Mar 16

Genesis 34:1-31
Memorise James 4:1-2
“Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain”

With the past crises behind him, Jacob would have thought that he could finally have some peace and quiet. He bought a parcel of land near a city and pitched his tents there. However, it was not long before another disaster struck - his daughter Dinah was raped! The son of the chief of the city had taken her, lay with her and defiled her (Genesis 34:2). Not only that, they now had the audacity to come and ask for her hand in marriage.

Naturally, her brothers were very wroth, both over the dignity and purity of their sister, but also the honour of their family. However, Hamor’s (Shechem’s father) offer seemed to be a rather sincere one, and desired peace between the two households. He was willing to offer as much dowry as requested, and also to give the daughters of his city as their wives, and that their cities may dwell together and have trade relationships. Jacob’s sons agreed to these terms, on condition that all the men of the city be circumcised. This pleased them “and the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter” (Genesis 34:18). However, behind the veneer of the peaceful agreement, there was a more sinister plot being hatched by Simeon and Levi. They waited until the third day after all the men of the city were circumcised, and when infection and fever had set in, they “took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males” (Genesis 34:25). Whilst they claimed this was vengeance for what had been done to their sister, this was certainly over punishing, for in their rage they murdered a whole city of defenceless men, plundered their goods and took the women and children captive.

After all these events transpired, Jacob finally spoke up: “Ye have troubled me to stink among the inhabitants of the land… they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house” (Genesis 34:30). So really, who was right in all this? Shechem cared only for his own lusts and physical desire. The brothers simply sought for a bloodthirsty vengeance, whilst Jacob cared for reputation and wanted as little conflict as possible, even though his daughter had been violated. No one sought the will of God, and all cared only for their own selfish agendas. It is no surprise that the outcome of all this was just tragedy upon tragedy.

Thought: When everyone is selfish, no one benefits.
Prayer: Lord, grant me the wisdom to seek Your will and not my own.