THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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Little 5-year-old Shannon came into the kitchen asking her mother for a twinkie. Mom explained that it was almost supper time and she couldn't have a twinkie right now.
Shannon began to pout. So Mom picked her up, hugged her and said, "You are still my sweet precious love and darling daughter aren't you?"
Shannon said, "I ain't gonna be your NUTTIN' if you don't give me a twinkie!"
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Gen 34:4-8
4 And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.
5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.
6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.
7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done.
8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.
KJV
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Anger is only one letter away from danger. To act spitefully or with vengeance in anger is sin.
Notice that Jacob waited on his sons. Hamor, Shechem's father, came to talk to Jacob, but Jacob waited on his sons. Why would Jacob wait on his sons when he is the father, and should handle the situation as head of the house?
When Jacob's sons arrived, they were very angry. Anger leads to wrong decisions.
Jacob, keep in mind, is a saved man. He KNOWS what is right and what is wrong. But saved people are sinners too!
Perhaps Jacob was so angry and distraught, he allowed himself to be "swayed" from the ways of God to the ways of the world. Perhaps, in his heart he knew to take his daughter back home; but he also secretly wanted some sort of revenge.
The remainder of the story is an expression of deceit, trickery and vengeance. Jacob's sons convinced Hamor and Shechem to circumcise their whole family. And while they were sore, Jacob's son's attacked them and killed them. Later, Jacob realized his sin, and said, "they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house." (Gen. 34:30)
Jacob became concerned for the safety of his family. And well he should be; for "when there is sin in the camp, there may well be ruin on the way."
Christians, when we act in anger for vengeance, we cause ourselves to "stink" in the sight of those around us. Let us remember the words of our Dear Savior right after He taught "The Disciple's Prayer." (Matt 6:14-15) "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Love ya,
Bruce