[Linux4christians] Genesis 34:1-12 (Tuesday)

[pastordavid at bibleseven.com]

*Genesis 34:1-12 (Tuesday)

*

Dinah and the Shechemites

34:1 Now Dinah, Leah's daughter whom she bore to Jacob, went to meet the 
young women of the land. 34:2 When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, who 
ruled that area, saw her, he grabbed her, forced himself on her, and 
sexually assaulted her.


34:3 Then he became very attached to Dinah, Jacob's daughter. He fell in 
love with the young woman and spoke romantically to her. 34:4 Shechem 
said to his father Hamor, "Acquire this young girl as my wife."


34:5 When Jacob heard that Shechem had violated his daughter Dinah, his 
sons were with the livestock in the field. So Jacob remained silent 
until they came in.


34:6 Then Shechem's father Hamor went to speak with Jacob about Dinah.


34:7 Now Jacob's sons had come in from the field when they heard the 
news. They were offended and very angry because Shechem had disgraced 
Israel by sexually assaulting Jacob's daughter, a crime that should not 
be committed.


34:8 But Hamor made this appeal to them: "My son Shechem is in love with 
your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife.


34:9 Intermarry with us. Let us marry your daughters, and take our 
daughters as wives for yourselves. 34:10 You may live among us, and the 
land will be open to you. Live in it, travel freely in it, and acquire 
property in it."


34:11 Then Shechem said to Dinah's father and brothers, "Let me find 
favor in your sight, and whatever you require of me I'll give. 34:12 You 
can make the bride price and the gift I must bring very expensive, and 
I'll give whatever you ask of me. Just give me the young woman as my wife!"


*Prayer:* Lord, may I understand that there are some things "... that 
should not be committed" and which have consequences that may include 
even greater conflict with You and fellow humankind.


*Commentary*


Once again the lust of the eyes has led a man to act unwisely toward a 
woman. "Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, who ruled that area ..." raped 
Israel's daughter Dinah.


After his crime Shechem became emotionally attached to Dinah, perhaps 
parallel with the fear of consequences for his crime, and petitions 
Israel to allow him to marry her -- for which he would pay a large dowry 
and welcome her people into the land.


The text does not report Israel's reply to the offer to and marry among 
the family of the rapist and those who occupied the land already 
promised to Israel.


*Interaction*


*Consider this:* Shechem and Hamor were unaware that God had already 
promised all of the land to Abraham, then Issac, and then Jacob -- they 
were unaware that their penitence for the sin of Shechem was a peaceful 
way for Israel to begin occupying the promised land.

*Discuss this:* What sense of entitlement, lack of respect for women, 
and of local power must Hamor and Shechem had to approach Israel in this 
way?


*Reflect on this:* The invitation to live and marry among the family of 
the rapist and those who occupied the land already promised to Israel 
must have sounded odd to Dinah's relatives.


*Share this:* When have you, or someone with whom you have interacted, 
tried to "make things right" after an offense in a way that upon 
reflection seems inappropriate?


*Faith in Action*


*Prayer: * Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where and how the lust of 
your flesh may be leading you in a direction that may result in harm to 
others and to you.


*Action:* I agree to partner with the Holy Spirit to identify places in 
my life where an impetuous reaction to the desires of my flesh are 
leading me to make poor choices. I agree to surrender those places to 
the Lordship of Christ through the Holy Spirit.


*Be Specific* 
_______________________________________________________________________


*/Wednesday's text will be:  Genesis 34:13-31/
*



-- 

Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!  Pastor David
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
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