Dear God, in matters that pertain to fear that this dear reader may be facing, speak the words of comfort and peace as only You can. In Jesus' Name, amen.
The topic of wrestling with one's siblings is found again in The Bible, again in Genesis, chapter 37:2-11 (Text below). It's the story of Jacob/Israel's young son, Joseph. You see again that some parents in the Bible do not hide their favoritism from other children, for it said in verse 3 that "Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children," the reason being was that he was an old man when Joseph came along, and he was the son of a favorite wife. This favoritism was shown in the special, multicolored coat that Jacob had made for Joseph. To wear the coat was to wear a sign that said, "Dad loves me more!" Not exactly the breeding ground for love and understanding with the other siblings. To make matters worse, Joseph started to have dreams where he was the star and his brothers and parents had supporting roles. Quite honestly, these dreams made Joseph ruler over his brothers and even over his father and mother. Awkward!
You know the outcome of this part of the story. When the brothers had a chance, they talked about killing Joseph, but the older brother, Rueben took this matter out of mind and suggested they spare Joseph but that they sell him into slavery. Such kind, loving brothers, right? Little did they know all they set into motion that day was what would ultimately save their lives at a later time, and that God was with Joseph and even with them.
I know some of you have had some rough patches with siblings and some of you more recently than others. Driven by fear or anger or greed, things get said or done that should not happen among brothers or sisters. To try and explain these actions by others would be futile, we just can say, things like this should not happen but they do. Imagine Joseph's thoughts at the bottom of that pit. Imagine Joseph's thoughts when sold into slavery by his own brothers. Joseph knew only to turn to God and to trust God that God would see him through all he endured. We can do the same. We should pray at all times but when things don't make sense and it seems like the whole world is against us, we can turn to God. We may ask, why, and allow God to answer; and the answer may not be what we're looking for, but our petition should be one of "Lord, if I am at fault, please make that clear to me and direct me in making it right."
God can work incredible, unexplainable, wonderful things in situations we may deem hopeless.
PRAYER: Loving God, You better than me, understand some of what has been said to and about me. Some of it coming from someone who should be loving towards me. As was shared above dear Father, if I am at fault, please make that clear and direct me to correcting it as only You can. If it be my sister/brother's fault, please bless them and protect them and show them Your love and in so doing, may reconciliation and peace finally be ours. You are the God of the mysterious ways, and I affirm that this morning/afternoon/evening. In Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
------------------Prayer Update: Betty Rigsbee underwent successful knee surgery and wanted her church family to know she will not be going to Brownsville as originally thought. She will be moved to Golden Palms for rehab treatment there. For now she is in Harlingen Medical Center, Room 402. Your prayers would be most appreciated.
Here is that text from above: 2 Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him. 5 Once Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, "Listen to this dream that I dreamed. 7 There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright; then your sheaves gathered around it, and bowed down to my sheaf." 8 His brothers said to him, "Are you indeed to reign over us? Are you indeed to have dominion over us?" So they hated him even more because of his dreams and his words. 9 He had another dream, and told it to his brothers, saying, "Look, I have had another dream: the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me." 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him, and said to him, "What kind of dream is this that you have had? Shall we indeed come, I and your mother and your brothers, and bow to the ground before you?" 11 So his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
