Today’s article on overcoming fear by facing the one whom you have wronged may help you to really get a handle on some fear that’s plaguing you in mind and heart. Fear wears many faces and while some fear is healthy, most is actually caused, or at least enlarged, by a lack of knowledge and or trust in the Lord to be with you as that which you fear comes upon you.
Two men who hadn’t seen each for around thirty years were circumstantially meeting. One of these men had done the other wrong in taking advantage of him when he was in a weakened condition. The deception was long and drawn out, so premeditation and an organized scheme was definitely full blown. The victim’s own mother was in the plot against him.
Over time both of these men had each prospered in their own way. One became a wealthy cattleman, the other a mighty warrior/plunderer, with his own army. The warrior had the power to kill and take all the cattleman had gained. Notice the fear on the part of the cattleman:
Genesis 32:7, “Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;”
Perhaps the full story is breaking upon you now. Jacob and Esau, the two sons of Isaac, one known now as Israel, and Esau known as, the man of the field/world. The “Man of the World” had been cheated by his “Spiritual Brother.” Over time the man of the world came to understand that the blessing he had been cheated out of would have been of little use to him as he was committed to his ungodly lifestyle. This says a lot for him.
For long years, Jacob/Israel lived in dread of a confrontation with the man he had cheated. The day came. Esau seems to have been looking forward to the meeting with joyous anticipation at the reconciliation with his own flesh and blood. A lesson here is simply, it is better to be hoodwinked than to be the hoodwinker!
Jacob knew he had done wrong and was trying to find some way to make things right. Learn that no amount can do this, for loss is really associated with the inner person and God has to heal that hurt. Space does not permit much more, but here are two things you can do when your day of confrontation comes: Face it. And certainly follow the lead of Jacob here:
Genesis 32:11, “Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.”
Bathe all known confrontations in prayer beforehand.
Copyright © 2015 Larry Lilly
Click Oral Deckard for quality computer work.
Two men who hadn’t seen each for around thirty years were circumstantially meeting. One of these men had done the other wrong in taking advantage of him when he was in a weakened condition. The deception was long and drawn out, so premeditation and an organized scheme was definitely full blown. The victim’s own mother was in the plot against him.
Over time both of these men had each prospered in their own way. One became a wealthy cattleman, the other a mighty warrior/plunderer, with his own army. The warrior had the power to kill and take all the cattleman had gained. Notice the fear on the part of the cattleman:
Genesis 32:7, “Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;”
Perhaps the full story is breaking upon you now. Jacob and Esau, the two sons of Isaac, one known now as Israel, and Esau known as, the man of the field/world. The “Man of the World” had been cheated by his “Spiritual Brother.” Over time the man of the world came to understand that the blessing he had been cheated out of would have been of little use to him as he was committed to his ungodly lifestyle. This says a lot for him.
For long years, Jacob/Israel lived in dread of a confrontation with the man he had cheated. The day came. Esau seems to have been looking forward to the meeting with joyous anticipation at the reconciliation with his own flesh and blood. A lesson here is simply, it is better to be hoodwinked than to be the hoodwinker!
Jacob knew he had done wrong and was trying to find some way to make things right. Learn that no amount can do this, for loss is really associated with the inner person and God has to heal that hurt. Space does not permit much more, but here are two things you can do when your day of confrontation comes: Face it. And certainly follow the lead of Jacob here:
Genesis 32:11, “Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.”
Bathe all known confrontations in prayer beforehand.
Copyright © 2015 Larry Lilly
Click Oral Deckard for quality computer work.