Do not write off anyone...

I remember that in my teen years and even until I started working, my parents often thought I wouldn’t be able to cope. In fact, I’m quite sure they had written me off, believing I wouldn’t really amount to much in life. Looking back now, I don’t blame them at all. I wasn’t the best kid growing up, not the brightest, not very studious. But if I think carefully, there were two things I was good at: I could talk myself out of situations, and I was street-smart. I could read what was happening around me and figure out how to move forward.

Why am I talking about this today? I was reading something that really surprised me in Deuteronomy 23:7–8. God tells the people of Israel: “You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land. The children of the third generation born to them may enter the assembly of the LORD.” You see this echoed again in Isaiah 19:25, where God says: “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

To understand this better, Edom was Israel’s brother nation—yet they did not allow Israel to pass through their land during the Exodus. Egypt, of course, was the place of long oppression and suffering. And yet, God still tells His people not to detest them.

We are all guilty of this. When we have friction with someone, we often try to mend things. But there are moments when it feels beyond repair, and slowly, resentment turns into dislike and sometimes even hatred. We don’t want to see them, talk to them, or even cross paths with them. And interestingly, that’s often when God seems to “play with us” by placing them everywhere we go. I used to think this was about them apologizing to me. But over time, I realized it had more to do with the condition of my own heart.

I still remember when I worked in a call center. We were encouraged to keep a small mirror on our desks. If a call became heated or argumentative, we were asked to look at ourselves in the mirror, to notice our expressions and tone, so that we could adjust our attitude. It wasn’t about the customer changing; it was about us becoming aware.

Our God is not about resentment, and His mercy reveals that no nation is beyond redemption. Just as we see God’s mercy in this passage, I would encourage you to reflect on anyone in your life you’ve detested and to examine your opinion of them. Please note, I’m also learning to change my views as I encourage you to do the same. Who knows—our renewed perspectives might create new pathways for them to become our next best friend.