Tag: siblings

Learning Through A Broken Family

Carl Pollard

My wife and I have been slowly working our way through the story of Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25–36, just the two of us, Bibles open, spending quality time in scripture. We’ve tried to read carefully, letting the text speak for itself without rushing to conclusions. What’s struck us most is how raw and real this family is, flawed people making painful choices, yet God’s bigger plan somehow keeps moving forward through the mess.

The tension between the brothers starts long before they ever speak a word. Even in the womb, they struggle (Genesis 25:22–23), and God tells Rebekah that two nations are inside her, with the older serving the younger. When we read Paul’s reflection on this in Romans 9, it hits home: God’s choice isn’t based on what we do or deserve, it’s His mercy, His call. That truth is a comfort when we’ve felt like our own family patterns or mistakes might derail everything. From the beginning, this story reminds us that God is sovereign, even over dysfunctional beginnings.

Then comes that heartbreaking moment in Genesis 25:29–34 when Esau trades his birthright for a bowl of stew. We’ve talked a lot about how the text doesn’t excuse Jacob’s opportunism, he’s calculating and manipulative, but it lingers on Esau’s choice: he “despised his birthright.” It wasn’t just hunger; it was a deeper disregard for what God had given him. My wife and I have had to ask ourselves hard questions: What do we treat as disposable when we’re tired, stressed, or chasing something immediate? We’ve seen how easy it is to let momentary frustration or desire eclipse what really matters eternally.

Genesis 27 is tough to read aloud. Jacob lies to his blind father, steals the blessing, and runs for his life. There’s no sugarcoating here, no heroic justification. The consequences are immediate and brutal: fear, exile, broken family ties. God’s promise to Jacob holds, but Jacob doesn’t escape the fallout of his sin. That’s been a sobering reminder for us: even when God chooses us, our choices still carry real pain, for ourselves and the people we love.

The turning point is Genesis 32. Jacob wrestles all night with God (or the angel), refuses to let go until he’s blessed, and walks away with both a new name, Israel, and a permanent limp. We’ve come back to that image again and again. Growth rarely comes without struggle; blessing often arrives through humility and dependence. That limp has became a proof that God can transform even the most stubborn parts of the heart.

And then there’s Esau in Genesis 33. Esau runs to meet his brother, throws his arms around him, kisses him, and weeps. After years of hurt, after Jacob’s betrayal, Esau chooses grace. Who in our lives are we still holding resentment toward? What would it look like to run toward reconciliation instead of away from it?

Studying this account together has reminded us that God works patiently through real struggles, through favoritism, deception, exile, and hard-won forgiveness. Growth usually comes slowly, often painfully, but He is faithful to shape us over time. The story of Jacob and Esau encourages us to hold our values loosely for the things of this world, to repent quickly when we’ve wronged others, and to trust God’s good purposes even in the fractured relationships we care about most. We’re grateful for these ancient brothers; they’ve become unexpected companions on our own journey toward humility, healing, and hope.

Seeing Christ In The Family

Carl Pollard

Today’s families are falling apart. The home is divided, and God has been moved to the back burner. That is why now more than ever we should be able to see a difference in the Christian home, and the home that Christ is not in. 

If we can’t see a difference, how will the world ever change? If we can’t see a difference in our homes and the world, chances are we aren’t glorifying God. The family that Christ is in will have unique attributes that are difficult to come by in our society. The Family that glorifies God: 

Admits their sins. 

The ability to be open and honest about sins and failures results in accountability and change. Paul says in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” God has given us Christ as payment and He covers our sins, but we should be open and honest in order to find growth. Parents won’t be perfect and neither will children. Admitting sin to each other helps us to grow and change as a family.

The family that Christ is in: 

Is Gracious To Each Other

Once again this is a trait that is rarely seen in a worldly family. As a people who have found forgiveness through Christ, we must be gracious towards each other. The Bible teaches us that by the grace of God we can be forgiven and set free from the control and imprisonment to sin. With the freedom to confess sin comes the freedom to repent of it and seek God’s forgiveness. Knowing God’s forgiveness gives us the ability to ask and receive forgiveness from those we have sinned against. In the same way God has forgiven us, we should forgive each other. Sometimes it is those we hold dear and love that hurt us the most. Be forgiving. My brothers and I used to have plastic lightsaber fights, and we’d really get into it. It often ended in screams of pain and anger. Be forgiving to your siblings. Parents, be forgiving of your children. By doing so we will glorify God.

The family that Christ is in is: 

Ever Growing and Improving

Where there is spiritual life there is spiritual growth. No true Christian can remain the same. The Christian home is a place of constant spiritual growth. Every day we should do our best to glorify God even more. 

How can we glorify God in the family? How can we make Christ a part of our home? Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Give yourself to God, be wholly devoted to Him, and watch as you, your spouse, and your children bring glory to the Most High God.