raven. When the whole nation was reeling in
drought, God used Elijah to miraculously provide for the needs of the widow and
her only son, not for one day, but for many days, until the end of famine.
Even in your life, is there any need,
any want, any provision that has not been met for long. The problem of the Psalmist was his enemies.
When he prayed and realized that “God is for him”, he experienced the turning
away of the enemies. Similarly, when
you pray and realize that “God is for you” you will see your needs getting met
in supernatural ways. Because he is the
God who sees, who hears and who provides . Hallelujah!
It is one thing to believe that God
knows it all. It is quite another thing to believe and walk in the knowledge
that God knows you, knows what you are going through. It is one thing for you
to declare that I know the one who knows me.
It is quite another to realize in every situation of your life that God
knows you.
In the life of Hagar, during the most
testing and difficult times, we see God intervening in her life as El Rohi, El
Shama and El Yireh. Even in this month,
I am confident that the Omniscient God will move in your life and in the life
of your family members as the Lord who sees,
who hears and most importantly as the one who provides.
Hagar and Ishmael – Word
for your Children!
If you look closely at the life of
Hagar, the problem always revolved around her child. When she first left the
family, she put at risk the life of the child in the womb. Second time around, the boy was young but she feared that he might die in
thirst. God intervened to save the life
of the child in both the occasions.
Hagar was only a bondwoman. But you are not a bondwoman or bondman. You are liberated child of the living
God. You are his son, you are his
daughter. If God could intervene in the
life of that gentile woman just because the child she was the son of Abraham,
his faithful servant, how much more would our living father be concerned about
the life your own children. The God who
saw, heard and provided for Hagar is more than able and willing to take care of
your children. Hallelujah. They shall live and they shall surely do
well.!
Amen!
God bless you!
Vinod Kumar
God’s Shadow Ministries
9840011374, 9840595057
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