Family Is God’s Idea

Your family, mine, and most are similar to other families; yet each family has their own God-designed uniqueness.

“God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.” (Psalm 68:6)

Does everyone in your family seem to tell jokes? Enjoy the same activities, foods, music; clothing; colors? Is your family mostly serious; relaxed; or somewhat strict? Is your family made up of almost complete opposites? However, your family shows up. Know and remember that family is a GOD idea.

Family time is an opportunity to grow closer to God, Jesus, and the relatives who share our genes, traits, and appearance. It’s a chance to intentionally let God teach us how to be more like Jesus—loving, forgiving, and focused on others. The Bible teaches us about family through the examples of those in Scripture, showing both good and bad interactions that help us learn and grow.

How boring it would be if four or five of us lived in the same house, eating the same foods, reading the same type of books? Everyone doing the exact same things all the time! No opportunity for differing abilities, interests, or talents to show up and shine! Well, reading about Bible families for the next 40 days as we journey to Easter will be an interesting way to better understand and appreciate families.

For example, Jacob and Esau were twins. One liked the outdoors, hunting, and the rugged life. The other preferred being home, indoors, experimenting, and perfecting his skills as a chef. Each of us is amazingly created by a God Who loves us and knew exactly which parents, siblings, and cousins from generation to generation He would place us. Family is designed by God to be our first place of learning about Him and others. In families, we learn unconditional love, honesty, fellowship, unity, work, enjoyment, respect, and sharing. We also learn a great deal about conflict resolution, team effort, and forgiveness.

Jacob and Esau certainly mastered the forgiveness lesson, though it was a painful, messy, lengthy process! Because the two brothers dealt with this issue and finally began to live peacefully in forgiveness, one of the young boys in that family grew to be a portrait of such forgiveness (stay tuned for meeting or revisiting him)!

Until then, read Genesis chapters 25-33! You will encounter a variety of personalities, relationships, events, growing pains, and the beauty of differences in families!

Pray:

Heavenly Father, thank You for making families! This was Your very own idea and the first institution You created and established. Help families desire to always follow You and the plans You have for them. You are our Father and all who believe in Your Son Jesus are part of Your huge and growing family. We appreciate Your plan. Amen.

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©2025 Penelope White Use with author’s permission. Send requests to penywhite@hotmail.com

Penelope Allen White is a wife, mother of two young adult sons, and grandmother. Her passion is for all children and people to have an intimate knowledge of God. She works as a Christian educator, speaker, church school curriculum writer and teacher, workshop facilitator, middle school counselor, and neighborhood tutor. Despite her busy schedule, she still finds time to enjoy a game of hopscotch!