We have often heard that he hates even looking at her. God created man in His own form and breathed the breath of life into him. Being formed in God’s own image and having the breath of life, how did the cancer of hatred take a place inside man??? Different people have different opinions. The answers are revenge, jealousy, intolerance, lack of love and patience. Thus hatred builds home inside us. But the Bible teaches us in Galatians 5:22, 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Hence hatred is the working of the devil we can say. Eg: Cain and Abel. Both the brothers offered sacrifice to the Lord. But Cain’s offering did not please God and Abel’s offering was pleasing to God. This developed jealousy in Cain. The result was Cain killed his own brother Abel. Love was replaced by hatred and jealousy.
Jacob deceived his own brother Esau twice. He even deceived his father and took the blessings of the first born. This caused hatred to take seed inside Esau and he pledged to kill Jacob. Hearing this, Rebecca sent Jacob away to her brother, Genesis 27: 41-44. He worked hard and toiled in the fields of Laban for more than 14 years. After which he returned to his own land. Jacob bowed down before Esau seven times as an act of asking forgiveness. Esau hugged him tight and wept hard. His hatred melted away as tears. Genesis 33:10,…For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. Jacob is seen saying that he says the Lord’s face when Esau is merciful towards him. This shows that mercy and forgiveness can melt away even the hardest walls of hatred.
Hatred, the cancer is a curse for both family and society. Proverbs 10:12, 12 Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. Revenge, jealousy and hatred are brothers. They destroy families and societies. These feeling when filled inside a person, they lead to fierce anger and hatred. And the only solution to them is love.
Let’s ask ourselves: What did we gain by building hatred? What did we lose in the process?? There is no gain, but loss; mental peace and unrest in heart , and injures the soul. Those whom we loved dearly become distant. It leads to murder as well. Cain and Abel are examples of what hatred can do to you. Jacob says he saw God’s face in Esau. See how love transformed a person. Let us also water the seed of love and pull out the weeds of jealousy, anger, hatred. May the Holy Spirit lead and guide us.
Ephesians 4:26, 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and in 4:32,32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Let us pray that the Lord strengthens us to be able to break away from the shackles of hatred that Devil likes to chain us in.
Jehovah Roi 