Take A Second Look

Main Scriptures: Genesis 13:13-15

More Scriptures: Job 28:10, Jer.1:11, 2 Cor.2:10

And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, lift up now thine eyes and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward and westward (Gen.13:14).

I don’t know the challenges that you are having with your wife and children and I do not know how bad the case may be. But one thing I can assure you today is that there is hope. Just take a second look, you will find assurance and rest.

The Scriptures in Gen.13:14 speak to every husband about the challenge that Abraham had with his nephew, Lot. Abraham took Lot to go with him, after his father died. Abraham taught Lot the business of livestock to the extent that Lot became rich and successful. Abraham invested his time, energy and resources to empower his nephew. Sadly, Lot betrayed Abraham. He began to compete with Abraham. So to solve the problem, Abraham offered Lot the first right of refusal to choose from the vast pasture. Lot took the greener portion up to Jordan and left Abraham with nothing significant, even though it was Abraham that made him rich. Despite this unfair treatment that Lot meted to Abraham, Abraham had a second look because God asked him to. God commanded Abraham to look up from where he was, perhaps to start again with him.  And as he did, God spoke to him that He will give him much more than what Lot took.

As the head of the family, you will always come face to face with unpleasant issues and challenges with your wife, your children and even family members. Sometimes, these things happen to you not because you did anything wrong. So, when you feel cheated or betrayed what do you do? The Bible has provided you with the answer. God wants you to look beyond the challenges and look up to Him. In Ps.121:1, the word of God has this to say. I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord who made the heaven and earth. The person who hurt Abraham was not an outsider. It was someone very close to him- his nephew. Your wife may have reciprocated your good will with bad will. God is saying look up. Look beyond her. That was the attitude that husband Abraham displayed to Lot. And that is what He expects you to do.

But what does it mean to look up? It means to forgive. In Matt.6, Jesus teaching on how to pray says give us this day, our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Husbands, you must learn to forgive your wife and children. It is the attitude of a winner because after Abraham looked up, he regained all that he had lost earlier. When you look up, you don’t see the errors of your wife and children, rather your focus is on God. Would you rather look up or down? Make a wise choice today.

SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

·         Father, in the Name of Jesus, empower me to learn to forgive my sheep.

·         Father, in the Name of Jesus, deliver me from bitterness and malice.

·         Father, in the Name of Jesus, help me to see beyond the faults of my sheep.

FATHER CONFESSION

I see beyond the faults of my wife and children and look up to God for wisdom to overcome the challenges because that is the secret of being a good and godly husband in Jesus Name. Amen.

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