Genesis 33 - The Meeting of Jacob and Esau

Verses 1-2 tell us…Jacob’s CAREFUL preparations & Esau’s WARM welcome.

“Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last.”

He DIVIDED the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants: These preparations were not necessarily carnal. Often the Lord leads us to do very practical things when we follow Him. But the placement of the family shows Jacob was NOT shy about showing his FAVORITISM to Rachel and Joseph.

He put the maidservants and their children in front: At least Leah got more protection than the two maidservants Bilhah and Zilpah did & their children did.

Verse 3 tells us…Jacob demonstrates his submission.

“Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.”

He crossed over BEFORE them…The BEST thing about Jacob is now, after being conquered by God, he LEADS the procession coming to meet Esau.

Bowed himself to the ground…Jacob already sent over gifts and showed he didn’t want to take anything materially from Esau. But by bowing down, he showed he is submitted to his brother and wanted NO social power over him.
Of course, if Jacob didn’t take things into his own hands more than 20 years ago this would NOT be necessary. Isaac’s promise to Jacob, Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren (Genesis 27:29) would HAVE BEEN MORE immediately fulfilled.

THIS IS ANOTHER PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE OFTEN SIMPLY MESS THINGS UP…when we try to “help God out” in the flesh. God never needs us to sin to help Him further His plan in our life.

Verses 4-7 tells us Esau warmly greets Jacob and his family.

“But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?” So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down. And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.”

Esau ran to meet him: This probably terrified Jacob. Surely, he thought his life would soon end. Instead, God was working in Esau, and he only wanted to bless Jacob.

Fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept: Esau and Jacob did NOT feel a need to “work out” the past.

The world and its MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS & Heaven knows the REALITY MEDIA PROGRAMS…counsel and URGE people to constantly DREDGE UP THE DEAD AND BURIED PAST…REHASH IT OVER AND OVER, DON’T THEY?

BUT RIGHT HERE, ALMIGHTY GOD IS SHOWING US AND TELLING UP IF WE WILL GIVE IT ALL TO HIM, PRAY IT UP, TRUST HIM, AND LEAVE IT IN HIS ALL KNOWING ALL SEEING HANDS…God will work it out…..just as HE worked in both Esau and Jacob’s hearts and there was no need to dredge it all up again. What was past was past, Amen?

Verses 8-11 tells us Esau receives Jacob’s gifts: and he took it.

“Then Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” And he said, “These are to find favor in the sight of my lord.” But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So he urged him, and he took it.”

So he urged him, and he took it: This was AS IMPORTANT to the reconciliation as Jacob’s giving the gifts. When Jacob gave such generous gifts, it was his way of saying to Esau he was sorry and when Esau accepted the gifts, it was his way of accepting Jacob and saying he was forgiven.

AND DID YOU KNOW….THAT IN THAT CULTURE OF THE TIME, you NEVER accepted a gift from an enemy, only from a friend. To accept the gift was to accept the friendship.

I have enough . . . I have enough: Both Esau and Jacob have a blessed testimony: I have enough. Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6).


Verses 12-17 tells us Jacob and Esau part their ways; Jacob goes to Succoth, in the Promised Land..

“Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.” But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die. Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children, are able to endure, until I come to my lord in Seir.” And Esau said, “Now let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, built himself a house, and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.”

Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant…Jacob was glad to be reconciled with his brother, but didn’t want to be TOO close to him, which tells us JACOB IS STILL AFRAID OF ESAU.

Jacob journeyed to Succoth…Unfortunately, YOU NOTICE Jacob still acts like “Jacob,” because he said he will go far to the south with Esau to the area of Mount Seir. Instead, he allowed Esau to go a few days beyond him and then headed towards the north to Succoth.

Verses 18-20 tell us…Jacob comes to Shechem.

“Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city. And he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel.”

And he pitched his tent before the city…It is good Jacob came to the Promised Land, and he settled there. But he falls short.

WHY?
Because it seems God directed him to return to Bethel in Genesis 31:13.

Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel…Though he made an altar, it was obedience God wanted FIRST, not sacrifice. Jacob will bear bad fruit and waste time because he is in a place he shouldn’t be.





















Genesis 34 - Simeon and Levi Massacre Shechem

This chapter contains one of the MOST shameful incidents in Israel’s history.

BUT HEREIN LIES A GREAT ARGUMENT & A TRUTH FOR THE BIBLE BEING WRITTEN AND TOLD BY ALMIGHTY GOD HIMSELF.

WHY?

When The Bible shows ALSO its leaders and heroes in such terrible, stark truth, we can know for sure that it is a book from God. Men don’t write about themselves and their ancestors like this.

AMEN? I know most of us have KNOWN a LIFE-LONG MEAN PERSON, WHOM WHILE HE OR SHE WAS LIVING, NO ONE, FAMILY INCLUDED EVER HAD A POSITIVE OR COMPLIMENTARY THING TO SAY ABOUT THEM…BUT YOU ATTEND THEIR FUNERAL OR READ THE OBITUARY, AND THOSE HEADING THE FUNERAL ALWAYS HAVE ONLY NICE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THAT PERSON…

WELL ALMIGHTY GOD DOES NOT LIE THROUGH HIS TEETH, OR GLOSS OVER THE BAD….THE BIBLE TELLS IT STRAIGHT…TRUE….GOOD OR BAD…AMEN?

