Missed Opportunities
Genesis 34: 5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his
daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field; so Jacob held his
peace until they came. 6 Then Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to
speak with him. 7 And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard
it; and the men were grieved and very angry, because he had done a disgraceful
thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, a thing which ought not to be
done. 8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs
for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife. 9 And make marriages with
us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters to yourselves. 10 So you
shall dwell with us, and the land shall be before you. Dwell and trade in it,
and acquire possessions for yourselves in it.”
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Jacob heard that Dinah had been violated and kept silent.
Hamor heard that his son violated Jacob’s daughter and he heard the demand that
his son gave him, wanting to marry Dinah after violating her. Hamor presented
an option to act like a Hivite and accept their ways and receive their
daughters and possessions.
My Observations:
- Jacob
missed the opportunity to respond to the outrageous act against his
daughter.
- Hamor
missed the opportunity to have his son apologize and pay for his egregious
action.
- Shechem
missed the opportunity of having a loving relationship with Dinah by
taking what he wanted.
Trying to downplay the violation outraged the sons of Jacob.
Jacob never opened his mouth out of fear of retribution. Jacob’s fear, was
noticed by his sons, so they did not do anything right away.
GOD had sent Jacob back to this land and now his daughter
was hurt and so were his sons. What a mess! BUT GOD saw it all. This terrible
act would not go unnoticed. Jacob, Hamor and Shechem represent times when we
miss opportunities to stand in the gap for someone who has been wronged, or we
try to smooth over a wrong, or we do the wrong. GOD sees.
Challenge
- Why
does GOD tell Moses about Hamor’s offer?
- Have
you ever needed someone to stand in the gap for you?
- Will
you stand in the gap for someone or not try to smooth a wrong over, or
confess to a wrong today?
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