BLESSINGS AND MISFORTUNES IN FAMILIES.
Text Genesis 12:1-3; Galatians 3:13-14; Psalm 37:25-26.
Many people are struggling in life not because they are not hardworking but because of family misfortunes. Others, too, are enjoying good times because of family blessings.
Joining the tree of family blessings: From the OT, Abraham (Gen 12:1-3) through to the NT through Jesus Christ (Gal 3:143-14) (Matt. 1; Luke 3:23-38). When you give your life to Jesus, you join the tree of family blessings. But why the challenges? See the life of Gideon below.
A blessed family is one whose God is the Lord Almighty and whose livelihood comes from God (Psalm 37:25-26; James 1: 17). Peace of God, joy of the Lord, righteousness of God, and protection from God characterise this family. The hope is that blessed families will continue to keep the way of God for future generations (Gen 18:19; Mal 2:15)
Signs of misfortune family: God-haters, Christ haters, church haters, idol worshippers, witchcraft, sorcery, divination. Fighting, disrespect, marriage instability, lack of peace and righteousness, and other misfortunes characterise them. This is because, without God’s blessings, such families are controlled by spirits, and these spirits don’t like humans to enjoy God’s blessings. What do? Turn to the worship of God (e.g., Abraham and Gideon).
The life of Gideon (Judges 6:1-32) is your story, too. Like Gideon, why should a born-again Christian suffer from family misfortunes?
To tell you that you must work out your salvation.
Maybe you did not believe or are not faithful to Christ ( Col 1:21-23). What to do? Prayer, fasting, projects for God, holy living, etc..
God appeared to Gideon and told him why his family and the whole community were suffering. Gideon responded by making sacrifices to the Lord (6:17-24); Gideon was commanded to build an appropriate altar to God by replacing that idol. His people attacked him, but God delivered him. With that experience, God helped Gideon defeat the Midianites. The people now experienced peace throughout Gideon's life.
Conclusion: God gives every family a Joseph/Gideon for that generation to restore God’s blessings. Family blessings are not for the individual but for the whole generation: People who want to personalise family blessings can only do a little in life. People who want to enjoy the family blessings without contributing to the blessings struggle in life and end up destroying it, e.g., Solomon.