Saturday, July 27, 2019

Genesis 34:1

Genesis 34:1 says, And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.  Dinah went to visit some of the women that already lived there.  Jacob had been afraid of Esau, but he evidently wasn't too concerned about the other people he met or he would have still been keeping Dinah protected.  When we worry, which God tells us we shouldn't do, often the worry that we do have is misplaced to start with.  Verse two states, And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.  Dinah was defiled by Shechem, the son of the prince of the country.  Shechem had probably gotten pretty much anything he wanted because of his position of power.  There are still people in power today who feel that they should be able to do anything they want to do.  Verse three adds, And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.  We are told that afterwards Shechem felt deeply that he loved Dinah.  He evidently had little respect and concern for her to start with though.  His feelings afterward could not change his actions before, nor can changing our minds about how we feel about someone we have harmed change our actions before if we have harmed them.  Verse four states, And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.  Shechem went to his father and asked him to get Dinah for his wife.  He never asked Jacob, or Dinah for that matter, but simply felt that Hamor could do anything he wanted to do.  There are still people today who feel that their family's wealth and power entitle them to anything they want, but even if we become rich and powerful, as followers of Christ, we must never have that attitude.  Verse five declares, And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.  When Jacob heard what had happened to Dinah, his sons were in the field, so he didn't do anything until they returned.  Jacob could have just stormed off after Dinah, but he waited until he had more help.  We need to act in the best way possible when we encounter injustice in the world.  Verse six says, And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.  Hamor went to Jacob to commune, or talk, with him in an attempt to do what Shechem wanted.  Verse seven states, And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter; which thing ought not to be done.  Jacob's sons were very angry when they heard what had happened to Dinah.  We today should be upset when we hear of injustice in the world, but we should look to God for guidance in how to deal with it.  We cannot just be ruled by our anger.  Verse eight states, And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.  Hamar said that Shechem's soul longed for Dinah and asked that Jacob give her to Shechem as a wife.  Shechem was still only looking for what he wanted , after he had already treated Dinah with no respect.  We cannot justify sinful actions by suddenly attempting to treat those we have mistreated with respect.  Verse nine adds, And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.  Hamar proposed that Jacob give Dinah to them in marriage and then they would give their daughters in marriage to Jacob's sons.  Basically, Hamar was suggesting combining the two families.  This was definitely not God's plan.  Verse ten continues, And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.  Shechem was offering to allow Jacob to live there in peace and use the land.  God had already promised Jacob that he would be the father of a great nation, which was the continuation of His promise to Abraham and Isaac.  Jacob didn't need Hamar to accomplish this.  We today have the promise of everlasting life through Christ, and we must never think that we should compromise with the world to claim it.  Verse eleven states, And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.  Now, Shechem was offering anything that Jacob and his sons wanted for the right to marry Dinah.  We should never feel that money can erase sin.  Shechem evidently felt that money would justify anything.  Verse twelve adds, Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.  Shechem was willing to pay anything to get what he wanted.  Some people today feel that their riches should entitle them to anything they want, but this is not what God says.

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