The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 34:25-29,
"Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing every male. They put Hamor and his son Shechem to the sword and took Dinah from Shechem's house and left. The sons of Jacob came upon the dead bodies and looted the city where their sister had been defiled. They seized their flocks and herds and donkeys and everything else of theirs in the city and out in the fields. They carried off all their wealth and all their women and children, taking as plunder everything in the houses."
Jacob's daughter, Dinah, who was sister to the twelve brothers whose offspring comprised the twelve tribes of Israel, was raped by a man named Shechem. Shechem decided he wanted Dinah as his wife and so he and his father approached Jacob and his sons to get her. Deceitfully, Jacob's sons said the only way they would agree to it would be if Shechem, his family and the whole community (males, obviously) got circumcised.
Shechem and the town agreed (the town was promised a looting of all Jacob had at some later date) and while they were all recovering and still in pain on the third day Simeon and Levi came into town and slaughtered them all. Jacob's sons plundered all the possessions, wives and children of the town.
We are told that the ploy was one in which Jacob's sons acted deceitfully, verse 13. Jacob reproved Simeon and Levi for their actions, pointing out the danger they had created for Jacob and the family in the land of the Canaanites, verse 30. Their response to their father was, "Should he [Shechem] have treated our sister like a prostitute?"
"Three days later, while all of them were still in pain, two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and attacked the unsuspecting city, killing every male. They put Hamor and his son Shechem to the sword and took Dinah from Shechem's house and left. The sons of Jacob came upon the dead bodies and looted the city where their sister had been defiled. They seized their flocks and herds and donkeys and everything else of theirs in the city and out in the fields. They carried off all their wealth and all their women and children, taking as plunder everything in the houses."
Jacob's daughter, Dinah, who was sister to the twelve brothers whose offspring comprised the twelve tribes of Israel, was raped by a man named Shechem. Shechem decided he wanted Dinah as his wife and so he and his father approached Jacob and his sons to get her. Deceitfully, Jacob's sons said the only way they would agree to it would be if Shechem, his family and the whole community (males, obviously) got circumcised.
Shechem and the town agreed (the town was promised a looting of all Jacob had at some later date) and while they were all recovering and still in pain on the third day Simeon and Levi came into town and slaughtered them all. Jacob's sons plundered all the possessions, wives and children of the town.
We are told that the ploy was one in which Jacob's sons acted deceitfully, verse 13. Jacob reproved Simeon and Levi for their actions, pointing out the danger they had created for Jacob and the family in the land of the Canaanites, verse 30. Their response to their father was, "Should he [Shechem] have treated our sister like a prostitute?"
We can certainly understand the outrage Dinah's brothers had when learning of Dinah's rape. Certainly some form of justice needed to be exacted. However, to slaughter and loot an entire town for the crime of one man certainly seems to be over the top. Think of all the innocents in the matter that paid the price for something they had nothing to do with.
However, what comes to my mind this morning is the culprit Levi. Levi was up to his eyeballs in the whole of it: the deception, the slaughter, the looting, the taking of survivors as slaves, etc. This is the very Levi whose offspring would comprise the Levitical priesthood of God's covenanted people! Of all twelve brothers, it would be the tribe of Levi that was chosen by God to serve at his altar, to mediate the offerings and sacrifices of God's people, to organize the worship and maintain the religious calendar of God's people.
This brings to my mind the fact that God can use even the worst of us for his purposes. I'm not saying Levi was the worst, but his resume certainly does not lend itself to the kind of scrutiny and requirements that many are held to when desiring to serve God today. No one who turns to God today should feel that somehow they are excluded from serving him in differing capacities because of things done in their past.
God can use any of us if he chooses to do so in spite of what we may have done in the past. It is unfortunate that some feel excluded from serving in the kingdom of God either because of their own guilt of past things or the disapproval of others who should know better. God cleanses us from all sin and gifts us with special abilities to partner in the building of God's kingdom today.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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