This Story is Messed Up

Nov. 18

Read: Genesis 34 (This passage is not PG-13!)

This Story is Messed Up

“You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land…” (v.30)

Jacob’s final steps in returning to “the land” are marked with tragedy and conflict. His daughter is raped by the prince Shechem (the namesake of the city Shechem.) (v. 2) In Gen. 33:19 Jacob bought land there just outside of the city. It seems like his goal was to settle outside of Shechem… that is until this crazy scene unfolds.

Jacob’s daughter goes out to associate with the “woman of the land”. (Now remember this was a group of people that Jacob’s mom Rebekah was adamantly against and had already proven to be troublesome in earlier chapters. cf. Gen. 27:46) While meeting this group of ladies the prince sees her and defiles her:

“And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her.” (v.2)

This act of sin has an unexpected outcome, the prince actually falls deeply in “love” with Dinah.

“And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her.” (v.3)

Although Schechem seeks to marry Dinah, her brothers have another plan in mind. Jacob himself seems marginalized in it all. Although Hamor and Schechem approach Jacob, his sons are the ones that hop in and do most of the talking. In the end, they hatch a plan to trick all the men of the city to cut the skin off of their penises and then strike them down while they are sore and compromised! (v.14-17) Maybe the only thing more shocking than the plan itself is that ALL THE MEN OF THE CITY AGREE. (v.18-24) What in the world! This prince must have had some serious sway over these other dudes… can you imagine getting all the men of the entire city to agree to circumcision as adults? Likewise, the women and resources of Jacob must have been pretty enticing as well that it would motivate the people to want to be “one with” Jacob and his clan. (v.22)

In the end, Simeon and Levi (Dinah’s brothers) go through the city - taking advantage of the wounded men’s trust and state of “soreness” - and they KILL THEM ALL! Ouch. Then the rest of the brothers proceed to take all of their stuff, livestock, woman, and children. Jacob is distraught. This may have been where he thought he would settle but in the end he must leave. (v.30,31) It was actually in Bethel that God was calling Jacob to dwell… that would be his next stop in the land of Canaan. God was calling Jacob back to where he first encountered him in this dream… returning him “home” to him.

This jarring account paints a picture of what the people of Israel will be up against for the remainder of the Old Testament. It is also, in many ways, a picture of what we still face today. Here are some things to consider:

Even though Jacob pitched his tent “outside of the city”, he was not totally isolated from it. (v. 33:18) As the people of God we live in this world and are never totally isolated from it’s brokenness. We will have to navigate tragedy and crime - and it will impact us directly sooner or later. Our hope and trust is in the Lord to redeem, fix, and restore in this life or the next.

Sin always begets more sin. Like a snowball rolling down a hill… or a flywheel gaining momentum. This is the nature of sin itself. The book of James says this:

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (1:14,15)

This passage shows us that these desires, temptations, and sin grow and culminate in death. We see this here. There are missteps and turns in every direction! Jacob does not remain in the lead negotiator position, but rather drops back and listens to his boys broker a deal that could never… should never work! (v.13-17) (Circumcision is a sign for children of the promise… not a bargaining tool for joining tribes!) I am not sure if Jacob knew their full intentions or not, but his passivity left the door open for what happens next. For Simeon and Levi to murder the entire town was egregious… this is sin growing… bringing death. When they finally pillage all of city we can see how tragic this whole scene has truly become. The crazy thing is that Jacob seems more concerned with losing favor than he does the abuse and disproportionate murder! *Facepalm* He is just torqued because now they need to move!

The truth is that they could NEVER “become one with” these Canaanites. (v.22) The Canaanites are opposed to the God Most High… the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There is no room or place for the people of God to become “one with” those who are opposed to the Lord. No matter how good the “perks” might appear… only tragedy and death comes from the people of God joining themselves with the enemies of the Lord.

In the end, the Lord uses this tragedy - redeems it - as a catalyst for Jacob to move on to Bethel. What a roller coaster for Jacob… coming off the heels of a reunion with his brother Esau only to stutter step back in Canaan with a tragic scene of rape, deceit, murder, and pillaging! In the midst of it all - God does not abandon them… but works to redeem and move forward… move away from Shechem and towards the place where Jacob experienced God - Bethel.

Jesus is the only one who breaks the cycle of growing sin. The brokenness of this world would simply yield more brokenness if it were not for Jesus Christ. He is the one who interrupts. He is the one who makes it possible to stop … he rescues us from it. As his people today, we live in close proximity to brokenness and are not guaranteed isolation from tragedy - but we ARE guaranteed God’s presence with us! Jesus declares, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20) If you sit idly by and watch - passive like Jacob - then “the boys” will hatch a plan that simply brings more heartache and tragedy. Flesh always gives birth to flesh… sin birthing more sin… it is only the Spirit that brings about anything spiritually worth while… anything Godly. (cf. John 3) Remember this - inaction opens the door for more sin to enter… for sin to grow and multiply.

Finally, remember that no matter how enticing the “perks” may seem… we have no place “becoming one with” that which is opposed to God. Be careful of the “deals” you seek to make! Thank God that he never gives up and keeps moving us back to where we meet him Love you guys. - JDP