January
Do Not Quarrel on the Way by Cynthia Saladin
January
Do Not Quarrel on the Way
by Cynthia Saladin
Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.” Genesis 45:24
I love this verse. It makes the story so real! Think about it! Joseph’s brothers have just found Joseph alive - and second-in-command in Egypt. They’ve just been given plenty of food. Remember the famine? Remember how Jacob had sent them back to Egypt to get food so they wouldn’t die? Now, not only have they been given food without having to pay for it, they are also moving to the best land in all of Egypt for the duration of the famine. They also get to take Benjamin back to his father uninjured. Things are very good. What would they have to fight about?
I can just imagine Reuben: I told you not to hurt the boy [Joseph]! Now he’s second-in-command over all of Egypt. Do you know how he could get revenge? Oh, if you had only listened to me!
Then Judah chimes in: Well, at least, I stopped you from killing him.
Then Dan or Naphtali: Yeah, like you didn’t want to kill him. You just wanted the money selling him could bring.
Or Zebulun: Yeah, it was your idea to kill him in the first place.
Judah: It was not. I never wanted to hurt him.
Asher: Like selling him isn’t a death sentence, well, normally.
Levi: Uh, guys, who’s going to tell Dad that Joseph is still alive? Who’s going to tell him what you guys did - selling him into slavery and sending him to Egypt? I’m not telling Dad.
And another round of fighting ensues. They have the whole trip home to hash out the events of the past, bickering the whole way. Now, I don’t know that they did this. But I know how families can be. I know the little things they can bicker about - even when life is good.
Picking blackberries: Hey! This is my patch. You go get stuck somewhere else. I want these brambles to poke me.
Swimming in the pool - think about it - you’re already wet: Mom! He’s splashing me. Mom! He’s making too many waves.
Oh, the myriad of bickering points: He’s rocking his chair. He’s humming. He’s looking at me. He’s breathing my air.
I know it sounds funny, but, in reality, it isn’t! Bickering may start small, but it escalates. Pretty soon, there are harsh words spoken. Words turn into feelings which express themselves in actions. Pretty soon, you can’t stand to be around your brother.
And it’s not just families - physical brothers and sisters. It also happens in church families. Really. If it didn’t, then why do we have all of these verses?
1 John 3 :10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4 :20-21 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
2 Peter 1:7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
1 Peter 2:17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
And a favorite around our household is:
Romans 12:9-10: Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
When Christopher was little, he read the verse this way: “Love one another with brotherly affliction. . .” And although we laugh, that’s really the way we love each other sometimes - with brotherly affliction. We shouldn’t. We have been given so much. God has blessed us beyond measure! We’ve been given a Savior to redeem us from our sins. Even if we’re suffering in this life, we’re assured of a glorious future with Him forever. We have so little to complain about!
Jesus has given us a job to do - go and make disciples of all nations - much like the job Joseph gave to his brothers - go and bring all of the family to me. And like Joseph said to his brothers, Jesus could very well say to each of us, “You’ve got a job to do. Don’t quarrel on the way.”
Do Not Quarrel on the Way by Cynthia Saladin
January
Do Not Quarrel on the Way
by Cynthia Saladin
Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.” Genesis 45:24
I love this verse. It makes the story so real! Think about it! Joseph’s brothers have just found Joseph alive - and second-in-command in Egypt. They’ve just been given plenty of food. Remember the famine? Remember how Jacob had sent them back to Egypt to get food so they wouldn’t die? Now, not only have they been given food without having to pay for it, they are also moving to the best land in all of Egypt for the duration of the famine. They also get to take Benjamin back to his father uninjured. Things are very good. What would they have to fight about?
I can just imagine Reuben: I told you not to hurt the boy [Joseph]! Now he’s second-in-command over all of Egypt. Do you know how he could get revenge? Oh, if you had only listened to me!
Then Judah chimes in: Well, at least, I stopped you from killing him.
Then Dan or Naphtali: Yeah, like you didn’t want to kill him. You just wanted the money selling him could bring.
Or Zebulun: Yeah, it was your idea to kill him in the first place.
Judah: It was not. I never wanted to hurt him.
Asher: Like selling him isn’t a death sentence, well, normally.
Levi: Uh, guys, who’s going to tell Dad that Joseph is still alive? Who’s going to tell him what you guys did - selling him into slavery and sending him to Egypt? I’m not telling Dad.
And another round of fighting ensues. They have the whole trip home to hash out the events of the past, bickering the whole way. Now, I don’t know that they did this. But I know how families can be. I know the little things they can bicker about - even when life is good.
Picking blackberries: Hey! This is my patch. You go get stuck somewhere else. I want these brambles to poke me.
Swimming in the pool - think about it - you’re already wet: Mom! He’s splashing me. Mom! He’s making too many waves.
Oh, the myriad of bickering points: He’s rocking his chair. He’s humming. He’s looking at me. He’s breathing my air.
I know it sounds funny, but, in reality, it isn’t! Bickering may start small, but it escalates. Pretty soon, there are harsh words spoken. Words turn into feelings which express themselves in actions. Pretty soon, you can’t stand to be around your brother.
And it’s not just families - physical brothers and sisters. It also happens in church families. Really. If it didn’t, then why do we have all of these verses?
1 John 3 :10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4 :20-21 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
2 Peter 1:7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
1 Peter 2:17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
And a favorite around our household is:
Romans 12:9-10: Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
When Christopher was little, he read the verse this way: “Love one another with brotherly affliction. . .” And although we laugh, that’s really the way we love each other sometimes - with brotherly affliction. We shouldn’t. We have been given so much. God has blessed us beyond measure! We’ve been given a Savior to redeem us from our sins. Even if we’re suffering in this life, we’re assured of a glorious future with Him forever. We have so little to complain about!
Jesus has given us a job to do - go and make disciples of all nations - much like the job Joseph gave to his brothers - go and bring all of the family to me. And like Joseph said to his brothers, Jesus could very well say to each of us, “You’ve got a job to do. Don’t quarrel on the way.”
