Reading Through The Bible: Number 81
Chapter 34 of Genesis is one of those chapters which, at first reading, you tend to want to pass over quickly without giving much mention to its contents! But it can’t be passed over quickly! It tells of the rape of Jacob and Leah’s daughter Dinah by one of the Canaanites called Shechem. It also tells of the subsequent deceit and slaughter of the perpetrator and all of the men of Shechem’s city by Jacob’s sons Simeon and Levi.
This murderous act was obviously kept secret from Jacob but when it became known to him he said to them: “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.”
Fear comes upon Jacob that a confederacy of the nations around the area will seek revenge on him, but God has seen his distress and instructs him to “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”
So, how did this tragic saga spring up in Jacob’s family? It stemmed from the fact that Dina sought the company of the young women of Shechem! By so doing, she placed herself in the path of danger which caused her brothers to seek revenge. Many would argue that she was lonely for the company of young women of her own age and that her brothers were completely justified in acting as they did, but as the story unfolds we see that idolatry had crept into Jacob’s camp and influenced the thinking and behaviour of his family. As they prepare to move from there to Bethel Jacob commands them to purify themselves and bring out their idols and he buries them, along with the earrings they wore. (Genesis 35:2-4)
God is particular about how His people should act! There are dangers that await those who venture onto forbidden ground. God’s instruction to His people is that they should be a “peculiar” people!! Not peculiar as in strange or weird, but different from those who don’t follow God’s word.
Here’s the Word for you who confess Jesus today: “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious…”
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special (“peculiar” KJV) people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 21-3 and 9-12
Dare to be different for Jesus today!
Have a great day!