Picture Perfect
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How many have a Mom that likes to take the perfect picture?
How many had a Mom that liked her family to look like the perfect picture?
In this day of Snapchat and Instagram and Facebook - people like to take pics that make themselves look good or their circumstances look good and post it to give that picture perfect look of their lives.
Sometimes others become depressed when comparing their lives to that perfect picture presentation -
No one has a picture perfect life! In fact under the surface it may be quite different from what is presented - this the shock when that loving couple divorces or that honor roll student ends up in jail —-
If we were to look at some of the Patriarchs of Israel in the OT we may find those who presented one way, but underneath a lot of other stuff was going on.
All we have to do is examine the wives and mothers of these families to encounter the real picture.
1. Abraham and Sarai - Comfort
1. Abraham and Sarai - Comfort
Here is this rich dude with a beautiful wife. The Bible tells us Sarai was unsurpassed with beauty. So much Abraham feared he would be killed by the pharaoh so she could become his wife.
Today we might equate this couple with say The Donald before politics and Melania - wealthy man with younger beautiful wife - highly successful in business
However, this couple had no kids.
Behind the picture perfect life was a desperate woman desiring to be a Mom.
I know there are woman who have not or cannot have children. The pain around them is great - today is not a day to enjoy but to avoid! It is discouraging for them.
I know Sarai had a baby - but she lived 90 years barren!!!
In her own desperation she gave her husband her maid to have a child for her.
This was not a happy woman!
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
So many Scriptures about God removing barrenness and making promises to bless with a child - but what about those who never conceive.
The leech has two suckers that cry out, “More, more!” There are three things that are never satisfied— no, four that never say, “Enough!”:
the grave, the barren womb, the thirsty desert, the blazing fire.
The barren womb is never satisfied...
Comfort comes from the Lord
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
God can bring beauty from our pain
2. Isaac and Rebekah - Mercy
2. Isaac and Rebekah - Mercy
Here is another woman who was barren, but Isaac prayed and she conceived twins!!
A rich heir and his wife and twin sons! So much to inherit, so much to be blessed with —
Prince William and Kate? Beautiful couple with kids and position and wealth.
Yet under the surface not all is as it seems!!
These parents had favorites and it showed!!! Isaac with Esau and Rebekah with Jacob.
So bad that the wife used her favorite to deceive the father and still his brother’s inheritance.
Than that Brother had to flee to another country never seeing his parents again.
All was not picture perfect!!!
Families have dysfunctionality!
Issues will always occur in relationships.
There is no perfect mother or father!!!
That does not mean we stop honoring our parents just because they are dysfunctional!
12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
4 For instance, God says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.’
20 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’”
2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise:
Why does the Bible show so many dysfunctional families?
It is so we would learn how to be gracious to one another and demonstrate mercy through our home life and relationships
All have sinned - none are perfect - we learn how to show mercy toward others
How will we ever learn to forgive if not offended or to show grace if offense is not occurred - yes that happens in families which is where these lessons are first learned and applied
7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
13 There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.
In our less than picture perfect homes may we learn to demonstrate mercy
3. Jacob and His Wives and Concubines - Forgiveness
3. Jacob and His Wives and Concubines - Forgiveness
Genesis tells us marriage is between one man and one woman - yet we see even the Patriarchs do their own thing.
When Jacob was deceived into taking Leah for a wife - he also took Rachel, and both of these women used their concubines to have more children to out do one another
The result was a large integrated family of 12 sons and daughters besides.
This family was far from picture perfect! It was filled with conflict, competition and hard feelings
It is very demonstrative not of a sister wives scenario - but today’s blended families and the conflicts they contend with.
Jealousy, offenses, competition!
More favoritism
Needless to say this becoming a “Great Nation” had some issues - brothers selling their brothers into slavery, murdering a village of men because one had raped a sister, even a father sleeping with his daughter in law of a deceased son thinking she was a prostitute.
Who says the Bible is boring???
It all comes down to this -
The need for forgiveness —
Yes we mentioned being merciful already - mercy is about showing the grace we have received, bearing with patience others faults and flaws
Forgiveness is a deliberate act of granting pardon!!
Choosing to come back into right relationship even after one has been wronged.
We see this throughout the first generation of Israel! Learning to recognize when we have done wrong and repent.
The reality is all relationships will have wrongs committed - not just bearing mercy for the overall differences and dysfunctionality, but choosing to forgive for deliberate acts of malice or offense!
Jacob’s children were downright mean to each other as were his wives!
When competition and jealousy plays into a family - feelings will be hurt and intentional offenses will be made.
This is why we must forgive and repent.
17 to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept.
- perhaps the greatest offense in this warped family. Repented and forgiven!
4 But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.
- God offers forgiveness so we may learn to fear Him
14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Your family is not alone. Mom’s you are not the only Mom with a less than perfect clan, and you are not the only Mom who has messed up either!
The family was intended to be a place of mercy and forgiveness and for those without their own family - there is Comfort.