ESOCS Devotional 4 August
TEXT: JUDGES 19:17-30
MEMORY VERSE: “Everyone who saw it said, “Such a thing has never been seen or done, not since the day the Israelites came up out of Egypt. Think about it! Consider it! Tell us what to do!” Judges 19:30
A man prepares for work and drives out from his house, gets into an argument on the way and fights. He gets to the office fuming, by break time he has completely cooled down and smiling and by the time he gets home, there is completely no feeling of animosity. The following day, his brother comes to his house over a matter of dispute between them. They enter into a fight and they abuse each other. He storms out of the house very upset, manages to go through the day’s work, gets home still feeling very bad and decides to sever relationship with his blood brother. Severally things like this happen. Why does the feeling of hurt linger when we are wronged by people who are closely linked with us.
Pain is more painful when it is inflicted by people who are close and from where you expect love, care and protection. The disappointment and the feeling of betrayal make the pain and the hurt almost unbearable. The family, friends, the church, and social organs like these are to provide support for its members. The expectation is that in such circles, you are loved and your best interest is paramount. There you feel at home and expect to be accommodated; there you feel secure and expect to be protected. There you are among your own people and expect a home. In such places, great investment and sacrifices are made and the level of emotional attachment is high . It is a relationship based on the highest level of trust.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
When people from this circle treat with wickedness their brother, friend, or member, it is betrayal and inflicts an emotional wound that is so deep that it is sometimes fatal. The Levite had refused to lodge with the Jebusites because he considered them strangers and not Israelites, but preferred to lodge at Gibeah a city of the Benjamites who he considered his own people, a people of God; of common faith and spiritual heritage. There he expected a home and the highest level of godliness, but they behaved worse than infidels. Broke with impunity the spiritual and emotional bond that bound them, trampled on his rights, raped his wife to death and did not care how he felt or how it will affect him. He refused comfort from the ungodly and came to his people, but his people turned his life upside down and ruined him. This is the pain of the Levite. Brotherliness, especially among brethren and believers is a sacred trust. It must not be betrayed. When done in the church, it is a destruction of the body of Christ.
CHALLENGES
- Have you ever wronged a person who loves or trusts you or have you ever felt the pain of betrayal?
- how do you think a child of god should handle such situation?
PRAYER POINT:
- Lord give us the grace to understand the blessing in the love of Christ and help us show this love to all. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Micah 7:8-20; Nahum 1:1–15; Mark 10:35-52; 11:1-10
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ESOCS Devotional 4th August
