The Woman at the Well

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

There was a woman at a well, one day

Near a city of Samaria, in a land far away.

There she met a Stranger, who changed her life that day,

For He gave her living water-from

The Truth, the Life, the way.

She left her waterpot, there by the well,

Ran into the city- for she must tell

That she had met the Messiah at the well

DALE EVANS ROGERS

Though unnamed, the woman at the well was an audacious exploratory woman who constantly sought ways to slake her thirst as well as satisfy the desires and longings of her heart. The quest for self satisfaction culminated in the series of non satisfying marital relationships – five husbands and a current live in lover that she could not call a husband. Please see John Chapter 4 verses 16 to 18.

Perhaps, this quest was also the reason she went to fetch water at a time when women do not go to fetch water or perhaps, it was a ploy to avoid the sniggers and sneers of other supposedly lucky women who had maritally fulfilling relationships and had probably not gone her string of five husbands and a current live in lover. Whatever it was, this journey to the well at the odd hour turned out to be a life changing, life transforming encounter for this very beautiful woman of Samaria; accustomed to attention from the male folk (five husbands and a live in lover is no mean feat for any woman. If in doubt, please attempt it, though I do not advise it as it is not really scriptural.

Healing the Nations Through Forgiveness 3

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The Prodigal Son and His Father – Luke Chapter 15 verses 11 to 32

The prodigal son is an interesting case study of some mothers do have them! Generally, sons and daughters and whoever inherits after the demise of their parents or benefactors. But the prodigal son chose to have his inheritance even when his father was still alive. He went to his father and requested for his inheritance. His father obliged him and not quite long he lost everything to riotous living and began to live in penury. Close to eating pods - what he served to pigs as their meal, he did a rethink. He had lived wrongly and had wronged his father. He did a u-turn and returned home. Fortunately for him, his father lovingly accepted him back. The relationship between father and son was restored through repentance, forgiveness and acceptance.

Realization and acknowledgement of sin, repentance, forgiveness and acceptance culminate in the healing process and restoration of relationships. Relationships are very central to God. That explains why the Bible gives a number of instances of relationships that went awry and how God intervened and the relationships were restored. Beginning with Adam and Eve, through Sarah and Hagar, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, the prodigal son and his father, John Mark  and the Apostle Paul, the Apostles Paul and Peter, God and us, the people of Israel, David. Manasseh.

To ensure the restoration of relationships, God gave believers principles for managing relationships. They are in the Bible. Forgiveness is one of them and very key – we are to forgive as many times as people hurt us, sin against us; we are also to ask forgiveness of other people when we offend them; we are to acknowledge our sins and repent of them, we are to tolerate one another in love, speak up and rebuke one another in love rather than bottle up and live in anger, resentment, bitterness and unforgiveness. We are to share information that transforms rather than gossip and we are to pray for one another rather than project ill will. That way, we will have wholesome individuals, communities and nations.

Healing the Nations Through Forgiveness 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Joseph and His Brothers – Genesis Chapters 37, 39, 40, 41 and 42

There was a rift in the nation of Israel. Joseph and his brothers were estranged because the older brothers of Joseph envied Joseph. Why? Joseph carelessly shared his dreams of global leadership with them. Secondly, their father loved Joseph more and what began as envy progressed to hatred – they did not speak peaceably with him.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on which side of the divide you are in, Joseph played into their hands when in obedience to his father’s instructions went out to look for his brothers in the field. They took advantage of this opportunity to kill Joseph. But for Reuben’s intervention, Joseph would have been killed. He was sold into slavery and for about fifteen years, Joseph lost contact with his biological family. He served as a servant and later overseer in Potiphar’s house before he was thrown into prison on account of the carefully orchestrated lies of Potiphar’s wife. It was her word against his. Eventually, God orchestrated events that brought Joseph before Pharaoh and Joseph became a leader in Egypt. Dreams fulfilled but family and nation rift was still there. And because God usually restores all things, including healing nations through healing the skewed up relationships in the nations, He orchestrated events that brought them together.

