And So It Begins

And So It Begins

Genesis 34: ²⁵ Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males. ²⁶ And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went out. ²⁷ The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled. ²⁸ They took their sheep, their oxen, and their donkeys, what was in the city and what was in the field, ²⁹ and all their wealth. All their little ones and their wives they took captive; and they plundered even all that was in the houses.

 

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Waiting for the pain to reach its peak, Simeon and Levi went out to kill all the men of Shechem, including Hamor and Shechem. They took all the women and children and possessions for themselves. The plan for revenge had worked. Or so they thought.

 

My Observations:

• Not all of the sons of Jacob agreed to kill the men of Shechem.
• Simeon and Levi were the most offended by the violation of Dinah.
• Jacob was renamed to Israel by GOD, and this act of violence was the beginning of trouble for Israel.

 

Up until this point, the family chosen by GOD had no enemies. Even Laban was told by GOD to leave Jacob alone. But now Simeon and Levi caused a huge mess. They killed out of revenge. You and I may feel the same way as Simeon and Levi, wanting revenge. But unfortunately, the long-term relationships with surrounding people would prove to be extremely difficult.

 

Simeon and Levi could not leave it alone. This act of violation was extremely difficult, but their form of justice would bring on problems for Israel that may be going on to this very day. GOD saw the revenge that HE should have owned.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about the revenge of Simeon and Levi?
• Have you ever wanted revenge?
• Can you allow GOD to own revenge so HE will take care of the situation HIS way and in HIS time?