Scripture Reading: Genesis 37:1-36
For no reason, we at times show hidden and open hatred to others. Even if there are reasons, Christ eschewed hatred but He embraced love. The passage is about the wickedness of the brothers of Joseph against him and how he was sold into slavery.
Irrespective of what led to us hating anyone, it is worth knowing that it is majorly envy. We inherently dislike people either because they are better than us, more preferred to us, achieve than us, and they are favoured above us, among others. Every little thing, we blow out of proportion and people will be wondering how this little issue could warrant such outbursts.
Unconsciously, we expose our hidden jealousy for others. Meanwhile, history has shown that the more that we hate people, the more that God elevate them. It was the hatred that Sarah had for Hagar that got the attention of God (Genesis 21:9-16). Although, Hagar by her own bad character, despising her mistress (Genesis 16:4-6), brought this upon herself. Again, God acted to bless her seeds to show that we must never use evil to repay evil.
This could be seen from the action of Joseph against her wicked brothers when they went to Egypt to search for food. Despite his position of authority, he still did not act harshly to his brothers, but forgave them (Genesis 42-43).
God, most times, favour those that we conspire to bring down and we display so much of hatred for. The reason why He is not a man is to keep us in check that “you might be my servant, but the day that you bring up your human ungodly hatred for fellow human, I will change it to blessing for the hated”. If care is not taken, if we hate someone that God has decided to bless, we might end up bringing curse not only upon ourselves, but our generations.
This was exactly how Balak the King of Moab brought curse upon himself and his nation. He created distress for himself as a result of the love that God showed to the people of Israel and he (Balak) wanted to vent his anger on them. This he did by soliciting for an assistance from Balaam to help to curse God’s children (Numbers 22-23).
Then came this famous parable from the spirit of God through Balaam who had told Balak that he would only say what God asked him to say – “How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied? (Numbers 23:8). Eventually, what he planned for the children of God came upon him.
In the current Nigeria’s political electioneering and thereafter, we could see the hatred coming out from even anointed men and women of God against those that they were not favoured. They forgot that man can never be equated to God. The day that you display hatred to a fellow human is the day that God will start lifting him.
May Jehovah God take away from us, all kinds of hatred towards our brethren, through Christ our Lord.
Memory Verse:
Numbers 23:10
“Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like this”.
Baba Aladura, Elder Israel Akinadewo – FCA, PhD
Prelate, Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide (MCCSW)/President, Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC)