Differences settled peacefully

Genesis 26:28-33

Seeking peace, and pursuing it with all men, always turns out good for you in the end. Oftentimes when someone is treated unfairly, they tend to hold a grudge against those who wronged them. But in loving our enemies, and those who treat us bad, the Bible says it’s like heaping coals of fire on their head, and the Lord will reward us for doing so. This means to cause a burning sense of humiliation for rewarding your enemy with good, for their evil. They’ll eventually begin to feel deep emotions of shame and discomfort, which are the first elements of true repentance.

After being sent away from his home in Gerar by King Abimelech for simply prospering in the land, Isaac moved on and established himself where his father once dwelt. While asleep one night, Isaac received a visit from the Lord who reassured him that He was still in control of the events of his life, and that He would bless Isaac for his father Abraham’s sake. So Isaac blessed God and built an altar in reverence of His holy name. In the midst of adjusting to his new place in life, Isaac received a surprise visit from the jealous king Abimelech, who brought a couple of his boys along with him. Isaac was puzzled concerning their visit, because he thought for sure the men hated him. But to his surprise, they came to make amends. Just as I mentioned at the beginning of this lesson, the king was overwhelmed with guilt and shame, because Isaac humbled himself, even when being treated unfairly. The average person would more than likely miss the opportunity to reconcile with their enemy by retaliating based on feelings of past hurt, but Isaac represented God in all his actions. Real love forgives, and moves on. It never holds past mistakes over a person’s head, but buries it in order to have a peaceful outcome.

In all situations you face in life, remember that you represent the God of all creation, and not yourself. Your decisions and reactions, even in unfair situations, should always be a representation of what Christ would do, if He were in your shoes. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:44-45).

Seek peace,

Ell