Today’s Reading Genesis 33-35
Focal Scripture: Genesis 34:13 “But Jacob’s sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully because he had defiled their sister Dinah.”
Here is a sad state of affairs. On the surface this verse sounds like Jacob’s sons are doing a good thing, they are defending the honor of their sister. However, it exposes all of the deceit that Jacob’s children have observed over the years. Our readings to this point have given numerous examples of God’s people choosing to act in ways that go against God’s character. Deceit and half truths are everywhere. One of the biggest culprits, you guessed it, Jacob.
This verse shows that Jacobs sons intentionally lied. They took on the bargaining power for their sister. They were representing the family. In conversation they gave the impression of being honest, but in their heart they were planning to be deceitful. Unfortunately, this was learned behavior. They watched a master lier deceive others to get his way. We know from the rest of the story that Shechem and Hamor were killed, along with the rest of their people. The promises made were not kept. Once Jacob heard this news he was appalled because he understood that his name and reputation were now tainted because of his sons. However, he had nobody to blame but himself. His sons were behaving they way they thought a leader should.
My challenge today is for us as believers to understand that how we live has an impact on everyone around us, especially our children. We can’t say one thing and than expect our children to live another way. The same can be said of believers and preachers in the church who claim one lifestyle but demonstrate something else during the week. For example church members who raise their hands on Sunday during worship praising Jesus but will turn around on the way home and gossip about those they were just in fellowship with that morning in front of their children. Or maybe the preacher who has one personality in the pulpit but has another personality amongst others during the week. People notice this and it causes much damage to our families and our churches.
I encourage you today to examine yourself. Ask yourself if you have any deceitful ways in your heart that you need to surrender to the Lord. We all have picked up bad examples during our lives but we can not use that as an excuse to set bad examples. We must live in a way that glorifies God in all we do amongst others. We must also live in a way that does not leave a foul stench in the nostrils of those who we meet.
Who we represent is to great and we have been called to speak on his behalf. Let us all do better and be a people that has a heart for God at all times.
Tomorrow I plan on reading Genesis 36-38
