January 14th Devotion

Genesis 34:30 (NIV)
30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed."

I wonder how many Christians would side with Jacob’s statement about his sons. After all, wasn’t their deception justified? Their sister had been raped, and afterward, her rapist’s father tried to make a deal with Jacob. Shechem, the father, pleaded with Jacob to join with his family. Jacob agreed to do it, if Shechem circumcised all of the males in his family. While they were recovering from the procedure, Simeon and Levi murdered every single one of them, and took their women, children and livestock. As far as Simeon and Levi were concerned, their actions were justified because of what was done to their sister.

Later, near death, their father Jacob said this about them: Genesis 49:5-7 (NIV)
5 "Simeon and Levi are brothers-- their swords are weapons of violence. 6 Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. 7 Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel.

How do you respond when someone offends you are your loved ones? Even though Simeon and Levi felt they were justified, they were actually a reproach on their father’s name. We must always be mindful not to bring a reproach upon the name of God. Jacob saw fit to forgive the sin against his family. I believe God have would too.

Love, Pastor Don