INTRODUCTION

In Bible times, the greatest form of defence for a city was to remain strong and surrounded by high walls. If a people group or nation had high walls and a strong city, they were extremely difficult to conquer. During these times, the barriers were imperative for a strong national defense. The Lord considered this scenario as an appropriate picture to demonstrate the state of an offended brother, resulting from contention. The Lord likens this contention to the bars on a castle. Even if the enemy were capable of getting into the strong city, other obstacles existed making it impossible to break through to its core. These included the bars erected to avoid someone from entering the castle. In like manner, contention makes it almost impossible to break through to the heart of an offended brother.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Jacob tricked his father into giving him the blessing meant for his elder brother Esau. For this deception, Esau hated Jacob and planned on killing him. Jacob had to flee for his life and safety (Genesis 27:41-45 [41] And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. [42] And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. [43] Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; [44] And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; [45] Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?
  See All...). Twenty years later, Jacob returned home still fearing Esau (Genesis 32:11Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
  See All...). Fortunately for Jacob, the Lord took care of Esau’s bitterness (Genesis 33:4And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): Bars of a castle would keep the enemy out, but they could also work as a prison for those whom they supposedly protect. How is this a perfect picture of contention?
• Have you offended somebody with contentions? Have you tried to make things right? How is the relationship now? Have you been able to remove the bars of the castle?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask God to protect you from strife.
• Ask God to give you wisdom to see the dangers of contention.

HYMN

THROW OUT THE LIFE-LINE

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