Making Certain that the Fence is Secure (Part Two)

Read: Genesis 13; Genesis 50:15-21; Numbers 12

Last week, we looked at a few of the one another scriptures. The "one anothers" are God's provision for the church. Beautiful directives that, as we walk them out, not only keep us strong but give the watching world a little glimpse concerning what the Savior is like. Last week, we looked at three "one anothers." Continuing to meet together, forgiving one another and admitting our faults and sins to one another so we can pray for each other, Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 4:31-32; James 5:16.

There are many "one anothers" that we could unpack, but let's do something just a bit different. Let's look at one command that is like the umbrella under which all the others fall. The command to love one another, John 13:34-35. The reminder that in doing so, people will know that we belong to Jesus. There are many ways we could see this one another pictured, but for today, let's look at three Bible people who demonstrated little glimpses of this love. Each of them like each of us often fell short in the area of loving those around him or her, but perhaps we can be encouraged by the times they got it right. Let's go!

Abraham

If you are like me, and you love the Old Testament, you might think of the times when the one who is called "the friend of God", James 2:23, lapsed a bit in his faith; however, I love this incident when his light shone brightly for his LORD. Genesis 13 speaks of the incident. Both Abraham and his nephew Lot were rich with possessions. They had a great deal of cattle. A mark of wealth in those times. There was strife among the two men's herdsmen, and Abraham, referred to as Abram in Genesis 13 took things in hand. He looked at all the land around and offered Lot the choice concerning where he would like to go. Abraham said he would separate from his nephew and go in the opposite direction from the one that Lot chose. Truly, Lot should have deferred to Abraham out of respect for his older relative, but that wasn't the case, and after Lot chose the most beautiful and productive land, Abraham turned and went in the other direction. He wanted there to be peace between them and their herdsmen. That was the most important thing, and his actions pictured love that allowed someone else to go first rather than demand that he have his own way, Romans 12:10. Showing honor even when it wasn't deserved.

Joseph

His story which takes up many chapters in Genesis, displays more than one picture of love. If I am going to choose only one, I'll highlight the incident found in Genesis 50:15-21. A bit of background. Joseph's father had just died after having spent many years in Egypt with his family. Because of the deception and cruelty that Joseph's brothers had inflicted on their father and Joseph, they feared retaliation. Would this be the time that their chickens would finally come home to roost now that their father was dead? I love the way Joseph showed love to them. He comforted them with kind words and reassurances that they need not fear. Joseph could have held them at a distance. Perhaps not harming them but not treating them with compassion either. He could have held their sins over their heads and left them wondering when the other shoe would fall.

Instead, he was humble and gentle, Ephesians 4:2. He neither excused their sin nor made their lives miserable because of the evil they had done. He demonstrated a balance of truth and love. Jesus demonstrated this beautiful balance. Walking out in His earthly life God's perfect balance of truth and grace, John 1:14.

Moses

He had an intercessor's heart. Praying on several occasions for his people who often rebelled against God through their words and actions; however, this little picture found in Numbers 12 has a more personal twist. In this case, Moses' own brother and sister had challenged his standing before God as well as his marriage to a Cushite woman. Who did Moses think he was? That was their attitude. As the chapter unfolds, it doesn't take long before we know who is in the wrong here. It isn't Moses. After the dust cleared, Miriam had leprosy, and God reprimanded the siblings because they had wrongly challenged Moses and the unique relationship he had with God. There Miriam stood with a frightening skin disease. Her brother Aaron cried out to Moses to call on God for mercy, and in spite of Miriam's having done wrong, Moses interceded on her behalf. That's showing God's kind of love, Matthew 5:43-48. Praying for one another when that other person has been disrespectful and unkind. God listened to Moses' prayer, and Miriam's consequences were kept short, Numbers 12:14-15. Moses cried out for mercy. Just as Jesus did when He was on the cross, Luke 23:34.

These three men who loved God had two things in common.

1. They, like us, lived imperfect lives.

2. However, at times, they showed us beautiful pictures of God's love.

Just as we, enabled and empowered by the Holy Spirit can do now.