Love your enemies even if they are your relatives.

"Love is a term that may take a lifetime to define. Loving your enemies may even take longer to comprehend. Showing love all the time...well...could be downright impossible. However with God nothing is impossible."

I found myself today reflecting on the word of God and I was amazed by the humbleness of his servant Moses. You see knowing someone is your enemy is one thing but knowing your enemy is your own family member "flesh and blood" is another problem.

Here it was those closest to Moses whether biological siblings or brother and sister in the lord is bitterly complaining about the fact that he is not the only one to speak to God, they were upset with him and allowed their feelings to overcome them:-
Numbers 12:1-2

"Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. 2 “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?”

Just imagine your brother or sister "bad mouthing" you with your father, your mother or relatives. I am sure you would feel betrayed. In fact, I always felt betrayed when my siblings went behind my back and seek to turn my parents against me for their own gains.This caused me lots of pain and anger for years. I eventually developed a hardness of heart and a defensive attitude even to those closest to me. I did not want to become trapped again with those emotions of betrayal. Thankfully through Christ, I was able to experience healing and forgiveness in this area of my life but I admit that it is still a struggle especially seeing in today's world how brothers are betraying brothers, sisters  "putting" down sisters and not just limited to siblings but cousins, aunts, uncles and best friends. It is really sad, but it was foretold that people would become lovers of themselves and that power, control and  jealousy contributes to this problem.


How many of us today feels let down, heartbroken, disbelief that a brother or sister could possibly try to ruin your reputation? How many are in battle with siblings for inheritance whether land, house, property, money and more? Aren't they supposed to have our backs in this journey of life? We are taught to bear with one another but funny enough some who are fighting one another claims to be Christians. A famous line used against a brother or sister is" you going to church and playing holy but you a devil on the inside" Yes, bitter judgements are always cast as each tries to build a case of being righteous.


As the story continues the Lord heard them. You see God does not think as human does for his wisdom is way beyond our understanding and he at once address this problem. He knows his servant Moses. He knew that Moses was extremely humble even declaring that he was the humblest man on earth and God rebuked them severely causing Miriam to contact a dreadful disease. They then saw their error and begged Moses for help. As human we can say it was "good for them" serve them right, who do they think they are. Aren't we always seeking swift justice against those who hurt us? Well the extraordinary part that was amazing was Moses instead of accusing them of betraying him and "putting him down" prayed that God healed Miriam. I believed that Moses having the grace of the Lord in him made him overlooked their error and asked for mercy instead of punishment . O what a wonderful God we serve.O what a wonderful example of the mercy and kindness we should have in our hearts.

Upon reading this my mind shift on other examples in the bible.I remembered Joseph, though his brothers tried to kill him and sell him as a slave he embraced them. They  were still unsure of him that after their father Jacob died they asked him about this vengeance and he answered by asking " who am I to judge you?" He had all rights to take revenge, but instead removed himself of being a Judge over them giving it over to the Lord. How many times we have made bitter judgements against that relative who wronged us or carry them in our thoughts looking out for "Karma"? God is the just Judge and both Moses and Joseph acknowledges that all judgement belongs to him therefore passing that test of faith. O how I longed for such faith of letting go and letting God, faith in loving my enemies and praying for them even if they are my relatives. David was another who having Saul in his grasp considered it as an offence to touch God's anointed though having all rights. We have only to look and see the glory of our God blameless in all forms to realize that we are called to a higher standard of life. Remember if God forgives a brother or sister who are we to withhold forgiveness from them.

link:https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2012:1-15