The rape of Israel’s daughter is a clear picture of the danger of treating this world and its religion lightly. In seeking peace I am to never give respect to their lying promise and compromising ways. Jacobs’s lot was to be a sojourner in this land not a citizen. (Hebrews 11: 8-16) He was to be a stranger and a pilgrim and not to be building houses and barns. (Genesis 33: 17) But Jacob was tired of trouble, tired or running, and tired of being alone. He wanted peace. Jacob longed for rest and friendship. In Succoth he thought he found it. He stayed there a year, then two, then four and finally without realizing it he had been there eight years. He was hardly a stranger anymore. He knew the people of the town and they knew him. They seemed friendly enough and they seemed to be hard workers; community minded folk. What Jacob was ignorant of was their ways.
Hamor, the king, had financed a little shindig for his son. It was some type of festival or celebration. They probably had music, dancing, wine, and food. It all appeared innocent enough; but behind the festivities was the intent to lure out young women to satisfy the lusts of his son. Seeing the other young women drawn out Dinah, Jacobs’ daughter left the safety of her father’s house and joined in the fun. Soon she caught the eye of Shechem and was lured into his house and then he had his way with Israel’s daughter. She was not only defiled with his ungodly fornication but was now held captive in Hamors’ house. (Continued on back)
Next “old smoothie” (Hamor) comes down to make things right with Jacob. He speaks with kind words of peace and love and good intentions. He speaks of his sons’ heart sick love for the young maiden. He tries to buy the grace of Jacob. (Genesis 34: 11) And, Jacob buys into his lies.
But Jacobs’ sons, probably Simeon and Levi the eldest, set “old smoothie” up. They tell him if they will submit themselves to circumcision they will agree to the marriage. So Hamor and his son sell the whole realm on the compromise and they all agree hoping in the ordinance to have everything Jacob has. But on the third day, the day of resurrection, the day of which circumcision is the seal Simon and Levi strap on their swords and kill every man who in hope to deceive submitted himself to the ordinance of God.
Worldly religion is geared to satisfy the god of this world and all his lustful sons. To the leaders of the religion of his day, to those who by circumcision pretended to be children of Israel, the Lord said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. (John 8:44) Worldly religion offers rest to the weary and cries peace to the troubled. If they can cause you to turn in they will lure out the daughter of Gods elect and have their way with her.
It is only as the gospel is preached boldly that God will take the sword of his Spirit and slay the pretenders of grace and lead his defiled daughter out of their house. Jacob was so taken by their lies that he became furious with his two sons. He told them, “You’ve ruined my reputation; you’ve ruined my good name and given the enemies cause to come and destroy my house.” When he was finished Simeon and Levi asked their offended father this question. “….should he (that man you are defending, that man you are believing, and that man with whom you have sided against God) should he deal with our sister as with a harlot? (Genesis 34:31)
No doubt Shechem had the young girls consent, but what is the consent of one so ignorant, unsuspecting, and unprepared? What he called a free will decision and love the law calls statutory rape.
Older
Top
