Israel’s Prophecy for Simeon and Levi

Israel’s Prophecy for Simeon and Levi

Genesis 49: ⁵ “Simeon and Levi are brothers;
Instruments of ^[cruelty are in their dwelling place.
⁶ Let not my soul enter their council;
Let not my honor be united to their assembly;
For in their anger they slew a man,
And in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.
⁷ Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce;
And their wrath, for it is cruel!
I will divide them in Jacob
And scatter them in Israel.

 

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Furious at their sister’s assault, Simeon and Levi decided to take matters in their own hands. They killed the man who violated their sister. They tricked the men of the town to get circumcised and in their pain, they murdered them. Jacob did not forget that Simeon and Levi could have put the family in extreme danger.

 

My Observations:

• Rage was addressed by Jacob because all their lives, Simeon and Levi would immediately go to emotions that would cause people harm.
• Cruelty was addressed by Jacob because they used excessive force to deal with their issues.
• Anger was addressed by Jacob, otherwise known as Israel, as he spoke to them as his father and as the tribal nation GOD promised.

 

Simeon’s tribe would eventually shrink in power. The Levites would not inherit land, but be “scattered” in Israel as prophesied. These men were now older and had acted on their internal rage for decades.

 

It was no surprise to anyone that Jacob gave this prophecy about these two sons. Simeon was thrown in jail by Joseph, skipping Reuben who was the oldest. Joseph may have seen Simeone’s rage when he made his choice. Our emotions can make us do and say things that are not well thought out, just like Simeon and Levi. BUT GOD blessed them anyway.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Jacob’s dislike of his son’s rage?
• Is rage an emotion that causes you to act without thinking?
• Can you look at rage as your enemy and tame it with GOD’s love, peace and joy?

 

Prayer

Dear LORD, please guide this reader away from extreme emotional decisions and place YOUR love, joy and peace inside. It does not matter how old he or she is, or what emotional decisions they have made. What matters is that we bow to YOUR grace and mercy. amen

Unwanted but Needed

Unwanted but Needed

Genesis 35: Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: ²³ the sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; ²⁴ the sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin; ²⁵ the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, were Dan and Naphtali; ²⁶ and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan Aram.

 

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Jacob had twelve sons from two wives and two maidservants of the wives. Leah had six sons, Rachel had two. Bilhah had two and Zilpha had two.

 

My Observations

• Leah was unwanted by Jacob, but had the most children by her.
• Leah’s maidservant’s kids along with her kids equals eight out of twelve kids.
• Leah’s sons were the oldest and so far, caused the most problems.

 

For someone unwanted by the person who GOD spoke to, it sure seems like she was valuable to GOD. Leah was slipped into Jacob by a deceiver, Laban. Jacob was trying to circumvent tradition by bargaining to get his way. Leah felt unloved and unwanted. But she prayed to GOD and HE heard her.

 

Leah became the mother of Judah. Later we will see the JESUS is the Lion of Judah. In other words, JESUS is related to Judah who was related to Leah the unwanted. GOD watched over Leah and kept HIS promise.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses to write the list of sons in this order versus chronological?
• Do you sometimes feel unwanted?
• Do you know you are valuable, wanted and needed by GOD the Almighty?

Situational Gravity Explained

Situational Gravity Explained

Genesis 34³⁰ Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since I am few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, my household and I.”

 

³¹ But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a harlot?”

 

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After Simeon and Levi took revenge on the entire city of Shechem, Jacob spoke to them trying to tell them what they had done was very serious. Their response was an attempt to explain why they did this extreme act.

 

My Observations:

• Jacob expressed his fear of retribution from the surrounding people.
• Simeon and Levi expressed to Jacob that something should have been done to serve justice on the city of Shechem.
• Israel’s reputation of being obnoxious had begun.

 

Shechem’s violation started a series of events that escalated out of control quickly. Throughout history, groups of raiders would take women for their own pleasures. Up until this point, Jacob’s family had remained safe. But now the safety net felt removed.

 

Jacob knew eventually the people of the surrounding lands would get word of what happened. The immense wealth that was stolen by his son’s would possibly bring people from far away who would desire to raid his camp without remorse. Simeon and Levi felt better, but their justice would be short lived. GOD saw it all.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about Jacob’s conversation with Simeon and Levi?
• Have you ever taken revenge and gotten into a worse situation?
• If vengeance is driving you to a situation that is worse, will you seek GOD to intervene HIS way?

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?

Seen and Heard

Seen and Heard

Genesis 29: ³¹ When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. ³² So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.” ³³ Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. ³⁴ She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. ³⁵ And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

 

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Jacob knew he would have a child, because GOD promised that he would be the father of many nations. He did not have any children during the seven extra years he worked for Laban. He tried without results, to have a child with Rachel, but she was baren.

 

My Observations:

• Leah was despised by Jacob, probably because he was deceived from getting his deceitful way.
• Leah was seen by GOD and was made fertile and Rachel barren.
• Leah was heard by GOD and bore Jacob four sons then she became barren.

 

Let’s face it, GOD is despised. JESUS would be born from the tribe of Judah, who came from Leah. She was despised and so is JESUS. BUT “GOD saw that Leah was” hated, unloved and unwanted. Many people feel this way.

 

She had no one to tell, BUT GOD heard her heart. And gave her four sons who would become famous tribes. Fulfilling the promise of GOD through Leah was not Jacob’s plan. He wanted what he wanted, BUT GOD provided the promise HIS way, not Jacob’s.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the beginning of the tribes he would lead?
• Have you ever wondered if GOD sees or hears you?
• Will you praise GOD today because HE sees and hears you and has a plan for you?

A Good Example

Malachi 2: ⁴ And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi may continue,” says the Lord Almighty. ⁵ “My covenant was with him, a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. ⁶ True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin.

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“GOD, YOU are difficult to follow” was my thought. I mean all the rules and regulations! It sometimes seems like GOD wants me to fail! This could be farther from the truth!

• GOD simply wants me to revere HIM more than anything I place in front of HIM.
• GOD merely wants me to tell what HE says in HIS word, no matter how difficult the message.
• GOD just wants peace with me and has not called me to become JESUS, rather follow HIS example.

JESUS died for my sins and the sins of humanity. HE served HIS purpose and no one has to do this act again. BUT GOD wants me to have peace with HIM; this means following HIS ways the best I can. I will forget, I will disobey and I will flat out challenge and oppose GOD. BUT GOD is gentle and merciful enough to guide me back to HIM.

GOD wants people, all of us. HE wants me to show HIS loving ways so more people will drop their selfishness and turn to HIM. Levi and JESUS were great examples for me to follow.

• Are you following your own way?
• Are you tired of GOD’s rules?
• Can you stop looking at how many “rules” you are following and look at simply having peace with GOD?
• Will you look at GOD with reverent awe today?