January 9th...

It is not expected for you to be close friends with everyone. There are just some people that are annoying or get on your nerves. There are some you don’t have anything in common with. And, there are some you simply don’t get along with. There are some people that you have had a bad experience with and hostility emerges between you. Any names coming to mind?

If you don’t like someone, is it okay to be rude to them? If someone has “done you wrong”, do you have the right to retaliate? If you are threatened by someone, do you have the right to treat them disrespectfully?

Today we read about three different sets of people who had “issues” between them. Let’s see what we can learn from them…

Genesis 25-26

First, we have the two nations that came from Ishmael and Isaac. We are told that the two brothers came together and buried their father, Abraham. But we are also told that the descendants of Ishmael lived in hostility toward all their brothers. As this has played out in our world today, does the relationship between these two groups o people matter?

Second, we learn of two nations that would come from Rebekah’s twins: Esau would father the Edomites and Jacob would father the Israelites. Jealousy and insecurity between these brothers set the stage for hostility between them. As we read through the Old Testament, we will see this hostile relationship over and over for many generations. Even when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt they asked to pass through the land of the Edomites and were told “no”.

Finally, we Isaac living in the land of the Philistines. Abimelech asks him to leave because he has become too powerful. Isaac did not try to use his power for what he thought he deserved or what was “right”, he trusted God and left. God continued to bless him and Isaac remained faithful. Interestingly enough, Abimelech seeks out Isaac. At this point, did Isaac have the right to be rude, disrespectful, or hostile?  Did he? Who was honored because of his actions?

The natural response is to return hostility with hostility – to defend your right. Be careful, when you respond like everyone else – no on will take notice. When you respond in defense of yourself – the focus is on you. When you respond trusting God and being obedient to Him – the focus is on Him – so much so that even non-God fearing people like the Philistines recognized that He was LORD.  

think about it:

In the reading we see two things that Isaac does that his father did, what were they?

How do family patterns or traits get passed down?

Do you believe everything your parents say?

Do you do everything your parents do?

Ask your parents: "What is something your parents did that you said you'd never do... and now you do it anyways?"