October 29, 2020 (Thursday)
Jacob puts himself between Esau and his servants and family.
“He put the servants and their children first, Leah and her children after
them, and Rachel and Joseph last.” [Genesis 33:2 CEB] It’s still the strategy
of giving the people behind time to escape if necessary. But the next verse we
read, “He himself went in front of them…” [Genesis 33:3a CEB]
Esau’s response is completely unexpected. When Jacob left,
Esau was threatening murder. Now it seems Esau has had a change of heart. “But
Esau ran to meet him, threw his arms around his neck, kissed him, and they
wept.” [Genesis 33:4 CEB] Jacob is home, safe, and loved. Trouble is, he has
established a life of drama.
Outside the city of Shechem, Jacob builds an altar. “Then he
set up an altar there and named it El Elohe Israel.” [Genesis 33:20 CEB] The
altar’s name means “God, the God of Israel.” It could also mean “Mighty is the
God of Israel” (NIV footnote). So, the name “Israel” is introduced to the world.
Make a living, enjoy your children, and live in peace… if
only life could be so simple. Dinah was the daughter of Leah. Things become complicated,
“But when the local prince, Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, saw Dinah, he
seized her and raped her.” [Genesis 34:2 NLT] The problem is the young man
thought Dinah liked him. This delusional fantasy is a problem.
“(Shechem) said to his father, Hamor, “Get me this young
girl. I want to marry her.” [Genesis 34:4 NLT] The brothers learned of the rape
and responded as expected, “Meanwhile, Jacob’s sons had come in from the field
as soon as they heard what had happened. They were shocked and furious that
their sister had been raped. Shechem had done a disgraceful thing against
Jacob’s family, something that should never be done.” [Genesis 34:7 NLT]
King Hamor attempts to make a treaty sealed by a marriage.
Seeing an opportunity, “The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor
deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah.” [Genesis 34:13 ESV] We
have an example of the old adage, “two wrongs do not make a right.” The brothers
insist the people of the city be circumcised.
What followed was a horror. “But three days later, when
their wounds were still sore, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, who were
Dinah’s full brothers, took their swords and entered the town without
opposition. Then they slaughtered every male there.” [Genesis 34:25 NLT] The
other brothers got in on the act, “They looted all their wealth and plundered
their houses. They also took all their little children and wives and led them
away as captives.” [Genesis 34:29 NLT]
Little did they know, but they were prophetically setting
the stage for their own personal family drama. Jacob recognizes the danger (see
Genesis 34:30). God comes to the rescue and directs Jacob to move (see Genesis
35:1). The LORD even provides cover for them, “As they set out, a terror from
God spread over the people in all the towns of that area, so no one attacked
Jacob’s family.” [Genesis 35:5 NLT]
Still the damage has been done and a dark line of thinking
takes root. Someone who is willing to take human life (including the life of a
baby in the womb) has removed all limitations to what behavior is possible. This
is also true of countries, cultures, and communities. It is the ultimate “hate”
crime against God.
God, have mercy on us! Nice prayer, but God tends to require
justice. Recompense or repentance is due. Stay tuned.
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