WHAT IF GOD HELD A GRUDGE?

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob." When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, "Your brother Esau is consoling himself with the thought of killing you. Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran. Stay with him for a while until your brother's fury subsides. When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I'll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?" Genesis 27:41-45

Has anyone treated you the wrong way or violated you to the point where you harbor deep anger toward that person? If so, then maybe you can relate to Esau and his emotions after Jacob, under the tutelage of his mother Rebekah, tricks Isaac into giving his blessing and birthright to Jacob by thinking he was really giving it to Esau.

The passage above from the end of Chapter 27 tells us immediately that Esau held a grudge…a grudge that had him thinking murderous thoughts. And therein lies the danger in allowing ourselves to be consumed by anger for it can infect us and lead us to the place of revenge and retaliation. One can almost hear Esau thinking to himself, "He may have thought he got away with this but he’ll have a hard time enjoying the birthright that was rightfully mine if he’s dead." Esau was ready to be judge, jury and executioner on his brother.

Of course, this isn’t the first time we have seen this during our study of the bible’s first book. You’ll remember that Cain, jealous of Abel finding favor with God while he did not, lured his brother out into the field and murdered him. First jealousy…now anger and resentment…both sins conjure up deadly ambitions and actions…ambition and actions that are not of the Lord.
There’s several points to ponder as we examine this scripture and the topic of begrudging another.

1. God is the only true judge. We’re very good at pointing fingers at others and the way they live as if we have no sin within us. Jesus addressed this as the prostitute was about to be stoned by saying to her attackers, "He who hath no sin cast the first stone." As you’ll recall, no stones were thrown. So when someone violates us through sinful behavior, allow God to handle it. Believe and trust that He will address it and do so the right way, unlike how we would take care of things.

2. Where there’s anger, the Lord is not present. How can I say this? Well anger is sinful emotion and the Lord will not be in the presence of sin. It’s plain and simple. God is love and any action that is not of love is of sin. In the midst of his grudge, Esau planned to murder. God would not be in partnership with him in this…but the devil sure would. If you are harboring anger in your heart, you are giving the devil a foothold within you and rejecting God who want to replace the devil in your life. Deny the devil, move toward an attitude of love, allow God to be the judge on all matters and begin to act as you are…a sinner just like the person who has mistreated you…a sinner who needs God’s grace and mercy like everyone else.

3. Consider God and His attitude toward you before turning on another. What would happen if God decided to hold a grudge on anyone who sinned and violated His word and will? What if His standard was murdering us out of hatred because we have disobeyed and disrespected Him? Thanks be to God that we have a Father who is merciful, loving and forgiving. Before you harbor ill will and feelings toward another, you should turn to your Maker, the One who created you in His own image, and model your behavior after His. In other words, forgive and show mercy as He has forgiven and shown mercy unto you. For that is truly the antidote to sinful anger…to sinful grudges…and all by products and behaviors of the two. God is love…my prayer is that your heart will turn more toward His love this day…and in turn, reflect that same love in how you treat others.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/

Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com