One answer on the board. Name something you Love but dislike at the same time?
We are going with, “Family”
Ding… You Win!!!
The Story
Most are familiar with the game show Family Feud. We are also familiar with real family feuds. Family dysfunction goes all the way back to the biblical days:
- Adam told God it was that woman you gave me, that made me eat the forbidden fruit(Genesis 3:13)
- Cain killed his brother Abel(Genesis 4)
- Abraham and Sarah argued about his relations with Hagar(Genesis 16)
These are all family issues, and we are still in the book of Genesis. With family issues dating back to biblical days, it’s understandable we still experience family feuds today. Let’s take a look at a well-known family feud in Genesis 37 and how it resonates with us today.
It’s the story of Joseph and his family. Joseph is the one people reference when they say, “From the Pit to the Palace.” What’s often left out is how Joseph got to the pit. During Joseph’s teenage years, his brothers were envious of him and sold him as a slave to foreigners. While in his opposition, God was with him every step of the way. Some of us are still holding on to hurt that happened early on in life. What often is overlooked is how that hurt led us closer to God.
In Joseph’s case, not only did his trials and tribulations lead him closer to God, but he also learned a gift he possessed. This is the same with us today. When we experience adversity and opposition at the hands of family, God will show us gifts we possess that will help someone else. Gifts such as prophesying God’s goodness. You can explain to others how to conquer similar storms. People are likely to listen to your advice when you have experienced the same pain they have and made it through.
Forgiveness
Family feuds can teach us one of life’s greatest lesson, Forgiveness. I understand that this action is easier said than done. But God said in Mark 11:25(NLT), “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your father in Heaven will forgive your sins, too.” After years away from his family, Joseph missed birthdays, graduations, cookouts and all other family functions. Yet when he reconciled with his brothers, he kissed them and assured them they were forgiven. Martin Luther King Jr said “Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what has been done or putting a false label on an evil act. It means, rather, that the evil act no longer remains as a barrier to the relationship. Forgiveness is a catalyst creating the atmosphere necessary for a fresh start and a new beginning.”
Conclusion
When family feuds occur let God determine what happens to the guilty party. You may get a chance to get even with a relative after being hurt. Don’t do it. Leave the situation in God’s hand. Joseph experienced much pain and suffering at the hands of his brothers. After everything was said and done Joseph told his brothers what we need to keep at the forefront, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.”
Prayer
Lord, Thank You for being a forgiving God. Give us that same mental capacity when we have been wronged. Lord, the enemy has been attacking families since the beginning of time. With You as our advocate, family will remain our everything. Amen