December 30, 2009
Dinah is attacked.
Jacob does nothing.
Her brothers seek revenge.
Shechem (a Hivite) wants what isn't his and he rapes Dinah. Shechem's father tries to help him get what he wants by promising peace, land, and freedom. God had already promised Israel the land and yet here are the Hivites trying to offer the Israelites what only God could give. The Hivites were being self-serving and deceitful. Their true motives are found in Genesis 34:23. They wanted everything for themselves and their offer of peace was merely a means to get what they wanted.
What the Hivites did was wrong. However, Jacob's sons' response was totally wrong as well. They sought and got revenge, killing the men and taking everything as their own—which then put them all in danger.
Genesis 35:2 - "Put away the foreign gods you have and make yourselves clean, and change your clothes."
Before leaving, Jacob emphasized the importance of repentance. After their repentance, Jacob built an altar to God. Jacob acknowledged the authority of God; then God appeared to him and blessed him again.
We must do things in the right order. Vengeance is NOT ours to seek. We must repent; acknowledge Christ as Lord; change our ways; and THEN—God blesses.
Dinah is attacked.
Jacob does nothing.
Her brothers seek revenge.
Shechem (a Hivite) wants what isn't his and he rapes Dinah. Shechem's father tries to help him get what he wants by promising peace, land, and freedom. God had already promised Israel the land and yet here are the Hivites trying to offer the Israelites what only God could give. The Hivites were being self-serving and deceitful. Their true motives are found in Genesis 34:23. They wanted everything for themselves and their offer of peace was merely a means to get what they wanted.
What the Hivites did was wrong. However, Jacob's sons' response was totally wrong as well. They sought and got revenge, killing the men and taking everything as their own—which then put them all in danger.
Genesis 35:2 - "Put away the foreign gods you have and make yourselves clean, and change your clothes."
Before leaving, Jacob emphasized the importance of repentance. After their repentance, Jacob built an altar to God. Jacob acknowledged the authority of God; then God appeared to him and blessed him again.
We must do things in the right order. Vengeance is NOT ours to seek. We must repent; acknowledge Christ as Lord; change our ways; and THEN—God blesses.
Next Entry: Genesis 37:1–36
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