Genesis 4 - Cain murdered his brother, Abel (murder)
Genesis 16 - Sarai giving Abraham, her husband, Hagar (who bore him Ishmael) (adultery)
Genesis 21 - Ishmael was scoffing at his half brother Isaac so Sarah got Abraham to cast them out (jealousy, bullying)
Genesis 27 - Rebecca encouraging her younger son Jacob to deceive Isaac so that he could have the birth-right instead of Esau (deception)
Genesis 29 - Laban getting Jacob to work for him for 7 years for Rachel, but gave him Leah instead so Jacob had to work for another 7 years to marry Rachel (deception)
Genesis 37 - Joseph sold by his brothers (trafficking)
Those are only in the first book of the Bible (Genesis - which means 'Beginnings') and only a few examples.
We also see throughout Scripture the brokenness of families:
Judges 16 - Samson was besotted with a woman who eventually had him tortured and killed (lust)
1 Samuel 1 - Elkanah had 2 wives, one of which was bullied by the other because she was childless (bullying)
1 Samuel 4 - Eli, the priest, had 2 wayward sons, who ended up getting killed in battle and the shock killed Eli (not correcting his sons)
2 Samuel 15 - Absalom turned against his father King David (dishonour, treachery)
On and on it goes. If you're having issues in your family, for whatever reason - it's not a modern day occurrence - it's been happening for millennia.
The Lord blesses those who are faithful to Him and although it can hurt when you're being abused*, deceitfully used, lied to, stolen from etc, we need to look to the Lord and remember the words of Joseph:
Genesis 50:20a But as for
you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good,
Romans 12: 19, 21 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
*in the case of abuse - please seek help, it is unacceptable that anybody should suffer from being abused whichever type it is.
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