Genesis 34:1-31 – Trouble in Shechem
Jacob did the very same thing Lot had done. Lot settled in Sodom and we know what kind of place that was. One day Jacob and Leah’s daughter, Dinah went to visit the women in the city of Shechem. It was probably an alluring place as the world is today for our children even those from Christian homes. A man named Shechem (who had the same name as the city) let his lust get the best of him and he raped Dinah. “When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and violated her.” – Gen. 34:2. The scripture was clear. She was raped. This might have been avoided, if she had not been allowed to go there alone. It was very dangerous in that day for women to be alone. Shechem had no sense of doing anything wrong. It was their culture to take what they wanted.
Then Shechem wanted to marry Dinah, but he needed her family’s approval. His father, Hamor after seeing Jacob and all his wealth, wanted his people to intermarry with Jacob’s people. Her brothers, Simeon and Levi became very anger when they heard about what had happened to Dinah. They let their emotions get out of control and took matters into their own hands. They made a cruel plot pretending Shechem could marry Dinah and all their daughters could intermarry with the men of Shechem. First, all the men had to be circumcised. The men agreed. While the men were still hurting and could not fight, Simeon and Levi attacked them killing every man and looted the city. They took their flocks and carried off all their wealth including their women and children. The men, women and children of the town were innocent and not responsible for what happened to Dinah.
Principle: Settling outside God’s will engages with evil and endangers others.
The people of God were behaving just like the people around them. What Jacob’s sons did was very wrong, but two wrongs don’t make a right. What Shechem did was nothing compared to the brutality of Jacob‘s sons. They used their religion to trick and slaughter, loot their goods and take their wives and children as slaves. All this could have been avoided if Jacob had gone to Bethel as God had told him and not stayed gone to Shechem. God wants us to separate ourselves from the world and not live as the world lives. – 2 Cor. 6:17-18.
Jacob was unhappy about his son’s behavior, because they had acted wickedly. Jacob’s family was not using their special identity as God’s people. Now Jacob’s whole family was in danger. Jacob’s sons did not respect God by using circumcision to their advantage. They used it to take revenge instead of using it as a covenant with God.
God’s judgment to Simeon and Levi was revealed on Jacob’s deathbed in Genesis 49. They didn’t escape the consequences of their evil, but would suffer judgment. They were cursed and would receive no inheritance. They would be scattered throughout Israel. However, later the Levites moved into obedience to God, but still had no inherited land. They became Israel’s tribe of priests.
No one in this story was innocent. Dinah let her desires lure her to visit the sinful city alone, which was a dangerous thing to do. Hamor and Shechem wronged her. Jacob should have done more about the situation, but he seemed more worried about his own safety. The behavior of Simeon and Levi was the worst. They were very angry and took revenge. They were cruel to the men in Shechem and then murdered them. They certainly didn’t behave like people of God.
Jacob’s sons took revenge for what happened to Dinah. God’s people should not take revenge. That’s God’s job. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” – Rom. 12:17-19. It’s not a sin to be angry. It’s how you handle it that can become sin.
Genesis 35:1-15 – Renewal by Repentance
There are murdered people everywhere, Dinah is violated and Jacob is silent. They didn’t deserve God’s grace, but God remained faithful to Jacob and his family line. God wanted to pull Jacob out of the pit and restore his relationship with Him. God reminded Jacob the last time he messed up and Jacob recognized his mistakes. God gave him 2 commands: go to Bethel and to settle there and make an altar to Him.
Jacob served God, but it seems his family did not. They used idols. Before they went to Bethel Jacob told them, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes.” – Gen 35:2. They had to choose between God and their idols. So they gave them up and repented. They all journeyed to Bethel. God’s pure grace protected and preserved Jacob and his family by sending terror to the towns all around them so no one would pursue them for the wrong his sons had done.
