God is Our Big Brother

        Fearful Housemates

Last night, many were somehow shocked with the latest happenings in Pinoy Big Brother. Big Brother told the remaining 4 housemates to pack up their clothes and bring them to the garden. He told them to exchange baggages and sort the clothes which will they need for the remaining 4 days. Behind them were huge, top open, boxes labeled G, S and T. The remaining clothes will be put inside these boxes. Whatever box that is, depends on the housemates. So housemates did what they were told. When Big Brother told them what the letters stand for, the housemates start to be anxious. G stands for "Gupit" (English. Cut), S for "Sunog" (English. Burn), T for "Tapon" (English. Throw). To make things short, the clothes inside these boxes will be cut, burned or thrown. The tension increases as they were told to get the matches, scissors, etc from the storage room. Jason, one of the housemates was told to get a pair of pants from the "G" box and was told to cut it. The pants belonged to Uma, the half-Filipino, half-Israeli housemate and you can see in his face the anxiety of cutting the pants his beloved mother gave him. You can see the housemates' faces angsty in protest. Jason would not cut the pants so he was told to go the confession room. There he was told by Big Brother that not following his orders would mean force eviction on his part. However Jason did not care he will be evicted. He was convinced that Big Brother's order was absurd and would never break his friendship with Uma by cutting his pants. Big Brother let him out of the confession room and called for the remaining three housemates. Each of them were teary-eyed, angrily confessing what they think is absurdity on Big Brother's orders and they would join Jason too to go out of the house.

When they were done, the housemates were still trying to figure out the point of the task they are given. When it was Big Brother's turn to talk, he told them to scrutinize the so-called pants Jason is suppose to cut. They inspected it. It was not Uma's pants - just a replica of it. The housemates were put to shame when they realized that Big Brother is just testing their trust in him. While I was watching at that moment, the scene where God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac came into my mind. Many times God had been faithful to Abraham so Abraham was so secure that he could trust God even in this seemingly absurd and pointless task. If I were Abraham, I would think,

"God has given me a son and now he wants to take it? What is he playing at? He well knows I love my son! He made withg me a covenant that I will the father of all nations. How can I be one if he's going to take away my son? My ONLY son!?"

But Abraham, knowing that God has been faithful to him ever since He had called him, trusted and obeyed God and we all know today how many Jews were scattered throughout the world... maybe including Uma. It was a lesson to trsut God always. How? By meditiating on his words and his promises. He will never leave is nor forsake us. Our feelings might manifest doubt, fear or anger but clinging to God's word is a brave step to overcome these feelings. In the end, God always make better ways, better than what we might expect.