The
years following World War II were labeled the Cold War as nations exchanged
threats and jockeyed for power. The Berlin Wall, built in August 1961, stood
for almost 3 decades as one of the most powerful symbols of the smoldering
animosity. Then, on November 9, 1989, it was announced that citizens could
cross freely from East to West Berlin. The entire wall was demolished the
following year.
The
familiar Old Testament story of Joseph follows a favorite son whose brothers
hated him (Gen. 37–50). Yet Joseph refused to build a wall of hatred between
himself and his brothers who sold him into slavery. When a famine brought them
face to face after many years, Joseph treated his brothers with kindness,
saying, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good . . . . And he
comforted them and spoke kindly to them” (50:20-21), helping to restore the
relationship between them.
Thirty-three years ago today, an oppressive man-made barrier was opened, offering freedom
and reuniting families and friends.
If we’ve built walls of anger and separation between ourselves and others, the Lord is willing and able to help us begin tearing them down today.
