Prayer: Father, I pray this morning for healing of fractured families and fractured relationships. I ask for reconciliation between siblings and parents. May Your healing begin today! In Yeshua’s name, amen.
Reading: Genesis 33 key: vs. 1
Then Jacob glanced up and saw, behold, there was Esau coming—and 400 men with him. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants.
Attention: Let’s say you hadn’t spoken to your brother in years, and you remember keenly the circumstances under which you parted. Twice you had stolen and deceived to take something precious from him. Your brother was livid and wanted to kill you, but he subdued his anger because his and your father was near death. The situation was so volatile that both parents begged you to leave town to allow your brother’s anger to subside. You honored their request by leaving immediately.
Whether you are the offender or the offended, are you praying for reconciliation of the parties? This story has a particular significance to me, for I have a brother who has left our family for his own reasons. He harbors a grudge which extends for most of his childhood. His anger at times has been on par with Esau’s.
So, what would you think if you saw your offended brother, whom you knew wanted to kill you, walking toward you with four hundred men with him? I’m sure I would be very apprehensive about his intentions. But look at the response, “But Esau ran to meet (Jacob) him, hugged him, fell on his neck and kissed him—and they wept.” Sounds a bit like reunited brothers we will read about later in Genesis.
If you find yourself facing a similar situation with a family member or friend, I encourage you to pray daily about the reconciliation you desire to see. I believe reconciliation is a miracle when deep-seated offense has happened. Reconciliation is a work of the Lord’s involving the heart. When our hearts are right with Adonai, forgiveness can be conveyed to one another.
Action: I will pray for reconciliation with my brother.
Yield: I yield to Adonai to intervene on my behalf with my brother.
Engage: I engage with Adonai in the reconciliation process with my brother.
Relationship: Embracing Adonai in the daily journey of relationship with Him.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for reaching out to me and first loving me. I have reconciled with You, which helped me to reconcile with my parents. My vertical relationship changes my heart attitude toward my family, siblings, and my neighbor and friends. Help me reconcile with everyone readily. In Yeshua’s name, amen.
Memory Verse: 1 John 2: 9-11
9 Then God said, “Let the water below the sky be gathered to one place. Let the dry ground appear.” And it happened so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the collection of the water He called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.
11 Then God said, “Let the land sprout grass, green plants yielding seed, fruit trees making fruit, each according to its species with seed in it, upon the land.” And it happened so.
Music Video: Matthew West—Forgiveness https://youtu.be/h1Lu5udXEZI
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”