Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but the Word of God will HEAL me.
READ-Genesis 32-33
Key Verse Genesis 33:4 “But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.”
Passage Overview
Jacob stole Esau's birthright and then Esau threatened to kill him. So, Jacob ran away. He stayed away for years and was treated by his father in law as he had treated his brother. Finally, God told him it was time to go home. Jacob obeyed even though he was terrified. He humbly prepared to go meet Esau. Jacob wrestled with God and with men which ended with him receiving a blessing and a scar so he would not forget. Jacob continued on to Esau despite his fear. When Esau saw Jacob, he ran to Jacob with open arms and forgiveness.
Notes/Application
- Obey even when you're afraid. God will bless your obedience.
- Even amidst great conflict God can change the hearts of people back towards Him and each other.
- Humility and courage are both requirements (given by God) for relationships to be reconciled.
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JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS
READ- Genesis 42-50
Key Verse 50:20 "But as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day to save many people alive."
Passage Overview
Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. He was mistreated and falsely accused. He went to jail for something he did not do. Yet he remained faithful and obedient even though he did not understand why his circumstances were as they were. Because of his faithful obedience, God was able to use him to raise him up as a leader. He saved the lives of his brothers despite their betrayal of him.
Notes/Application
- We don't always understand why God allows us to face difficult circumstances, but we know if we remain faithful and obedient He will use it for our good and His glory.
- We must allow Him to let us see people and circumstances through the lens of His sovereign purpose, and surrender the hurt to Him.
- Focusing on how He can use what others meant for harm to bring about good gives space for forgiveness and healing.
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ESTHER AND THE KING
READ- ESTHER 4-8
Key Verse 4:14 "For if you remain completely silent at this time deliverance will arise from the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this."
Passage Overview
Haman hated jews and Mordacci most of all. Haman convinced the king that Jews were evil and dangerous so they should all be killed. The king listened and agreed with Haman because he trusted Haman and didn't know the Jews. Mordecai told Esther she would have to speak the truth to save the people. Esther was afraid. She risked her very life going to the king, but with prayer and fasting she went anyway. The king heard the truth, hung Haman on his own gallows, and God used Esther’s courageous actions to save the people.
Notes/Application
- Sometimes the sin/lies of a third party can cause division in a relationship.
- Our silence allows lies to continue.
- Sometimes speaking the truth risks much, but it must be done (in love and gentleness).
- God will bring justice to an unrepentant heart, but truth can reconcile people to each other and to the Lord.
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GOMER AND HOSEA
READ-HOSEA 1-6
Key Verse Hosea 6:6 "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."
Passage Overview
God told Hosea to marry Gomer, a well known harlot. Again and again she betrayed him. Again and again he forgave her. Hosea remained faithful. Finally she returned and (we believe) stayed, just as God's people eventually will.
Notes/Application
- People can be a broken mess, but God loves us anyway.
- We are to love anyway.
- God requires us to offer mercy and love to those who hurt us (again and again), just as He does for us.
- Sometimes we are Gomer, broken and confused, trapped in our sin, needing forgiveness.
- Sometimes we are Hosea, used and abused, showing grace, and remaining faithful.
- It is God's love in us that will draw people to Him.
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JESUS AND PETER
READ- LUKE 22:31-34, 39-46; JOHN 21:7-19
Key Verse Luke 22:32 "But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail;and when you have returned to me, strengthen the brethren.”
Passage Overview
Peter was one of Jesus' most sincere followers throughout Jesus ministry on earth. He walked on water with Jesus, helped feed thousands, witnessed and experienced many miracles. He promised to follow Jesus even unto death. But, when Peter should have been preparing for the greatest battle as of yet, he slept. Satan had asked to sift Peter (perhaps because Satan realized the amount of damage Peter's faith could do to him and his plans). After they arrested Jesus, Peter, this great man of faith, denied even knowing Jesus. But Jesus had paid for Peter. Later, when Peter realized that Jesus is alive again and saw him, Peter came running to Him. Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved Him. Each time Peter said yes, Jesus told him to lead and care for the sheep (church). Peter spent the rest of his life leading thousands (and through the scriptures millions) of people to Jesus.
