27 Jan When Family Has Conflict
Your enemies will be right in your own household!
—Matthew 10:36
Jesus taught us that serving God might prove costly in family relationships.
Jacob learned that painful lesson when his close family became the immediate
source of his greatest problems. His father-in-law Laban cheated him, tricked
him, abused him, and even chased him when he left (Genesis 31:23). In another
instance, Jacob’s brother Esau appeared to be angry to the point of revenge
when he came to meet Jacob with his four hundred men. The outcome in both these
situations? God intervened on Jacob’s behalf! Laban was rebuked in a dream: “Be
careful about what you say to Jacob!” Esau received Jacob back with tears and
kisses (Genesis 33:4).
Jesus told His disciples to decide whether they loved Him or their relatives
more. Because the time may come when a relative departs from the Lord’s way,
we, too, must choose to follow the “narrow way.” This doesn’t mean that we
intentionally ostracize our relatives, only that we are fully prepared to be
rejected or misunderstood by them.
God helped Jacob with both Laban and Esau. If you are having a family conflict,
He will help you through it as well!