SO WHAT HAPPENS?

Verses 1-4 tells us a local prince RAPES Dinah and then wants to marry her.

“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. His soul was strongly attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke kindly to the young woman. So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this young woman as a wife.”

DINAH…the daughter of Leah…went out to see the daughters of the land…Remember, Jacob brought his family to a place God DID NOT want them to be. It seems God directed him to return to Bethel in Genesis 31:13), and his time spent in the city of Shechem did brought MUCH SORROW, PAIN, AND HARM to his family.

WHY DID JACOB?

Jacob chose a place to live for all the wrong reasons.
He wanted to be close to the city (Genesis 33:18), though the city was ungodly.
God called him to return to Bethel.
Jacob’s poor choice of a place to live left his family open to ungodly influence.

Dinah’s desire to do this understandable but unwise. She wanted to make FEMALE FRIENDS…REMEMBER SHE IS THE ONLY GIRL, WITH 11 BROTHERS IN HER FAMILY.

BUT…it is obvious Jacob did NOT make sure she was properly supervised. To allow her to socialize unsupervised in a pagan town was a real failure on the part of BOTH Jacob and Leah.

WE SEE THIS MORE AND MORE PREVALENT TODAY. I REMEMBER THE NEW REPORTS OF LITTLE GIRLS MISSING FROM A TRAILER PARK…ONE BY ONE…AND YET, THESE PARENTS, THEIR CARE-GIVERS, AND OTHERS SPOKEN TO DURING INTERVIEWS…KNEW LITTLE GIRLS WERE GOING MISSING, THEY WERE URGED NOT TO LET THE CHILDREN PLAY OR ROAM THE PARK UNATTENDED, BUT TIME AND AGAIN, THE PEOPLE IN THE PARK, ALLOWED THEIR LITTLE GIRLS TO ROAM FREE ALL AFTERNOON AND WAY AFTER DARK…BEFORE THEY BECAME CONCERNED OR EVEN BEGAN TO SEARCH FOR THEM.

SO FAR, JACOB HAS ONLY SHOWN A SLIGHT INTEREST IN JOSEPH…AND IS PROTECTIVE OF RACHEL AND JOSEPH, BUT ALL THE OTHERS, THE BIBLE DOES NOT SPEAK HIGHLY OF HIM AS A FATHER.

And we NEED to remember, in the eyes of mankind, a lone little child, male or female, but ESPECIALLY a lone female, whether she is a child or a young adult…had NO RIGHTS and FEW IF ANY VALUE. Worse, in that culture and time, young women were considered fair game in cities of the time, in which promiscuity was not only common but, in fact, a part of the very religious system itself. Alone and/or unsupervised/protected MEANT FAIR GAME TO ANY AND ALL MEN.

AND THIS OCCURRENCE serves to illustrate the LOW, if not TOTAL LACK OF ANY standard of morals prevalent among the Canaanites. Any unattended female could be raped, and in the transactions that ensue neither father nor son feel the need of apologizing for or excusing what had been committed.

AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, AT THIS TIME, DINAH WAS A TEENAGER. But try telling this to a teenager like Dinah! Teenagers often want it all, and they want it now. It is almost impossible for them to see the benefits of BEING SUPERVISED, OR FOR waiting for certain things until they are more mature...they TEND TO FIND A WAY TO DO WHAT THEY WANT, AND THEN ARE SHATTERED WHEN THEY FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR WILLFULNESS AND IGNORING THE GUIDELINES SET BEFORE THEM FROM THEIR PARENTS.

THERE WAS AN INTERESTING STUDY DONE AT STANFORD IN THE 1960’s, called the MARSHMALLOW TEST.

A researcher gives this choice to a four-year-old: “I am leaving for a few minutes to run an errand, and you can have this marshmallow while I am gone, but IF YOU WAIT until I return, you can have two marshmallows.”

AND FOLLOWING THESE “TEST CHILDREN”, 12 YEARS LATER FOUND THAT THE kids who grabbed the single marshmallow tended to be more troubled as adolescents. The one-marshmallow kids also scored an average of 210 points less on SAT tests.

THEIR RESULTS PROVED CONCLUSIVE… Learning to delay gratification is important & makes for a STRONGER, MORE STABLE, & MENTALLY ACUTE YOUNG ADULT!

Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her…Jacob’s lack of attention and protection was partially at fault in this tragedy. His own compromise made him less able to stand up to his own children and guide them as he should.

Jacob’s children KNEW AND HEARD HIM tell his brother Esau he would go south with him, but Jacob went north instead. They picked up on this and other areas of compromise and used them to justify their own compromise.

