HANDLINGS HURTS (7): WHEN SIBLINGS HURT

It was just the two of them, but the wedge between them seemed to get bigger. It was fanned by a financial disagreement that lingered just beyond normal. During the season, a near-fatal disaster happened to one of the siblings. A distant relative called and said, “Your brother said that you deserve whatever your eyes see.”

Without confirmation, they both maintained a radio silence except for the occasional pleasantries exchanged on the phone. Someone in the family had to inform the older about the statement that had widened the communication gap. He was surprised. He said he had not seen or spoken to the informant in months. The enemy was exploiting the gap in communication between the two siblings. The older one had to make the sacrifice of seeing his younger one to iron out matters. At least it closed the gaps a little bit.

Some hurts have been transferred from generation to generation. I know families where the nieces and nephews have been warned not to talk to certain uncles and aunts. I know families that are already isolated because of the fear of diabolic attacks. Some sons inherited their parents’ hurts and prejudices. They have transferred bitterness from generation to generation. It is always a painful sight to behold as the enemy tears families apart.

One person that has the right to be hurt is Joseph. Joseph was sold by his siblings because of competitive jealousy. The plan was to kill him. They only had a rethink and sold him as a slave. You can imagine the hurt and pain that Joseph must have had. If it were you, you would have been loaded with bitterness. Joseph showed signs that he was pretty hurt also:

When the Lord turned everything around, he became a ruler in Egypt and had his first child. Do you know what he called his son? Manasseh. What was his reason? The Lord has made him forget his father’s house. Who were those who afflicted him? His brothers.

“Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭41‬:‭51‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

He wanted to wipe away that painful memory. It was a painful one for him. When he had a second child, he called him Ephraim. What was his motivation?

“And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭41‬:‭52‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

They sold him into affliction. Do you know that Joseph did not just miraculously love up on his brothers the moment he saw them? He wanted to show them “some pepper,” and he did.

He acted as a stranger and spoke harshly to them: “Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭42‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Have you felt the same way before? Do you now act like a stranger with your siblings? Do you speak angrily when you have to talk? Or do you just choose the silent treatment?

Joseph threw them all into Egyptian prison for three days. It was more like, ‘Have a taste of your own medicine.’

“So he put them all together in prison for three days.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭42‬:‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

It took the fear of God for Joseph to begin to allow the Lord to intervene in the matter and trust that God had a plan.

“Then Joseph said to them the third day, “Do this and live, for I fear God:”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭42‬:‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

If Joseph did not see God in the middle of the action of his brothers, he would have injured the plan of God to use him to preserve a generation from death during the famine. His great-grandfather’s prophecy was playing out, and he was a significant actor. God must have seen that Joseph would be the most appropriate for that plan.

If it were Reuben or Judah God used, they would have likely slept with Mrs. Potiphar. They both had issues with self-control when it came to the opposite sex.

If it were Simeon or Levi, they would have angrily consumed their siblings. They have a short fuse. They would have acted angrily and maybe dealt with their siblings wickedly before thinking of God’s plan.

What if God has seen the heart of Joseph in you? Would you focus on your hurt or look at what God is doing?

I pray for you, the Grace of the Lord.

temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa