The Circumstances of Bitter Roots
Roots are Covered. Everybody in this fallen world has been hurt to one extent or another. Sins are committed, accidents happen, and illnesses come our way; and these trials sometimes turn into bitterness. The Bible says that this bitterness is like a root lying underneath the surface of our being. Some people wear their feelings on a sleeve, but most do not. Most people’s hurts are covered. You never know what someone has gone through or is currently going through. We can look healthy and great on the surface, but noxious bitter roots may be lurking underneath the surface. Covered wounds have the potential to turn into “a root of bitterness.”
Proverbs 14:10a “The heart knoweth his own bitterness;”
Roots Come Up. What is buried under the surface can come up. Old memories and emotions seemingly “spring up” from nowhere. A picture, a song, or a smell can suddenly activate a part of our brain, and bang, we are reliving a past injury.
Have you ever been “triggered” and then lashed out in anger, criticism, or hostility? We often say, “Sorry, I was under a lot of pressure!” But when you squeeze a lemon, you get lemon juice. When you squeeze a bitter person, guess what oozes out? “…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (Matt. 12:24)
The Consequences of Bitter Roots
They Are Destructive for Me.
Quote: “Bitterness is the poison we drink expecting the other person to die.” – Unknown
Esau is an example of bitterness that our text provides. He despised the blessing of God and sold his birthright to his deceitful brother Jacob. In bitterness, Esau rebelled against God. He allowed bitterness to destroy his life.
They Defile Others. Bitterness is destructive for me, and it also defiles others. Esau ruined his own life and his relationship with his whole family. Esau’s lineage, the Edomites, would follow their father’s example, and the nation would become an enemy of God and His people. The poison of bitterness spreads like cancer through families, churches, and communities. Beware! “Thereby, many are defiled.”
The Cure for Bitter Roots.
Filtering Your Thoughts. “Looking diligently” – Filtering your thoughts is an exercise just like reading your Bible, praying, church attendance, and brushing your teeth. “Looking diligently,” we must examine our heads, hearts, and even our mouths. Is there bitterness in any of these places?
Forgiveness. “Forgiveness is surrendering my right to hurt you for hurting me.” “Forgiveness is me canceling the debt.” “Forgiveness is me not reminding you of your sin against me.”
When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray in Matthew 6 and Luke 11, he taught them daily forgiveness. The Lord instructed us to ask for forgiveness while giving forgiveness to others. Getting forgiveness for ourselves and giving forgiveness to others is a daily exercise. You most likely will not have someone sin against you every single day, but when someone sins greatly against you, you will remember their sin debt every day. What they will be fresh on our memory. This is why we must forgive the debt daily. There is no forensic mechanism to “forgive and forget.” We can only forgive and keep on forgiving. Only after continuous daily exercise, can we eventually “forget.”
Remember: Whatever has happened, a bad accident, a crime committed, and the evil said or done will always be true. Forgiveness by necessity must be repeated again and again. Exercise forgiveness!
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Faith In the Sovereignty of God. Esau rebelled against God because he was rejected as the chosen progenitor of the chosen race. He refused faith and chose unforgiveness.
By contrast, Joseph, in the Bible, was sold into slavery, lied about, imprisoned, and twenty-two years later, had the opportunity to repay his brothers for the crime against him. Instead of paying back, he forgave and blessed them. Joseph “let them off the hook,” reminding them twice that “God meant it for good.” Joseph refused bitter unforgiveness and instead chose forgiveness and faith.
Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it isthis day, to save much people alive.
Faith means we “lift up” our bitter wounds to the Lord, trusting that he will heal our bitter wounds and turn the evil into something good.
“Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.”