SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 35
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Because you harbored an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword at the time of their calamity, the time their punishment reached its climax, therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you. [Ezekiel 35:5-6]
It is helpful to know that Edom is the nation that came from Esau, and Israel came from his brother Jacob.
The ancient hostility is the birthright and inheritance issue between them [Genesis 27], and though Esau forgave Jacob [Genesis 33], apparently his descendants did not.
Edom’s bitter, covetous spirit eventually found the chance to get revenge when Israel was beaten; they took the opportunity to ravage the remains of the land.

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” [Luke 12:13-15]
Jesus comes to expose our covetous hearts, not just to give us what they want.
He looks beyond this temporal controversy to the heart of the issue, the bitter covetous heart of this brother.
Jesus saw that he was harbouring an ‘ancient hostility’ that could only progress into a lifelong burden of greed and disappointment.
Think about it, how many families do you know that are divided over temporal controversies, and their hearts are poisoned by bitterness and frustration.

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. [Matthew 5:22-23]
The spirit of greed and bitterness leads one towards the ‘fire of hell’, not God’s arbitrarily imposed judgment but the natural consequence of a heart burdened by anger and greed and bitterness.
To all those who have a problem with a family member, even if they feel their cause is right, Jesus says, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Edom harboured this ancient hostility, and it eventually destroyed them.
Is there a bitter root that is dragging you down?
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. [Hebrews 12:14-16]

PRAYER:
Lord, reveal to my heart any bitterness or greed or anger, and help me to root it out, before it drags me down into the hell it produces.