His brothers came to buy grain in Egypt in Egypt. Joseph recognized them but they did not recognize Joseph. The healing process had begun. Joseph could have chosen to be vindictive, throw them in prison for life, refuse them grain and send them away empty handed to die of hunger and starvation, kill them on trumped up charges. He did not tow any of these paths rather he tested them and when he saw that they were repentant, the Bible records that Joseph turned away from them and wept (Genesis Chapter 42 verses 21 to 26). He also filled their sacks with grain, returned their money and gave them provisions for the journey. Joseph was not the only one being healed. His brothers were also being healed. Deep conviction of sin for the way they treated Joseph had come upon them. They regretted their actions. So there was acknowledgment of sins and repentance on the part of his brothers and forgiveness on the part of Joseph who did not hold any grudges against them. Yet, he tested them again. He deliberately put his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack and sent his steward after them. The brothers almost died when the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. They opted to serve as slaves in Benjamin’s place and when Joseph insisted that the rest of them could return to Canaan, Judah offered to serve as a slave to Joseph just so Benjamin could be free to return to his father. At that point, Joseph realized that his brothers were changed men and he made himself known to them. Were they afraid? Definitely! But Joseph told them they were serving the purpose of God when they sold him to Egypt for indeed God was the One who sent him to Egypt in order to preserve their own lives as the famine was also severe in Canaan. He advised them not to blame each other. He then wept over them, kissed them and gave them gifts.

Healing the Nations Through Forgiveness 1

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

To err is human while to forgive is divine. The healing of the nations is usually preceded by the acknowledgment of sin, repentance and forgiveness after which healing and restoration begins. 2^nd Chronicles Chapter 7 verse 14.

The Bible is replete with teachings, instructions and commandments to forgive people who hurt one another. They include Ephesians Chapter 4 verse 32, Matthew Chapter 18 verses 21 to 35, Colossians Chapter 3 verses 12 to 23, and Luke Chapter 17 verses 3 to 4.

Jesus Christ and Peter

Peter denied Jesus Christ three times yet Jesus did not renege on His promise to Peter. Please see Matthew Chapter 16 verses 15 to 19, John Chapter 21 verses 15 to 22, Acts Chapter 2 verses 14, 4 verse 8. Jesus Christ knew that Peter would deny Him yet He prayed for Peter ahead of the temptation and denial (Luke Chapter 22 verses 31 to 34, 54 to 62). The devil wanted to make nonsense of Peter’s faith but God intervened through intercession for Peter. He also forgave Peter and never mentioned the incident after the resurrection. Rather, He commissioned Peter to take care of the early Church.

Significantly, Peter led the early Church. It is also significant to note that Peter repented – he wept bitterly after the rooster crowed.

Esau and Jacob

These are twin brothers that should have been extremely close to one another yet at different points, wrong relational attitudes and actions caused a rift of hatred that made Esau want to kill his twin brother. Fortunately, Jacob fled early enough from Esau’s anger, hatred and sword. Their relationship at that point in time had degenerated to that of enemies – Esau was angry that Jacob cunningly stole his birth right and proceeded from there to steal the blessings their father Isaac wanted to give to Esau.

The relationship between Isaac and Rebekah coupled with the way they related to the children contributed to the degeneration that took place in their relationship. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game while Rebekah loved Jacob. That was enough to create discord and schism among the brothers. Please see Genesis Chapters 25 verses 27 to 34 and 27 verses 1 to 45. For many years, the brothers were separated from each other. Jacob had married wives, had children just as Esau had done long before Jacob thought of getting married. However, the situation in Laban’s home and country was no longer conducive for Jacob and his family. He decided to return home. But he had to take care of the relationship between him and his twin brother Esau. He sent emissaries to Esau and became afraid when they returned and told him that Esau was coming out with four hundred men to meet him. At that point in time, Jacob asked God for intervention. Please see Genesis Chapter 32 verses 1 to 13. God honored the prayer of Jacob and by the time the brothers met, Jacob was shocked as his brother Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck and kissed him. For the first time in many years, they were brothers again and they wept, tears of joy at the reunion and the fact that God spared their lives and kept Esau from killing Jacob in the moment of uncontrolled anger – Genesis Chapter 33 verses 1 to 20.

God healed and restored their relationship. Esau accepted gifts from Jacob and even offered security for Jacob and the children.

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