Genesis 34
(1) The absence of apology
v3 Shechem was never sorry for his sin against Dinah. He had not released Dinah back home after he raped her until her brother went to rescue her out v.26.
v.4 Shechem had never admitted his sin before his father. He only asked his father to acquire Dinah to be his wife.
v.5 Jacob heard that her daughter was violated by Shechem before Shechem' father Hamor arrived v.6.
v.8 In his appeal to Jacob's family, Hamor did not mention about the rape and did not ask for forgiveness of his son's sin. He only focused on the advantages that Jacob's family could have if they allowed Dinah to marry Shechem.
v.11 Shechem himself had never apologized to Jacob and his sons. He focused on what he could give them.
v.11b-12 “Let me find favor in your sight, and whatever you require of me I’ll give.34:12 You can make the bride price and the gift I must bring very expensive, and I’ll give whatever you ask of me. Just give me the young woman as my wife!”
(2) The problem rolled bigger and bigger
The sons of Jacob planned the deception to Hamor and Schechem v.13 (Hamor and Schechem also treated Jacob's family with deception v.23). Jacob remained silent the whole time v.13-17. Not until they had killed and wiped off the whole city then Jacob blamed them v.30.
Reflection: When we sin the most important thing to do is to confess. Not to focus on how to develop a plan for reconstruction. Or to offer money/anything to make up the relationship. The same is true also with our relationship with God. We need to come to God and confess our sins.
As the head of the family, Jacob needed to speak up right the way and he missed the opportunity to prevent the problem to become bigger. Do we take up our responsibility or ignore the problem? Do we allow things to happen and become irreversible?
Audrey
(1) The absence of apology
v3 Shechem was never sorry for his sin against Dinah. He had not released Dinah back home after he raped her until her brother went to rescue her out v.26.
v.4 Shechem had never admitted his sin before his father. He only asked his father to acquire Dinah to be his wife.
v.5 Jacob heard that her daughter was violated by Shechem before Shechem' father Hamor arrived v.6.
v.8 In his appeal to Jacob's family, Hamor did not mention about the rape and did not ask for forgiveness of his son's sin. He only focused on the advantages that Jacob's family could have if they allowed Dinah to marry Shechem.
v.11 Shechem himself had never apologized to Jacob and his sons. He focused on what he could give them.
v.11b-12 “Let me find favor in your sight, and whatever you require of me I’ll give.34:12 You can make the bride price and the gift I must bring very expensive, and I’ll give whatever you ask of me. Just give me the young woman as my wife!”
(2) The problem rolled bigger and bigger
The sons of Jacob planned the deception to Hamor and Schechem v.13 (Hamor and Schechem also treated Jacob's family with deception v.23). Jacob remained silent the whole time v.13-17. Not until they had killed and wiped off the whole city then Jacob blamed them v.30.
Reflection: When we sin the most important thing to do is to confess. Not to focus on how to develop a plan for reconstruction. Or to offer money/anything to make up the relationship. The same is true also with our relationship with God. We need to come to God and confess our sins.
As the head of the family, Jacob needed to speak up right the way and he missed the opportunity to prevent the problem to become bigger. Do we take up our responsibility or ignore the problem? Do we allow things to happen and become irreversible?
Audrey
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