Triggering Bitterness and Anger

They hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. —Genesis 37:4

One of the classic lines in the movie Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan is when Khan Noonien Singh says of James Kirk, “He tasks me… He tasks me.”  Khan was so filled with bitterness and anger, just the thought of Kirk annoyed him.

The Bible records several instances of this same problem:  For example:  Saul had a serious attitude towards David (1 Sam. 18:29).  When Jonathan mentioned of David’s name it stirred up Saul’s anger (1 Sam. 20:27-31).  Saul had such bitter feelings toward David, he couldn’t even speak David’s name [He referred to David as “the son of Jesse”].

The Jews despised the Gentiles so badly that when Paul mentioned their name it brought an abrupt halt to his message (Acts 28:28-29).  They could not bear to hear the name “Gentiles” spoken in a positive manner.

The sight of Joseph triggered ill feelings in his brothers (Gen. 37:18-20). The text in this devotion says Joseph’s brothers could not “speak peaceably unto him.”  That is, they could not deal kindly with Joseph or wish him well. They wanted to be done with him.

Jacob’s name had a stinky stench attached to it (Gen. 34:34).  Jacob’s name caused the Canaanites and Perizzites to plug their noses.  (I hope the name Al Hughes doesn’t cause anyone to plug their nose.)

Does the mere mention of someone’s name trigger ill feelings in your heart?  Does the sight of a certain individual upset you?  Does thinking about a particular person “task” you?  Is there anyone in your life whom you cannot “speak peaceably” to or about?  These are telltale signs you’ve got a severe problem of bitterness or resentment within your spirit.  Better get it right, or it will eat you alive.

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. —Galatians 5:14-15