Bible Study: Genesis Chapters 34
A Picture of the Church
To receive the greatest possible blessing from this Bible study, please take a moment to read the passage.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, teach me to wait upon You, remind me that vengeance is Yours, and help me to exercise forgiveness in all matters. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Introduction:
In the spring of my eighth year, I discovered the upper branches of a lilac bush cradled a bird’s nest. Curiosity compelled me to check its contents.
A snap of a brittle branch, cured my curiosity rather abruptly. Another snap freed me to run to Mother squalling all the way. I had a twig about a half inch in diameter and maybe two inches long stuck in my arm. Busy in her beauty shop, my mother had to waken my truck-driving father to take me to the doctor.
In the exam room, I lay on a gurney with my father holding my arm up and the doctor performing the necessary task of yanking, cleansing, and stapling. I heard a thud. The doctor paused, and then finished his work. My father had passed out and fallen through the open door. He came out of it with fists swinging. After he fully regained composure, he said he had seen some horrific sights in World War II and never felt queasy.
My curiosity had cost my father the expense of the doctor’s fee, humiliation, and a headache.
The Lesson
Curiosity often leads to calamity. Dinah’s curiosity compelled her to check out the “nest” of the nearby community. Among Jacob’s twelve children, Dinah was the only daughter. However, the Bible states that Jacob had servants and maidservants. So, she didn’t necessarily need female companionship. Maybe, it was simply a case of her inquisitiveness about current fashions and hairstyles.
It is likely that Dinah had visited the women of the land numerous times prior to our text. As many young women throughout history, she may have been flirtatious with the men of the city. We cannot be sure of the circumstances resulting in the disastrous events recorded in the following verses.
Verse 2: Dinah caught the eye of Shechem the son of the mayor or governor of the town. Overcome by desire, the young man forced himself on her.
Verses 3—4: Unlike most men who do such things, Shechem loved Dinah and wanted to marry her and petitioned his father, Hamon, to approach her father for her hand in marriage as was the custom of those days.
Verse 5: Jacob had heard about what had happened to Dinah, but waited for her brothers to return from the field. Men stayed in the field for days or weeks at a time so we cannot be certain how long Jacob waited. Another custom of families with multiple wives was that the brothers were responsible for the welfare of their sisters and not the father.
This text pictures our God-given responsibilities to care for others. As Paul writes to the leaders of the church in Thessalonica: Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Although this passage was written directly to church leaders, our heavenly Father has commissioned all of us to care for others and to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Like Jacob, He patiently waits for us to handle the situation.
Jehovah has given us guidelines for managing all circumstances: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16 & 17). Nevertheless, we often attempt to achieve the desired outcome our way. Our inappropriate response can be just as disastrous as the following verses depict.
Verse 6—7: When they found out about what had happened to their sister, Dinah’s brothers were furious and returned to their father. By the time they arrived home, Shechem and his father were there pleading for permission to unite Dinah and Shechem in a legal marriage.
Verses 8—12: Shechem and Hamon were willing to pay whatever dowry asked of them. After appealing to Jacob with the benefits to all concerned, Shechem laid it on the line in verse 12: 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.
Verse 13—The sons of Jacob revealed their true nature and answered deceitfully feeling justified because Shechem had defiled their sister.
Verses 14—17: The only thing they asked of the young man and his father was that every man in their city be circumcised. Stating that it would be a disgrace for Hebrew’s to intermarry with an uncircumcised people, Jacob’s sons set the trap. They had no desire to convert Shechem and his people to worshipping the living God. God initiated circumcision as a reminder of His promise to Abraham and his descendents. Within three short generations, Jacob’s son abused the custom through misrepresentation and the desire for revenge.
Verses 18—24: Shechem and Hamon return to their city very pleased with the arrangement that they made. After visiting Jacob, they realized that he was a very wealthy man. He had set no dowry, just request for a little physical discomfort for a few days. Not only would Shechem have his bride, but he’d have his hands on all of Jacob’s possessions as well. What a deal!