We all have idols whether we realize it or not. An idol can be anything we desire in place of God. Where you spend most of your time, money and energy can be an idol. It could be your job, your children, your hobbies, your money or your pleasure. “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” – 1 John 5:21.
When Jacob returned to Bethel we read that Rebekah’s nurse, Deborah had died. (Gen. 35:8) Why are we told about the woman? We don’t know why she is mentioned other than she was a lifetime loyal servant to the family. She had been with Rebekah since birth. She traveled with her when she went to marry Isaac. She was highly regarded by the whole family.
Maybe we’re told about her because servants of all kinds are very important. Servants must be truthful, faithful, and obedient. Christians are servants for God and have a sense of responsibility to God which makes us willingly to do His work. If that describes you, you are special. Are you a faithful servant to God? Jesus is called the Servant of the Lord. When Jesus came to earth, He took on the role of a servant. He had come to serve and to give his life as a ransom many. (Matt. 20:28)
God appeared to Jacob again and blessed him. God re-established His covenant promise and reminded him of his new name, Israel. Jacob set up a stone pillar and worshipped God as He had been directed. What a contrast from chapter 34 and 35 – from evil to God’s grace. When Jacob was at his lowest, God called his name to come back to Him. Jesus came to earth to pay the price for our sins. His death gives us salvation from sin and power over sin. We all sin and when we fall, God desires us to come back to Him.
Principle: Repentance results in a fresh revelation of God.
Sometime it’s difficult to understand God’s purposes for Jacob. Why was he so special? He was a deceiver, a liar, a scheming scoundrel and missed up time and again. In spite of his repeated failures, God renewed His covenant with him. God delights in giving grace to great sinners. He loves to save people out of brokenness and chaos so He can get all the glory. God still chooses people like Jacob. He chose you and me so He will gain all the glory in Jesus Christ.
If you have fallen in your faith, it’s not too late to return. God is there waiting for you. He loves you and misses you very much. There is nothing you have done or can do that will turn away God’s forgiveness. So get out of you spiritual slump and get encouraged from God’s Word. It may not be easy, but you can take refuge in the help of God.
Genesis 35:16-29 – Deaths of Rachel and Isaac
Then Jacob’s final sorrow is the death of his father, Isaac. Isaac lives 180 years. I am sure Jacob bore these heartaches with a renewed trust in God.
This family was dysfunctional, like many families today. But God through His amazing grace works through it all to forgive and bring us to Jesus. This is very encouraging to know that we don’t have to be perfect. God loves us in spite of our mistakes.
Principle: God calls believers to separate our hearts from the world so we resemble Him to the world.
While we were still sinners He died for us. We need to trust every Word of God. He knows more than we do and He knows us. Because of His resurrection, we have all we need to live a holy life. He’s calling your name.
Genesis 36:1-43 – Esau’s Descendants
This chapter is about Esau’s generations. Reading this chapter makes one think why is this in the Bible. It’s just a bunch of names that mean nothing to us. Esau was a successful man and very prosperous and powerful. But he failed where it most mattered, with God.
I think this chapter was written to contrast Esau’s life with Jacob’s life. It shows us two roads. A road of earthly success, fame, and power; and the road of obedience to God’s will. Esau’s family was outwardly attractive, but God was not a part of it. Jacob/Israel followed God and Esau did not. Material prosperity doesn’t equal spiritual prosperity and temporary fame doesn’t equal eternal recognition by God. Esau’s success and famous name isn’t used much and doesn’t mean anything today, but Israel’s name is used almost daily.
We know that Jesus was a descendant of Jacob. In preparing for this post, I learned something new as I tend to do each week. One of Esau’s descendants was Herod. Herod’s father was an Edomite whose ancestors had converted to Judaism and Herod was raised as a Jew. Jesus went to the cross, while Herod with all his power and fame relaxed in his luxurious palace.
Principle: Material prosperity doesn’t equal spiritual prosperity and temporary fame doesn’t equal eternal recognition by God.
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