"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries
EMOTIONS, part 10 - Love Shown to Family Members...cont quotes
1) The Emotion of Love Dealing With Family Members
– Love of Children to Their Parents
Please refer to Part 6 of this series.
2) How should a son-in-law or a daughter-in-law express and manifest the true self-denying and self-sacrificing type of this emotion of love to the parents of their spouse?
Love for Father In-Laws
“So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.” Exodus 18:24.
“Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.” Genesis 38:11.
These verses reveal that even though Jethro was not the birth father of Moses, yet Moses still honored, respected and obeyed him as his real father. And the same with Tamar towards Judah.
“And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance [humbly bowed to show honor and reverence to a superior], and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.” Exodus 18:7.
This verse reveals that even though Moses was living far away from the home of his father-in-law, yet he still held him in high honor and showed him great respect when they met together.
“And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.” Exodus 4:18.
This verse revealed that even though Jethro was not his birth father, Moses still submitted to be under the authority of Jethro.
“...a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah. And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months. And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there. And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way. And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry. And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.” Judges 19:1-7.
These verses reveal that even though his wife had played the harlot against him, yet her husband still held his father-in-law in great honor and respect, and even changed his own travel plans in order to accommodate the wishes of his father-in-law.
3) Love for Mother In-Laws
“And they [daughters-in-law of Naomi, all whose husbands had died, and Naomi was now without a husband or any sons] lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me....And the women (of Israel) said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD...for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee...is better to thee than seven sons”. Ruth 1:14-17, 4:14-15.
These verses reveal that Ruth showed her mother-in-law true self-sacrificing love, and was willing to do all she could for her welfare. Ruth treated Naomi as if she were her real birth mother.
“And Boaz answered and said unto her (Ruth), It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust....So she gleaned in the field (of Boaz) until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.” Ruth 2:11-12, 17-18.
These verses reveal that if our mother-in-law is incapable of supporting herself, then we are to do all we can to provide for her support. And also, because Ruth revealed such self-sacrificing love for her mother-in-law, God rewarded and blessed Ruth by allowing her to marry Boaz (Ruth 4:13), who became the great grandfather of David (Ruth 4:21-22), and from his linage Jesus Christ was eventually born (Matthew 1:5; Luke 3:32)!
4) Love of Siblings For One Another
– Love of a Brother for his Brother
“...a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17.
This adversity is often seen in the older brother becoming jealous and even hating the younger brother, and tends to pick on him, causing him all kinds of trouble. While the younger brother tends to out due the older in almost everything, causing him all kinds of mental anguish. This adversity is a natural selfish desire leading each brother to try and rule over the other as a superior, instead of humbly treating him as an equal.
Jacob the younger out did Esau of his birthright and blessing, and Esau then hated and wanted to kill Jacob for doing so (see Genesis 27:18-41). Joseph the younger relatied his dreams of superiority over his brothers, and his older brethren then hated him and seld him to the Ishmeelites (see Genesis 37:2-28).
This rivalry between brothers can also lead to a strong bond between them. This brotherly bond is evident when one brother is being picked on by someone else, and the other brother is quick to notice and come to his rescue and defense. Benjamin's older brother Judah quickly came to his rescue and defense when Benjamin was accused of stealing and threatened as punishment by having to become a servant for ever (see Genesis 44:18-34).
How can this natural adversity between brothers become diminished and overcome?
“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” 1 Thessalonians 4:9.
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another”. Romans 12:10.
These verses reveal that when the elder brother is tempted to pick on your younger brother, instead show him unselfish love through kindness. And when the younger brother is tempted to out-best your older brother, instead show him self-denying love through honoring and preferring him over your own self interests. If you both do these things, then you can enjoy sweet and lasting peace in each other’s company.
5) If a brother allows their natural adversity to reign supreme, and refuses to truly love, honor, and prefer your brother over you, then you cannot be saved or gain eternal life!
“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” 1 John 4:20-21.
“In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous....We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” 1 John 3:10-12, 14-15.
6) “If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.” Deuteronomy 25:5-6.
Any brother who refused to manifest such unselfish love for his brother, could suffer death himself!
“And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him. And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.” Genesis 38:7-10.
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