Paul’s experience covered in the last three admonitions raised many questions! Cain who came from the same womb killed his brother over an offering!

Job the sage had this to say:

He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children’s sake of mine own body. Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me. My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me. Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh? Job 19:13-22 (KJV)

My relatives stay far away, and my friends have turned against me. My family is gone, and my close friends have forgotten me. My servants and maids consider me a stranger. I am like a foreigner to them. When I call my servant, he doesn’t come; I have to plead with him! My breath is repulsive to my wife. I am rejected by my own family. Even young children despise me. When I stand to speak, they turn their backs on me. My close friends detest me. Those I loved have turned against me. I have been reduced to skin and bones and have escaped death by the skin of my teeth. “Have mercy on me, my friends, have mercy, for the hand of God has struck me. Must you also persecute me, like God does? Haven’t you chewed me up enough? Job 19:13-22 NLT

A brother will betray his brother unto death—even a father his child! Children will rise up against their parents and have them put to death. Expect to be hated by all because of my name, but be faithful to the end and you will experience life and deliverance. Matthew 10:21-22 (TPT)

Notwithstanding all the wise man’s platitudes:

1. A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17 (KJV), A dear friend will love you no matter what, and a family sticks together through all kinds of trouble. Proverbs 17:17 (TPT)
2. A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (KJV), Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family. Proverbs 18:24 (MSG)
3. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful… Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel… Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:6,9,17 (KJV), Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy…The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense…As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:6,9,17 (NLT)

The only test of who a friend is, as laid down by the Lord Himself—Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Only the good Samaritan came near fulfilling that, even though it was pointing to Christ’s unconditional love to us.

The Lord warned us to expect betrayal from the closest quarters and admonished that our faithfulness to Him MUST not be compromised by such. Oh, for grace to take this to heart, that our ultimate vindication will come from the Lord if we do not fall away.

Indeed, people’s wrong judgment on the source of the situation he found himself did not negate the reality of the experience he passed through; yet Job reaffirmed an unflinching conviction.

For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives, and at last He [the Last One] will stand upon the earth. And after my skin, even this body, has been destroyed, then from my flesh or without it I shall see God, Whom I, even I, shall see for myself and on my side! And my eyes shall behold Him, and not as a stranger! My heart pines away and is consumed within me. Job 19:25-27 (AMPC).

Take these things to heart lest a root of bitterness take its place in your heart when it comes. Shalom.

Pastor Afolabi Oladele