“Because Their Sister Had Been Defiled” (Gen 34)

(vs25-27) “Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males. And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went out. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled.”

The Lord Jesus, the Son of God, forgives our sins at the cost of His own blood. He takes the blame, bears what we've done away, and reconciles us God-ward, even though He did not sin Himself. He is GRACIOUS in justice and mercy.

Yet, you and I can be merciless, refusing to forgive, refusing to look upon others in the pity that we want for ourselves. This shouldn't be. We should not be mercy beggars, and yet mercy with-holders at the same time. Let our actions be weighed, and let us line up with Christ in more than word, but in deed. James says plainly, “But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22).

First, the grace of God deals with real sins of real people, sin that He is right to punish. We read, “Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her”(vs1-2). Shechem should never have lain with Dinah. She did no wrong, and he violated her, because of his sin. He saw her and took her, rather than heeding God. He would be saved, if he'd only believed.

Secondly, fornication and wickedness must not be done. We read again, “And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved and very angry, because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, a thing which ought not to be done” (vs7). Let no one think that justice lets us off the hook with sin, as if we can do it, and it won't matter. Sin is to be fought wholeheartedly because it repulses God, separates between friends (God and man), and brings misery in the end. The grace of God is holy grace. It doesn't leave in sin. Paul writes, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

Thirdly, be sure to forgive. You and I have sinned, and we have no right to deny mercy to others. We read, “two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males (vs25-27).” We read Jacobs commentary on the matter, “Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. Let not my soul enter their council; let not my honor be united to their assembly; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! (Gen 49:5-7)”. Genesis 34:27 continues, “And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went out.”

How we treat people is how we REALLY think about God (Matt 18:22-35). The world has been cruel, be good to it (1 Pet 3:13-14; Matt 5:11-12). Your neighbor sins, love him regardless. Your brother has said, “I'm wrong”, receive him (Luke 17:3-4).

Don't sit on a throne of judgment, as if you have a right to deny the pleas of others.