…and one who stirs up strife among brothers. Proverbs 6:19b, TLV
Why Does God Hate Division? In our proverb today, the writer prefaces this verse with verse 16:
Six things ADONAI [the LORD] hates,
yes, seven are abominations to Him:
Essentially, our loving Heavenly Father abhors seven things. And one of them is stirring up trouble in the family. Whether from within or without, He doesn’t just not like it, He hates it.
Family dynamics can be complicated. Mine certainly are. And I might complain about it. But don’t you mess with my family! We may be as dysfunctional as two flat tires, but it’s my family.
So, apparently, our Father feels the same way about His family — us. Ever wonder why?
“I pray not on behalf of these only, but also for those who believe in Me through their message, that they all may be one. Just as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, so also may they be one in Us, so the world may believe that You sent Me.”
Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, his last prayer before he died on the cross, John 17:20-21, TLV [my emphasis]
Did you get that? The Father knew that one day His only Son, 
Yeshua would pray that His disciples would be in unity as Yeshua and the Father were (John 17:6-19). But then, Jesus prayed for us. Yes, us. Those who would hear this message and believe. Gives me goosebumps.
But it gets better. He prays that when we — brothers and sisters in the Messiah, sons and daughters of the Most High God — are one, the world will know who Jesus is! They would know and believe! They could be restored to the Father.
So, when strife is brought into God’s family, it messes with His Son. It interferes with His work. Not a good thing.
Fortunately, of all the prayers ever to rise up into the heavenlies, I believe from my toes to my nose that Yeshua’s prayer will be answered with a rousing, “YES!” Amen and amen.
Think More About It
Is there division in your family? Congregation? Place of work? How will you seek to work with the Lord to heal the rifts?
