Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Statistics:
- 1.6 million cases of domestic abuse
- 20% of women have suffered sexual violence
- Today's passage is shocking
- The violation of a daughter
- This passage brings us to reality and to stand for justice
- Why was this passage included?
- Believing families are not exempt from great atrocities
- Sin and evil is in the world
- We need to take heed to the warnings in God's word
- We must understand the society in which we live
- How do we respond to terrible acts?
- To long for grace and for heaven
The Wrong Move
- The story starts in 33:17-18 with Jacob making a wrong move
- He does not return to Seir with Esau because he must return to Canaan
- However, he stopped at Succoth and built himself a house (33:17)
- Why does he stop at Succoth?
- After a time of great blessing, we can become stagnant
- He came to Shechem (33:18)
- He buys a parcel of land from the prince of the land and he erects an altar (33:20)
- But, it is surprising that he has not progressed beyond Shechem
- He has not considered the people
- He has made a hasty decision
- Prov 19:12
- Some commentators say he should have gone straight to Bethel (35:1)
- He was only partially obeying the command to go into the land
- Jacob had not been commanded to return to Bethel (31:13)
- He made a wrong move because he had not surveyed the land
- Application:
- Do we think carefully about our decisions?
- Are we hasty in our decisions?
- Do we think about spiritual matters?
- Dinah goes out alone without a chaperone (34:1)
- Shechem violated Dinah
- He thought he was untouchable
- Examples
- Are we wise as parents?
- There was no protection for Dinah - a wrong move
The Wrong Response
Jacob
- Jacob held his peace until the sons came (34:5)
- Do you see this as passivity?
- Do you see a man of fear?
- Do you see he has disregard for Dinah?
- Do you see he is acting wisely?
- Application:
- How do we respond when there is terrible injustice and wickedness?
- Do we respond with righteous anger?
- Do we not get involved?
- "Be angry but do not sin" (Ps 4:4)
Hamor and Shechem
- He is strongly attracted to her, loves her and speaks kindly to her
- He is desperate to marry her
- Where is the confession, remorse and recognition of the evil he has done?
- What about Dinah's decision?
- There are many forms of abuse of women
- Since the fall men have desired to dominate women - it was not meant to be this way
- Examples
- Extreme examples of missogony in Iran
- Saudia Arabia, Afghanistan, etc
- Do we stand up for women?
- Hamor thinks the situation can be overcome
- He suggests peaceful co-existence, trade and inter-marrying
- Shechem says he will give whatever is asked
- However, there is no recognition of sin
Jacob's Sons
- They were very angry (34:7) - rightly
- But they wanted to take justice into their hands
- They are deceitful
- They mis-used a holy ordinance
- They did not just kill Shechem and Hamor, but all the males
- They plunder the city
- They take the women and childrren
- Their response was pure revenge
- Evil does not overcome evil
- Good overcomes evil - Romans
- Vengeance belongs to God
- The actions of the brothers showed they were wicked men and not true children of God
- Example of Russian soldiers
- We are called to be different as Christians
The Only Redemption
- God says to go to Bethel (35:1)
- There is redemption, forgiveness and grace
- The family were not destroyed
- Jacob is told to go back to the place where he once met with God
- He is going back to the place where there is mediation between heaven and earth
- Out mediator is Jesus Christ
- We can only come to God through the Lord Jesus Christ
- There is forgiveness with God through Jesus Christ
- There is grace for sinners
- Ezk 34:12,16 - A Good Shepherd
- Come to the Good Shepherd
- Ps 72:12-14 - A Good of Judgement
- A good of mercy, grace and justice
- Closing Remarks