My Brother and I by Daniel Nettleton

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 7, 1915

My Brother and I

By Daniel Nettleton

DANIEL NETTLETON

“AND there was a strife between the herdmen of Abraham’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.” Gen. 13: 7, 8. Abraham and Lot were not only related as uncle and nephew, but were bound by the stronger tie of “brethren”—sons of God. The one great reason given by Abraham why they should not strive was, “We be brethren.” Incidentally another reason is given in verse 7: “The Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.” They had unconverted neighbors. The people living all about them were strangers to the covenant of promise, having “no hope, and without God in the world.” Abraham and Lot were missionaries. Their business as stock men was only incidental—secondary. Their principal business was to give a knowledge of the true God by their righteous lives and testimony. Abraham saw that if they should quarrel about the pasture for their cattle, it would have a bad effect on their neighbors.

Similarly we are God’s children, and the “Canaanite” dwells in our land. If we are selfish, and strive for our rights and get into trouble with the brethren, what effect will it have on our unsaved neighbors? Will they take knowledge that we have been with Jesus? Abraham showed a true Christian spirit when he surrendered his right and let Lot take the best pasture, the beautiful valley of Jordan, while he quietly retired to the hills.

The most unwise thing that Lot ever did was to separate from Abraham. He was blessed and prospered while he was associated with that righteous man. He lost everything he had, even his family, and, perhaps, eternal life, by his selfish choice, though the portion he chose was well watered everywhere, even as the garden of the Lord. What “though every prospect pleases, and only man is vile”? Lot was soon dwelling in the city, though “the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.” He exchanged the association of the “friend of God” for worldly gain, and chose for his companions and the associates of his family the corrupt, wicked people of Sodom; and though he was “vexed” at the first with their filthy conversation and unlawful deeds, yet the last acts of his life, as recorded in Genesis 19, showed the terrible effect of this association on himself and children. “Evil communications corrupt good manners.” The character of the daughters of Sodom is described in Eze. 16: 49, 50. They were proud, haughty, and committed abominations. And these were the chosen companions of Lot’s wife and daughters. All this came from his separating from righteous Abraham and from “pitching his tent toward Sodom.” It is better to be on the hills with God and have the blessing of Abraham than to be in the beautiful valley of the Jordan with the Sodomites. In this record, there is a lesson for God’s remnant people; for our Saviour, in giving instruction for those looking for his second coming, said, “Remember Lot’s wife.”

Jesus points to that sad story of Lot and his family as a warning to those who are tempted to leave the plain, humble people of God for the more pleasing and fascinating society of the “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” “I had rather be a doorkeeper,” says David, “in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” The counsel of the spirit of prophecy is, “Press together, brethren.” “Two are

better than one,” says Solomon, and a “threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Eve was instructed not to separate from her companion. She disobeyed, yielded to the tempter, and brought the fall, with all its sad results. Had she remained with her husband, she might not have been overcome. It was a great help for Moses, who said he was slow of speech, to have his brother Aaron, who could “speak well.” David was blessed in having Jonathan for a brother and companion. In 1 Samuel 18 it is said, “The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. . . . Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.”

This blessed union of hearts, this tie of affection, was never broken. The knitting together of these two hearts never raveled out. David said, in his lament for Jonathan when the sad news came to him of his death, “How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.”

O for more love like this among us as brethren! The sweetness and the blessed influence of brotherly love is given in Psalm 133: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore.”

Yes, God does command his blessing on brotherly kindness. There are some things God never forgets. He said he would blot out our sins and remember them no more, but acts of love and kindness to his children he will always remember. Do you know what Jesus said about giving even a cup of cold water to one of his disciples? Paul said, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” He also said he remembered without ceasing the Thessalonians’ work of faith and labor of love. This labor of love for his people Christ esteems as done to himself. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” All the blessings of this present life, and my hope of eternal life, have come to me through the love of the people of God.

We are in the perils of the last days. Men’s hearts are failing them for fear, but our strong Elder Brother cries to us, “Lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Our work for this time is not only to give the gospel to the heathen world, but to “lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for our feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way: but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” It is these roots of bitterness that are making a “time of trouble” for God’s people. Jacob’s “time of trouble” was caused by his selfish, sinful dealing with his brother Esau. He took advantage of his brother’s weakness, and it caused a separation in the family, and many tears and sad heartaches. But finally by the grace and providence of God these estranged brothers were united. This was brought about by Jacob’s prayers and tears of repentance, as recorded in Genesis 32. The angel said to Jacob, “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob [supplanter], but Israel [prince of God]: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” Jacob overcame, and on his knees with strong crying and tears unto God won his angry brother, who was coming with four hundred men to destroy him and his family.

Jacob first obtained power with God, then he had power with men. Power with God is the only true way to have power with men. Jacob captured his brother by his own surrender to God. When he had fallen on the Rock and was broken, then he was ready to meet his brother. Esau met Jacob as a brother, and showed him all the kindness possible, and that is the way things go with men when they find power with God. O brother, the way to fix up all the trouble with the brethren is to fall on the Rock and be broken. It does not do any good to talk over the trouble. If Jacob and Esau had first met and talked over the matter of the “pottage” and “birthright,” they doubtless would not have been united. But as it was, first came the night of prayer and tears, then the happy meeting; for it says, Jacob “bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.”

The cause of all the trouble with the brethren is down deep, too deep for human skill and power, in the natural unsaved human heart. God is the only one who can change the heart. “Ye must be born again.” “When thou art converted,” said Jesus to Peter, “strengthen thy brethren.”

Unto us are given exceeding great and precious promises, that we might be partakers of the divine nature; and the divine nature is love. When we have this divine nature, we shall be all of one mind, having compassion one of another. We shall love as brethren. We shall be pitiful, courteous, not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing; knowing that we are thereunto called, that we should inherit a blessing. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from us with all malice, and we shall be kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven us. Let us pray as Paul wrote in Heb. 13: 1: “Let brotherly love continue.”

Port Townsend, Wash.