Don't Answer That Door

O.T.#70  "Don't Answer That Door""
June 17, 2013
Genesis 34-Part 1
And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.  Genesis 34:1

LET IT GLOW

She was about 14 years old, Dinah, when she went into town. She went to see the daughters of the land, scripture tells us. she just wanted some girlfriend talk time.
I remember being 14, naive to the ways of the world. I didn't think about the possibility of anything bad happening to me. I trusted everyone because I thought everyone could be trusted. But I didn't have to go anywhere to find out otherwise. The untrustworthy knocked on my door when I was
home alone. He was Dad's friend, so I knew him. We talked for a few minutes, then he wanted to come inside and wait for Dad. I refused and he left. It must have been God protecting me from harm, for I didn't realize his intent was to have his way with me. Dinah's story didn't have a good ending, though. (I learned to not answer every knock at the door.)

Jacob was told to go back to Bethel by God, but he didn't. He put his family in a place of temptation. I wonder if he regretted that decision. Do you regret any decisions you made in the
past? Do we care about where our children/grandchildren go and who they are with?

LET IT GROW


Why didn't one of Dinah's brothers accompany her to town? What about older brother Joseph? Maybe that would have prevented her rape by Shechem, a prince and son of Hamor.
Anyway, as it turned out, Shechem loved Dinah and wanted her for his wife. So the two fathers talked. Keep in mind that Jacob's family was not supposed to intermarry with the heathen people.

Sad to say, Jacob's sons were liars like their father. In fact, they used the sacred rite of circumcision to accomplish their wicked scheme. (Wiersbe)

What happened was two of Dinah's brothers, Simeon and Levi, took their swords and killed all the
men of the city, including Shechem and Hamor, while they were healing from their circumcision.
But that wasn't enough, they captured their flocks and herds and donkeys and everything else of
theirs in the city and fields, including their families. Also, they returned Dinah to their father.
(When the guys were down, the brothers took advantage.)
When Jacob found out what his sons had done, he was more concerned with his own safety and welfare than he was with the sins of his family.

Vengeance exacted meant retaliation expected. Total loss of respect and peaceful relations put
both him and them in harm's way with survival being highly unlikely. (MacArthur)

Murder and theft, what a reputation for children of God; along with a daughter being raped and reputation as a harlot. Jacob had reason to be concerned for his family's safety. Weren't they
testing God's promise of safety?

What will happen next?

LET IT GO

Forgive and forget, letting go of hurtful past things, then go on with Jesus.

Don't take advantage of people when they are down.

*Happy belated Father's Day to all you dads.