Notes/Application
- Even the most faithful of followers can experience moments of weakness and fall into sin.
- Satan's plan is to destroy the faithful and render them useless. He will attack at our weakest moments.
- When we realize we have betrayed Jesus, we should not run away or hide. We should run back to Him as hard as we can.
- Jesus will reconcile us back to Him.
- He will then use our weakest moments as avenues to make us stronger and more useful than we were before.
- As we experience "Peter” moments of weakness, we should identify with others as they do too, and offer them mercy and forgiveness as Jesus reconciles them as He does us.
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THE PRODIGAL SON, HIS DAD, AND HIS BROTHER
READ- LUKE 15:11-32
Key Verses Luke 15:17 "but when he came to himself...."
Luke 15:32 "It was right that we should make merry and be glad for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found."
Passage Overview
The son wanted to do life on his own, but he soon wasted everything he had been given. He found himself empty and alone. He remembered his father's servants and how good their life was. Humbling himself he headed home to his father. His father RAN to him rejoicing and offering total forgiveness. The brother asked why the prodigal son had a party and he did not. The father reminded the brother that he too had inherited the blessing, but the son's reconciliation would be celebrated with or without him.
Notes/Application
- We are all that son, wandering through life trying to figure things out on our own.
- Jesus is waiting for us to turn in repentance and run back to Him.
- He will accept us with open arms.
- Our inheritance is the Father, being in His presence.
- This reconciliation, with Jesus, is the single most important response we will make. Our eternity hangs on being reconciled to Christ.
- We should never stop celebrating when we and other people are reconciled to Jesus.
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PAUL AND JOHN MARK
READ -ACTS 12:25, 13:13, 15:36-41; 2 TIMOTHY 4:11
Key Verse 2 TIMOTHY 4:11 "...Get Mark and bring him to me, for he is useful to me in ministry."
Passage Overview
Paul and Barnabas took John Mark with them on one of the early missionary journeys. In the middle of the trip John Mark returned to Jerusalem (we are never told why). Later Paul and Barnabas were preparing for another journey and Barnabas insisted they take John Mark with them, but Paul refused. The conflict grew so strenuous they split ways. Barnabas took John Mark and Paul took Silas. Much later when Paul was in prison and headed to Rome, he wrote to Timothy, telling Timothy to come to him and bring John Mark with him.
Notes/Application
- We do not know the details of the source of their conflict, or how they worked it out.
- We only know that two strong believers were in conflict with each other.
- We know that it took longer to resolve the conflict with Paul than it did with Barnabas.
- We see that God can still work (and put us to work) despite conflicts, as long as we faithfully continue to seek Him.
- We see that when both parties faithfully seek Jesus, He can eventually lead them back together again.
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PHILEMON AND ONESIMUS
READ- PHILEMON 1:1-21
Key Verse Philemon 20 " Yes brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord."
Passage Overview
Paul begins the letter by thanking Philemon for his faithful work in the body of Christ.
Paul then gently but firmly commands Philemon to welcome Onesimus back home. Onesimus was Philemon's slave. He was a thief, useless, and had run away. While on the run, Onesimus met Paul and he met Jesus.Now as a follower of Christ, Onesimus was helpful to Paul while he was in prison. But, since Onesimus legally belonged to Philemon, Paul is sending him back. Paul tells Philemon that any debt Onesimus owes should be transferred to Paul. Paul asks Philemon to be a blessing to him by doing the right thing and reconciling with Onesimus.
Notes/Application
- Sometimes reconciliation means we have to go back and make right the wrongs we have done.
- Sometimes it means forgiving others for wrongs they have done against us.
- Sometimes we need a mediator to speak Truth into our situation to help us bridge the gap.
- Sometimes we need to be the mediator, lovingly yet firmly encouraging one another to reconciliation.
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