WHEN IT IS BETTER TO MAKE THE BEST OF A BAD SITUATION

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GENESIS 34

Lesson #51

WHEN IT IS BETTER TO MAKE THE BEST OF A BAD SITUATION

• Memory verse: Hebrews 10:30
• Read Gen 34:1-31 The rape of Dinah; sin in Jacob’s family
  • Remember that Jacob is out of God’s perfect will and in his permissive will.
  • He was supposed to go to Bethel and then to Seir as he promised Esau.
    • Often when we are out of God’s perfect will and living in his permissive will, we open ourselves up to Satan’s destructive workings in our lives.
    • Keep in mind that God does not punish his children by making bad things happen to them. Instead, we bring them upon ourselves and God permits them to happen so as to turn us back to him.
  • Remember when we discussed the birth of Jacob’s sons and discovered one daughter mentioned in the list? (Gen 29-30)
    • That daughter was Dinah, the daughter of Leah.
    • Chapter 34 reveals why she was important in God’s scheme of things.
    • However, God is not mentioned in this chapter.
  • Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite
    • The city got its name from this son of Hamor. This son was evidently an honored, pampered, and spoiled child. (Gen 33:19; 34:2) He was used to getting everything he wanted, when he wanted it.
    • When he saw Dinah, he raped her.
      • Usually after the sin of rape, a man’s desire turns to disgust. However, Shechem’s desire turned to love, and he wanted to marry her. His father, Hamor, was pleased with the idea and made the offer to Jacob.
      • The response of Jacob and his family:
        • Dinah’s brothers were angry because of the rape,
        • Despite Shechem’s repentance and offer of restitution (34:11-12). They were unwilling to forgive.
        • Notice that it is not Jacob making the decisions for the family here. It is his sons. (13)
  • Notice the deceptive character of Jacob’s sons (13) who have learned well the pattern of deception from their father.
    • The deceptive plan for revenge:
    • Circumcision, first commanded by God to Abraham, was to be a physical sign of God’s covenant with the Jews (Gen 17:10), as a mark of separation and identification.
      • Jacob’s sons use this sacred rite to deceive Hamor and his people.
      • On the third day after the mass circumcision, Hamor’s people were weak and in a state of recovery when Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, attacked.
        • Simeon and Levi were sons of Leah making them Dinah’s full brothers. These 2 were the instigators of the revenge.
        • Reuben was Jacob’s first born but lost the inheritance because of a situation in chapter 35:22.
        • Simeon would have been next in line to inherit and then Levi. Both of these men lost the inheritance because of this deception regarding Dinah.
        • This paved the way for Judah to inherit and to become the tribe through which Jesus Christ would come.
  • We now see the importance of this chapter in the broader scheme of things.
  • After all the men of the city of Shechem were killed, Jacob’s other sons came and plundered the city and captured the women and children.
    • Jacob’s reaction: (30)
    • Jacob’s reaction reveals a lot about his character. He was more concerned with his own reputation in the community than he was about his daughter.
      • Notice how many times Jacob self-centeredly refers to himself and the damage done to him.
      • Eight times he uses personal pronouns, “me”, “my”, and “I”.
      • Dinah’s foolishness:
    • This chapter does not place any blame for the situation on Dinah because rape is inexcusable. However, a couple of things should be mentioned..
      • Girls did not go anywhere alone.
      • Verse 1 indicates she went alone.
        • A subtle indication in verse 1 refers to why she went there. In Shechem was a heathen festival of the Canaanites where drunkenness and sexual orgies were common. Perhaps it is to this festival she secretly went alone.
        • After the rape, she does not return to her family but stays in Hamor’s household with Shechem.
• Summary:
  • Discussion: If you were sitting as judge and this court case came up before you, how would you rule regarding:
    • Shechem:
    • Simeon and Levi:
    • Jacob’s other sons:
    • Jacob himself:
  • Forgiveness, crime, and punishment
    • In this situation, rape was undoubtedly wrong. However, the punishment far exceeded the crime committed.
    • Two wrongs do not make a right.
    • God prefers forgiveness and redemption when that forgiveness and redemption are sought. Shechem honestly sought forgiveness and redemption.
    • Jacob and his sons should have graciously accepted the best of a bad situation.

Homework

Genesis 35

• Application of Gen 34
  • When bad things happen in your life, how gracious are you to accept the best of a bad situation?
  • If there is a bad situation in your life at the present time, what can you do specifically to promote healing, forgiveness, and redemption to graciously make the best of it all?
• Preparation for Gen 35
  • Read Gen 35:1-29 The return to Bethel
    • There are 4 burials mentioned in this chapter.
      • Spiritually speaking, to what do you think they refer?
        • Foreign gods and earrings (35:4)
        • Deborah (35:8)
        • Rachel (35:19)
        • Isaac (35:29)
    • In relationship to Jesus Christ, what significance do you see in the child’s name being changed from “benoni” (son of sorrow) to “Benjamin” (son of my right hand)?
• Memory verse: Isaiah 53:3