SUNDAY - 23RD JANUARY, 2022
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO
THIS NATURAL FEELING OF JEALOUSY - National Stories Series 005
READ Exodus 1:8-15
Exodus 1:9-10, KJV
" 9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: 10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land".
If in a home, the adopted children are doing better than the biological, do you believe it can set the biological on edge and make them question the right the adopted have in their father's house. Even, same could still happen where the biological are even better or all equals. That's when they (the biological) begins to possess their father for themselves because they now sense the incoming of sharing which could lead to competition. The biological children out of jealousy of their father being another's father coupled with insecurity would ask, "when it is time, they'll show you your real parents and you shall leave". Do you know that all of us have a natural feeling of jealousy put in us? Only that we are liable to what we let it cause. I have heard many Africans for instance charge Europeans etc with being discriminating (myself inclusive) because we've seen a lot indeed. Let's reverse the order. Let's say Africa is the one this verily developed while Europe is the one coming to Africa, how many of you reasons to believe with me that we Africans would discriminate them as well?
Do you want to know why? We believe, "why come here to lick us clean?; why don't you stay in your own land too?". "If we are not beneficiaries of the little goodies in your land, why should you be here to exhaust ours?" That's our thinking and it is so for every host nation and some if not all its citizens. Indignation may be stirred in her citizens when they see the prosperity of aliens even more than natives. Don't forget that was the cause of Pharaoh's action. Israel was more and mightier than they were. They filled the land. Yesterday, I substantiate it by showing how Ghana sent packing all foreign nations (many African) living in her during Busia's government and how Nigeria sent Ghanaians especially packing too during the Buhari led administration after their being drawn by the oil boom. What excuse did Nigerians give? Ghanaians are not giving them space to breathe. They're sharing in what is not enough which should be meant for citizens. Why add to our problem? Up, begone to your father's house also! Even if it is enough, any one could have said, "go and develop your nation too". That's that jealousy. If it is not well channeled (for it can't be eradicated), it can lead to a massacre of the people.
So, before you'll say you can't discriminate and affirm same to be true, first put yourself in the shoe of Pharaoh and others who are guilty of it. Know why they do it and why you won't or shouldn't do it. Pharaoh started discriminating when he stopped seeing the Israelites as Egyptians. If Joseph were still alive, he would never have been lesser an Egyptian than he was a Hebrew. So is each of the Hebrews living in Egypt. They proud themselves being Egyptians though foreigners and Hebrews. The day natives don't see aliens or expatriates as citizens - which they (citizens) are, discrimination starts. For that is when we start creating distinction amidst men. Natives would only be justified of this if expatriates have stopped living as citizens.
Pharaoh's concern was concern but it was not well channeled. Israel didn't contest for the kingship of Egypt with the Egyptians. They only needed a land to live and right to life to exercise. That the natives are the ones ruling still makes them the domineering force because it is he who bears the sceptre that owns the nation. So today, let us not deny that we can be made jealous on the account of having being prospered and another coming to enjoy the labour of our heroes. Rather, let's grow out of the evils of being made jealous into seeing all men as one as long as they're for peace. Israel would have been guilty of what Pharaoh accused them of if they were trying to seize the government or planning Egypt's downfall. Except they're called to government, they should remain low also. But in this wise, insecurity and inordinate fear pushed Pharaoh into taking unnecessary measures. Check yourself too for God is jealous over strangers amidst you even to avenge them.
PRAYER: Lord, teach me to treat my neighbour as myself.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Genesis 44:1-45:28, Matthew 14:13-36, Psalm 18:37-50, Proverbs 4:11-13
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