Are you jealous?

Envy and jealousy have no place in any organization, especially in the family. Are you unhappy because your colleague got promoted ahead of you? Perhaps you feel your brother is your family's favorite. What do we do with that negative energy? Sometimes it develops into bitterness that eats us up and affects us physically. Or, it causes us to do things that tries to undermine the other person. Or, both. There was an ancient jealousy that eventually resulted in a homeland becoming desolate.

Ezekiel 35:15

As you rejoiced because the inheritance of the house of Israel was desolate, so I will do to you; you shall be desolate, O Mount Seir, as well as all of Edom—all of it! Then they shall know that I am the LORD.

Mount Seir is mentioned here, but in actual fact, it is part of Edom occupied by the Edomites, the descendants of Esau who gave up his birthright for some food to Jacob or Israel. It was painful and the deep rooted regret, envy and animosity was probably maintained through the ages. This the Lord is speaking against. I am not sure what condition their land was in at that time, but if you check it now, it is desolate. It is in the southern portion of Jordan. Bordering Saudi Arabia, or even part of it. Important to note that they are not Arabs and they no longer live in that area in fulfillment of God's judgement.

Do we have regret, envy and animosity? With our acquaintance, friends, or even with members of our family? God says, Stop! Each needs to seek God and be contented with God's special deal for them. However, human nature usually gets the better of us and we fail to abide in God's ways and thinking.

My journey is unique and I need to be thankful for it. And likewise I need to be thankful for what the Lord is doing with others around me. I will rejoice in what the Lord is doing in and through each person, including myself. Don't judge in human terms.

Father, thank you for my unique journey, and I will be grateful for the journey of others.

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