Retribution

What Were Their Options?

Scripture
Genesis 34-37

Observation
Shechem loved Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah. He violated her and the asked permission to marry her. Deceitfully her brothers told him that the men of Shechem would then have to be circumcised. They eagerly followed instructions, but not without their own ulterior motives. In Genesis 34:23 we read that they expected all of the livestock and property of the tribe of Israel to fall to them if the cooperated.

It appears that among God's chosen people we can read of nearly every conceivable sin. To find a righteous man or woman is an exception. Dinah's brothers attacked the men of Shechem on the third day after their circumcision when they were sore, and killed them all. Jacob had to move away because his sons had made their family name a "stench" in the vicinity.

God again appears to Jacob, after his move, and blesses him and changes his name. Of note to me is the fact that after Rachel dies Jacob is called Israel for the first time. His name then reverts back to Jacob until Genesis 43. It is recorded that, "Judah said to Israel, his father..." This is very significant in the fact that we might conclude that Judah appeals to his anointing, as opposed to his humanity. Jacob does not want to give up his youngest son to save the family from famine. After this he is called Israel.

Application
In the most difficult decisions we cannot allow our feelings to dictate what we do. I am reminded of Jesus' instruction to his disciples to leave father, mother, even wives, for his sake. He also instructs them to actually hate their loved ones and we know this is speaking in comparison to their love for him. In other words, nothing, no one, can stand between us and God and his will for us. In these times we have to consider our anointing, our new name.

Prayer
Father, help me to remember the implications of my new name.