Siblings
I have one sister, who is two years older than me. We share the same hair colour. Being so close in age meant that we went to the same schools together.
From a young age I can remember walking with her to and from school. It was not far, on the estate where we grew up. As she was the older sibling, she was in charge!
We didn’t have much in common growing up. She was a good swimmer and went to Brownies/Guides. I was into Lego and drumming!
There were a few occasions when we clashed, usually me trying to ‘show off’ when she had her friends round. But for the most part we grew up as friends, and that has remained to this day.
Not all families have it like us. I have seen some where there is tough competition between siblings, often in sport or music or something else.
For some, being the firstborn means they are automatically in charge, which can lead to bossing brothers and sisters around.
In Biblical times the firstborn son was seen as very important. So when Jacob went to bless the two sons born to Joseph, he did not follow protocol…
“Jacob reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn. Joseph said to him, ‘No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.’ But his father refused and said, ‘I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.’”
Jacob’s actions were prophetic. In other words, God prompted him to bless his grandsons in this way. Later, the Bible reveals that what Jacob said to them came true.
God’s way superseded family traditions. There is nothing wrong with traditions, but they are ‘man-made’ and can sometimes be negative, boxing people into roles and ways of doing things.
God is not bound by anyone’s traditions. His desire is to see everyone free to be all He has called and destined them to be.
It’s up to us to press into Him, to catch His heart and to discover what He has in store for us…
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader