Hindering our Healing
These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. My son, keep your father's command, And do not forsake the law of your mother. Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck. When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you. -Proverbs 6:16-22
Did you know that there are two categories of offense?
1. Someone who has genuinely been mistreated
2. Someone who thinks they have been mistreated
In dealing with category 1, we need to take in mind the story of Joseph. Most of us are familiar with this story. Joseph was the eldest son of Rachel, the second wife of Jacob, and Benjamin was her youngest son, who she died giving birth to. Jacob adored Rachel. As a young man he was promised Rachel’s hand in marriage if he provided 7 years of labor to her father Laban. His future Father-In-Law tricked him and gave him Leah, his eldest daughter, instead. Seeing that what had been done to him he worked another seven years for Rachel. (Genesis 29) So the two sons born to Rachel and Jacob were the favorite of Jacob, especially Joseph.
Father’s Favorite
Around the time that Joseph was seventeen years of age. His father had given him the famous coat of many colors. Now I don’t know about you, but when I think of the clothing that was worn back then, I think of “Blah” coloring. Such as brown, brown and more brown, maybe even dark brown. Dyes and fabric were in limited quantities then. They made everything they owned, unless they traded. So to receive this beautiful coat of many colors was a sign of tremendous favor.
“But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.” Genesis 37:4
Now these brothers full of hatred toward their brother were not children. These were grown men. They knew the feelings toward their brother Joseph were wrong. Then to top it off, Joseph shares his dreams with them.
Little Brothers Offensive Dream
Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” But when he told it to his father and his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves down to the ground before you?” And his brothers were jealous of him. But his father kept the saying in his mind. –Genesis 37: 5-11
Joseph’s brothers wanted so much to be the favorite of their father. This is not literally mentioned, but you can tell by how much they are jealous of their father’s affection for him. Also, during that time, dreams were view as “Revelations”. Joseph was excited about this revelation from God. You can tell by how many “Beholds” he says when explaining his dreams to his family.
SIDE NOTE: Have you ever wanted to be the “Favorite” or “Highly Esteemed” one, in a fellowship or a certain ministry? You want to obtain a position or serve in a capacity that God might not want you to have? Then we become fixated on the desire to become or do, we completely miss the voice of God telling us “No”. Or we hear Him, but ignore. Then when the proper person, designated by God, fills that certain “Spot Light” we wanted. We become bitter, resentful, angered, disappointed, rejected, and spiteful and you can add whatever else you have felt. Even though these motives for serving are not genuine, we cannot help but feel them when we are in the flesh. This is exactly what Joseph’s brothers were feeling.
Now while the brothers are out in the field tending their flock. Joseph is sent to them. When they see him come they say;
They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, Let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what becomes of his dreams.” Genesis 37: 19-20
Is Lamenting my Hindrance in Healing?
Wow! So much resentment! So much hostility in their hearts! This doesn’t happen overnight. Do you notice how it says, “They said to one another”? How many times in our lives have we hindered the Lords healing by the company we keep? When we rely on the opinions of friends, in our hurtful situations, rather than on the Word of God? When we are hurt or offended by someone we tend to want to lament (1. to feel or express sorrow or regret for: to lament his absence. 2. To mourn for or over. –verb (used without object) 3. To feel, show, or express grief, sorrow, or regret. 4. To mourn deeply. –noun 5. An expression of grief or sorrow.) This is appropriate for when we are lamenting to God or a Godly friend that is going to give us biblical council. Someone, who will not join us in our misery and turn rancid with gossip, but point us towards the path of healing with understanding, Even though we are hurting, we need to be told what we NEED to hear and not what we WANT to hear. Sometimes that is painful!
“Faithful are the wounds from a friend; profuse are the kisses of the enemy.” – Proverbs 27:6
Even though we do not count or consider our friends, who do not point us to God during our rough patches, enemies. But we need to consider that if they sit and gossip about who has offended us, they ARE doing the work of the enemy. So are you, even though it may seem alright to air your griefs. We still need to be careful.
So with all this said in part 1. I would like us to think about how we have been offended and what we are doing with it. Are we talking about the person who has offended us like the brothers did amongst themselves?
“They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another….” –Genesis 37: 18-19b
Is there someone hindering my Healing process, by listening to me lament and not pointing me to God's Word for healing? Do I think I should stop lamenting to this person? Keep this in mind and pray during the week. Ask God to show us, who we are allowing us to hinder our healing.
