The online Bible teaching
ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and
exhortation.
Tuesday,
January
11,
2022
A Berks County Pennsylvania bank barn.
These bank barns are common throughout
Pennsylvania with the typical uneven terrain. The design
allows grade level access to both levels.
"Feuding
Brothers"
Message
summary: Today's message
chronicles a warm reunion between two feuding brothers who
had been estranged for many years; Jacob and Esau. Let us
experience the truth of “How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!” (Psalm
133:1).
Note:
We prepared a podcast for today's message but when we were
done (we thought) I noticed the recorder had
malfunctioned! Due to an early appointment we need to
leave so we won't be preparing one today.
"But Esau
ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms
around his neck and kissed him. And they wept" (Genesis
33:4). “How good and
pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”
(Psalm 133:1).
One
of the occasional aromas we have here in Lancaster County
comes from a huge Kelloggs Cereal Plant between Mount Joy
and Lancaster along Rt 283. Depending on what they are
making and wind conditions we have a very pleasant toasted
grain aroma one can smell even on the busy four lane
highway. Yesterday I passed the plant and it was emitting
the toasting aroma!
Kelloggs was
founded in the early 1900's by Dr.
John Kellogg and his younger brother, Will Kellogg. Although the two brothers worked together for
a long time, they never got along. And their relationship
ended with a series of lawsuits.
Historian
Howard Markel in his book, "The
Kelloggs: The Battling Brothers Of Battle Creek" candidly observed, "There was a lot of bad blood
between them, and then after the lawsuit they rarely, if
ever, spoke to one another again."
Sadly
feuding brothers is not that uncommon. In the course of
ministry there have been numerous occasions we have
counseled with feuding brothers (and sisters). Not only
does this brings great heartache to the parents, it
divides a family and the turmoil can last a lifetime right
up to the death of a family member.
It didn't
take long in the Bible before we have the first record of
feuding brothers, Cain and Abel, a feud which had a
horrible outcome; mankind's first murder.
The next
recorded brotherly feud was between twin brothers Jacob
and Esau and it was doozy, largely caused by conniving
Jacob. Their feud began in their mother Rebekah's womb, “But
the children struggled together within her" (Genesis
25:22). Later it was the birthright then the blessing. Jacob deceived his brother Esau and had left
home after Esau threatened to kill him. The
narrative focuses on Jacob after this event but it is
clear that God had also worked on Esau's heart over the
years of estrangement from his brother.
Genesis 32
and 33 record their reconciliation and the events leading
up to it. Jacob’s lasting remembrance of Esau was their
extremely difficult parting over 20 years earlier. Jacob
has dreaded this eventual meeting for years and feared for
his life, bravely sending the women and children ahead of
him (sarcasm!) He expected severe retribution due to
his deceptive trickery years earlier.
But today's
text chronicles the warm reunion between these two feuding
brothers who had been estranged for many years and is one
of the great examples of love and reconciliation in the
Bible. "But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him;
he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And
they wept" (Genesis 33:4). Can you think of another
similar reconciliation in the Bible?
Their
reconciliation meant they were together at their father's
funeral without incident in chapter 35:29, "Then he
(Isaac) breathed his last and died and was gathered to
his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and
Jacob buried him".
Do you have
a brother or sister you need to reconcile with? Experience
the truth of “How good and
pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”
(Psalm 133:1).
Be
encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, we can all be thankful
for the good that comes from brothers and sisters
who walk together in unity. Since our journey below
is hard, long, and full of challenges it is such a
blessing when family members come together to
lovingly support and encourage one another in the
small and big matters of life. Enable us to do our
part to keep our family united in love, respectful
of our differences, and dutiful in carrying out our
responsibilities as a family member. In Jesus' name
we pray. Amen.
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Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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