Thursday, April 26, 2012

Our Family, Our Enemy


O God, do not be silent! Do not be deaf. Do not be quiet, O God. Don't you hear the uproar of your enemies? Don't you see that your arrogant enemies are rising up? They devise crafty schemes against your people; they conspire against your precious ones. “Come,” they say, “let us wipe out Israel as a nation. We will destroy the very memory of its existence.” Yes, this was their unanimous decision. They signed a treaty as allies against you – these Edomites and Ishmaelites; Moabites and Hagrites; Gebalites, Ammonites, and Amalekites; and people from Philistia and Tyre. Assyria has joined them, too, and is allied with the descendants of Lot. Psalm 83: 1-8 NLT

The saddest part of this psalm is not that folks are ganging up on Israel, God's own nation. What is sad is that these are all related in some way to the Israelites. Ishmael was Isaac's half brother. Lot was Abraham's nephew. In fact, Abraham originally came from the land of Assyria. These are all relatives who have decided to conspire against God's people.

Sometimes it is our families who become our greatest enemies.

Think for a moment about your own family tree. Are there any black sheep? How about someone with whom you do not get along? A distant relative who can't stand you and often tries to insult you or put you down? Even worse, is there someone you are related to you who tries their best to make your life miserable?

God, you have blessed us with our families and yet sometimes they are our bitterest enemies. Do not be silent, Lord, do not be deaf when we cry to you. Help us, Lord, help us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2012 Amelia G. Sims

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