PLAYING FAVORITES AMONG OUR CHILDREN CAN HAVE BAD OUTCOMES

PROCLAMATION

“And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him; and Esau said in his heart, the days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.”  Genesis 27:41 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Isaac loved his son Esau, and his wife Rebekah loved his son Jacob. (Genesis 25:28)  When the boys grew up, Esau became a skilled hunter and a man of the open country, while Jacob was more of a home body and a “mama’s boy.” (Genesis 25:27) When Isaac had gotten old and his eyes were weak, Jacob, with the help of his mother, tricked his father into giving him the blessing that he had planned to give his oldest son Esau. (Genesis 27:1-19)  When he learned what had happened, Esau held a grudge against Jacob and planned to kill him after his father’s death. (Genesis 27:30-41)  After Rebekah heard of Esau’s plan, she called Jacob, told him about it and then sent him to live with her brother Laban in Haran. (Genesis 27:42-46)

 

APPLICATION

We are blessed to have children. (Deuteronomy 33:24)  We are to train them in the way that they should go. (Proverbs 22:6)  We are to nurture them and bring them up in the fear and admonition of The Lord God.  We should love our children and teach them how to love their siblings.  We are not to provoke our children to anger. (Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21)  By showing more love and favor to one child than to the others, parents can ruin the relationship between them and cause their children to resent their siblings.  That resentment can and turn into hatred and lead to some very bad outcomes.  Don’t be the cause of your family becoming dysfunctional.  Love each child as God loves us.