Make The Pain Go Away

I think today's title is a play on a movie or song lyric "Make the Rain Go Away" but I couldn't locate it. However, it does express our sentiments regarding unpleasant events, feelings and situations. Any time we have relationships there is the danger of pain associated with the problems that arise in them. Avoiding those problems will, of course, make the pain go away.

One biblical family was certainly plagued by relational problems that created great pain. We can learn from their experiences. Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Esau made up the biblical family that was in the line of God's blessing. When it came time for Isaac to give the blessing to his firstborn, his wife Rebekah and other son Jacob used deceit and manipulation to steal the blessing away from Esau. The result was disappointment, fear and separation. Jacob ran from his family and experienced similar treatment at the hands of his father-in-law to be. Both Jacob's immediate family and his extended family suffered. Only upon returning to his home with fear and uncertainty did Jacob discover the willingness of Esau to forgive and love him.

What an example this family is for us. Instead of deceit and manipulation we must be careful to interact with others with love and forgiveness. Instead of despair and disappointment we will be able to give them grace. Let's evaluate our motives and methods of interacting with others and make sure we make the pain go away.