“Thus says the Lord God…I am against you…because you have had an ancient hatred” Ezek. 35:3, 5
Mt. Seir, in Edom lived with an ancient hatred. Known as a bloodthirsty people. Never willing to make peace. Ready to shed blood. Unwilling to bury the hatchet. That ancient hatred would destroy them. Their vengeance, their ruthlessness would backfire and bring them down.
There is always a “good reason” to feud and fight and force retribution. It’s even in our nature to return evil for evil, punch for punch, poke for poke until we are all bruised and broken. Some grudges seem to last forever with not even a time for healing. Ancient hatred…we grow up with passed down, generational hatred. Racial tension. Class distinction. Social segregation. But in Christ all those divisions find resolution to the point where I am even called to love my enemy and find ways to bless him/her. In other words, to take God’s side rather than standing against Him and to become a peacemaker.
Oh Father – help me to bury all my hatchets and follow You in peace and peace-making. Help me reflect Your love.
