The Anatomy of Hatred.
As we study through Moses’ first book, Genesis, amidst the writer’s intent of making plain the promise of God from the very beginning, affirmed to Abraham, and passed on to his descendants, the nation of Israel, Moses intelligently underscores peculiar character traits of those who are of God and those who are of the devil.
From his introduction of the serpent in Genesis 3, specifically revealing rebellion, crave for independence, and lust for pleasure and glory, he continues to show us the work of that same serpent through men all through the book. From Cain, to the people in Noah’s day, to Nimrod and his Babel geng, then Esau and Joseph’s brothers; Moses clearly shows us the character of satan expressed through men.
I am specifically going to focus on Cain and Joseph’s brothers in the piece, because of the similarities that Moses reveals in their conduct. What stands out is HATRED, and even more specifically, hatred towards a brother. While Cain, out of hatred, killed his brother Abel, Joseph’s brothers out of hatred, sold him into slavery (they also had planned to kill him too, but for Reuben’s intervention).
The hatred is clear. But the question is, WHY the hatred?
Consider Cain.
Cain’s hatred for Abel was because he was rejected whereas Abel was accepted The writer of Hebrews would later explain the difference-maker as Abel’s faith. Now, here are questions to ask: Did Abel stop Cain from believing? Absolutely NOT. Could Cain have chosen to learn from Abel and embrace faith in God’s promise? Absolutely YES. But Cain chose to turn his wrath on Abel instead.
What was the question God asked Cain?
If you have done well, wouldn’t you have been accepted?
God shows Cain that he is the reason for his rejection. Neither Abel nor God was at fault! But rather than look towards himself and make changes, Cain chose to kill his brother instead. He summoned Abel for a friendly and brotherly chat, and he killed unsuspecting Abel. Well, you know where we see this same M.O? Judas! Only difference is Jesus wasn’t “unsuspecting”. But it’s the same M.O: a brother turned on his own, because he was jealous and angry that he is loved and accepted and he is not. Now, how often does this same M.O still play out today?
Now, to Joseph’s brothers.
Why did they hate him so much?
Moses says it is because their father loved him more than them. That was Joseph’s “crime”! Their disgust at his dreams was only a secondary response. The main reason they hated him was because Jacob loved him. Now, did Joseph bribe Jacob? Not in any way. Joseph was just doing his own thing. But these guys blamed him for being loved by his Dad. Just like Abel, unsuspecting Joseph also went to genuinely seek after their welfare, but he was bundled, narrowly escaped death, and sold to slavery. We will much later see this same narrative play out between the Egyptian versus Israelites; Aaron, Miriam, Korah and co. versus Moses; Saul versus David; and more importantly, the elders of the Jews versus Jesus in the synoptics, and same folks versus the apostles in the book of Acts.
Moses deliberately put these accounts here in Genesis, because Jesus will later suffer the same fate as Abel and Joseph in the hands of his brothers (the Jews). Moses wants us to see the genesis of hatred, and more importantly, I believe Moses wants us to learn so we can watch ourselves and guard ourselves from coming under the demonic thumb of hatred.
The point here is this, and pay very keen attention to the words that follow:
the moment you start becoming agitated because someone is loved, honored, accepted, respected, received, progressing etc, you are opening yourself up to the demonic influence of hatred, which is the CHIEFEST CHARACTER OF SATAN.
The moment hatred gets a hold of you, my brother, you will require very very serious prayers, often by those who care about you (because at that point, you become totally blind and you can’t see), before that demonic influence can be undone. The thing is, you will often deny the fact that you are under the hold of hatred because satan is a master at overshadowing his victims with his deceptive mojo. But look at the pattern: that particular fellow…how do you feel when you see that he is making progress and he is loved by many? What kind of emotion runs through your demon-infested veins?
You know how you either mutter or scream hero worship when he is honored, but when you are honored, you just say…”we bless God”? You know how you hiss at anyone who passes by you who loves the fellow? Dear sir, that gan-gan, is what we are talking about. You’ve surrendered yourself to HATRED!
I often tell our folks.
God, in His wisdom, has totally unveiled the mode of operations of satan in the holy scriptures that any Christian who falls prey to him must be very stupid and foolish. I mean…how can someone give you heads-up that there’s a pit up ahead and you still managed to fall into it?
I will admit to you. It is not everyone I like. Not every believer, and certainly not every pastor. But I have a constant guard set over my mind. God forbid that I start hating you because I don’t agree with certain things that you do. If you are doing something worthwhile that profits God’s kingdom, I can even help you share it. I have done that many times. If you write something that I find very profitable, I will agree with it…with you. I will felicitate with you when something good happens to you. We just can’t be close friends. That’s all.
I don’t think that there is anything that corrupts the flow of God’s Spirit like hatred. It will influence your teachings. It will even influence your prophesying. Unless that thick scale drops off your eyes, you may never see that satan has hijacked your life.
I’ve been led to write this so you may think and snatch yourself off that influence.
Look at Jonathan. He loved David like his own brother even though David was the one getting all the attention in Israel.
Look at John. When all of those who used to come to him started diverting to Jesus, he said, He must increase, and I must decrease.
Look at the apostles. Nobody tried to wrestle with Paul because of his great influence, especially amongst the gentile nations. It’s all for the work of the gospel to advance.
Now, look at yourself
and repent!
You have God’s Spirit oozing forth fountains of love in your inner-man. Rebuke that hold of satan over your mind. Walk away from that hatred. Purify your mind. Love all men. Rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Never come to the point where someone’s success/progress draws out negative emotions out of you. You are of God!
Hatred has got nothing on you.
Absolutely nothing!
Blessed