Verses 25—29: Three days after all the men in the entire city underwent the surgical procedure of circumcision, they discovered that the request involved more than a little physical discomfort. The poor blind fools trusted anger-filled strangers desiring revenge. With swords in hand, Dinah’s brothers, Levi and Simeon, entered the city and massacred every male, took all their livestock and wealth, and enslaved their women and children.
From the beginning of the deception in verse 13 to the fulfillment of the scheme in verse 29, we view a word picture of the apostate church governed by false teachers armed with doctrine that suits their own agenda. They cater to the desires of the seeker allowing them to believe that legalism is all it takes to enter the kingdom of God. These teachers speak of love, mercy, and grace coming from an inner source or power. The source or power, they say is “God” or whatever name we choose to call him or it. They even talk about Jesus. Nevertheless, without a clear definition of the terms they use, many people are being led down a path just as deadly as the one Shechem and his people followed.
Scripture warns us to test the spirits to be sure that they are of God. In 1 Corinthians 12:3, Paul reminds us that, Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Calling Jesus accursed takes many forms from denying His deity to denying His humanity. Those who proclaim a false doctrine think they have no need of a Lord. Therefore, they have great difficulty saying the words, “Jesus Christ is Lord of my life.”
False doctrine never mentions sin, repentance, or justice. When Godly people talk about such topics, the apostate church misquotes Jesus’ words, Judge not, that ye be not judged (Matthew 7:1) and calls us judgmental. All life’s circumstance demand that we make judgment calls; but we are to judge all things according to Scripture and not by our own likes and dislikes.
Despite our society’s infatuation with tolerance, easy belief-ism, and the desensitization of sin, if we ignore sin, repentance, and justice, then we remain dead in our transgressions against the Living God. He cannot bring the dead to life without their recognition of their state of being.
Verse 30: And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land. God’s response to those who leave out the importance of repentance will echo Jacob’s words. But he [Jesus] shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity (Luke 13:27).
Verse 31: Simeon and Levi responded with an unremorseful answer—we had the right for revenge. They treated our sister like dirt.
Conclusion and Challenge
Simeon and Levi acted irrationally and tarnished Jacob’s name. When we do foolish things, the results last years longer then we can ever imagine. We may think that our actions aren’t going to affect anyone besides ourselves, but they may cause adverse reactions that we cannot begin to calculate.
One such event in Christian history is the medieval crusades. Although they began nearly a millennium ago, people continue to point at the wars and call Christians everywhere bloodthirsty militants. The actions of the crusaders have tarnished the name of Jesus Christ and have continued to hinder the witness of believers.
On a more personal scale, we can over-react to situations and cause a breach in our own testimony for Christ. Paul urges us in his letter to the Ephesians to . . . walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-3).
¼ Prayer Requests:
Clayton and his family, Kenny, Dodie, the upcoming presidential election and our nation’s economy, flood victims, Adrian, Hans, Stephen, those who recently lost their jobs and are seeking employment, children with cancer, Melinda & Barry and family, Shirley and Ryan, Frank and Dorothy, Nick and Rachel, children with birth defects and their families, Bible Study, special unspoken needs, and remember me, Brenda Hendricks.
¼ Praise Report:
Rose was told her diabetes had affected her legs. For several years, she used braces. The past few months, a walker helped her maneuver from destination to destination. The prognosis was bleak with the realization of a wheelchair in her future. For over five years, Rose pled with her heavenly Father to heal her. His answer came in an unexpected package.
The end of May, Rose had a severe heart attack. Again the outlook was grime and became more so with the unset of infection. The doctors didn’t expect her to pull through. However, God had other plans for our dear sister. The day the nurses assisted her to her feet and gave her the customary walker for support, her sons followed her down the corridor. In amazement, one said, “Mom, you’re walking different.” The other detected the variation, “Mom, you’re not limping!”
Rose has not needed assistance in the form of a walker or braces since that day.
Hallelujah!!
When fretting because my prayers seemed to go no further than the ceiling, I received this answer from my Father:
"There's no need for your prayers to go any further than your tearstained pillow. I am here with you. I don't expect you to ascend to me any more than a father expects his infant to jump into his arms. I have loved you with an everlasting love and with loving kindness I have drawn you (Jeremiah 33:3 paraphrased by me).”
