Repercussions of Pain
May 10|Finding Hope in Family Conflict Series
May 10|Finding Hope in Family Conflict Series
“Here comes [Joseph] that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.” Genesis 37:19-20
Listen: Genesis 37
The tension between the sons of Jacob just keeps getting worse. First Joseph tattles on his older brothers, and then Jacob favors him with a beautiful and expensive coat. His brothers already hate him for gloating about two dreams he has where the whole family bows down to him. It won’t take much more for this sibling rivalry to explode.
Then the “much more” happens. They are out with the flocks and see the arrogant tattletale coming towards them from a distance. This time he won’t be going back to tell on them. They start plotting his death. But because oldest son Reuben intervenes, they end up selling him into slavery instead.
Sadly, there can be repercussions of personal pain that lead to vengeance and reprisal. The progression looks like this: something bad happens to me, then something bad happens in me, then something bad happens through me. We need to guard our hearts from allowing hurt and rejection to turn into “payback.” Watch video clip below as Senior Pastor Jeff Manion explains the right way to deal with hurt and anger
We all have family conflict whether it’s with our own family, work-family, or church-family. What you do with the pain is critical. Ask yourself, “How is my heart today?” Then lay your issues at the foot of the cross and ask Jesus to help you follow his example of love and forgiveness (Ephesians 5:1-2).
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.