As for the young man named Shechem, his soul was strongly attracted to Dinah and he even spoke kindly to her. Yet we cannot say he loved her, because you DO NOT DISRESPECT & VIOLATE WHAT YOU LOVE.

It was a soulish love Shechem had for Dinah, not a spiritual or godly love. He loved her for what she could be and give to him, not for what he could be and give to her. His heart is shown in the words get me this young woman as a wife. It was a soulish “get me” kind of love.

It is possible for a man to be attracted to a woman and to show kindness to her for reasons having nothing or little to do with love. In their desire to connect romantically with a man, women often forget this...then and now!

Verses 5-7 tells us Jacob’s lack of outrage; the anger of Simeon and Levi.

“And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field; so Jacob held his peace until they came. Then Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. 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.”

Jacob held his peace until they came…Jacob shows a distinct LACK OF FATHERLY outrage here. He seemed to take the defilement of his only daughter EASILY. His refusal to do what is right in regard to his family will encourage two of his sons to do something, something ungodly in response.

When God-appointed heads do not take appropriate leadership, it creates a void, which is often filled sinfully.
The sons of Jacob . . . and the men were grieved and very angry: In this culture, the brothers had a greater responsibility to protect their sister than the father. They will “protect” Dinah’s honor in unwise and sinful ways.

Verses 8-12 tells us Hamor and Shechem seek to ARRANGE the marriage of Dinah.

“But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife. And make marriages with us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters to yourselves. So you shall dwell with us, and the land shall be before you. Dwell and trade in it, and acquire possessions for yourselves in it.” Then Shechem said to her father and her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. Ask me ever so much dowry and gift, and I will give according to what you say to me; but give me the young woman as a wife.”

I am reminded of MY SON’S OUTRAGE, AS OLDER PROTECTIVE BROTHER, WHEN AN OLDER TEENAGER, SNUCK UP BEHIND MY BABY DAUGHTER AND PINCHED HER ON THE REAR END, BEFORE SHE COULD WHIP AROUND AND CONFRONT THIS YOUNG HELLION, MY SON, GRABBED HIM, SHOVED HIM AGAINST THE NEAREST WALL, HIS HAND FISTED IN HIS SHIRT AT HIS THROAT, WHILE HIS FEET DANGLED OFF THE FLOOR…AND MY SON HELD HIM THERE GASPING AS HE TOLD HIM HE HAD BETTER NEVER TOUCH HIS SISTER LIKE THAT AGAIN, AND HE BETTER APOLOGIZE AND MEAN IT. THE KID APOLOGIZED AND NEVER CAME NEAR MY DAUGHTER AGAIN.

JACOB SHOULD HAVE TAKEN FATHER AND SON BEHIND THE NEAREST BUILDING OR TENT AND TAUGHT THEM A LESSON…HIS LACK OF FATHERLY PROTECTION AND DEFENSE…NON-ACTION…ONCE AGAIN SHOWED HIS OTHER CHILDREN THAT HE DID NOT VALUE THEM.

Make marriages with us. This was ANOTHER dangerous challenge to Jacob and his family. GOD HAD TOLD ABRAHAM DO NOT LET ISAAC MARRY A CANANNITE. JACOB WAS WARNED BY ISAAC AND TOLD THE SAME THING. HE KNEW THE DANGERS. Irresponsible intermarriage with the Canaanites could prove especially harmful for this family with such a destiny in God’s redemptive plan.

Whatever you say to me I will give…Hamor and Shechem SOUND LIKE IN THEIR OWN EARS IT WAS NO BIG DEAL THAT HIS SON RAPED A YOUNG TEENAGER & MADE WORSE TO OUR EYES THAT HAMOR SEES HIMSELF AS HONORING DINAH AND GENEROUS TO JACOB.

BUT IN THE EYES OF ALMIGHTY GOD AND TO DINAH’S BROTHERS AS WELL…their manner of negotiating the arrangement of the marriage insulted Dinah and her family even more with a “just name your price” attitude. They acted as if money and marriage could make her disgrace go away.

Verses 13-17 tells us the counteroffer of Simeon and Levi: all the men of the city of Shechem should be circumcised.

But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, and spoke deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister. And they said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us. But on this condition we will consent to you: If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised, then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. But if you will not heed us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and be gone.”

If every male of you is circumcised…Hamor and Shechem agreed to such an extreme demand because circumcision was not only practiced among the Israelites - other ancient peoples also had the practice. Therefore they knew of the practice from the rituals of other nations.

For that would be a reproach to us: Simeon and Levi have evil intention in this plan. Yet they cover it up with spiritual words, and used Dinah as a cover for their intended evil.

They felt justified because the men of Shechem treated their sister as a prostitute, but they made MATTERS FAR WORSE by prostituting the sign of God’s covenant with ABRAHAM & HIS DESCENDANTS (CIRCUMCISION) for their own murderous purpose.

Verses 18-24 tells us Hamor and Shechem convince the men of the city to go along with the plan.

“And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor’s son. So the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. He was more honorable than all the household of his father. And Hamor and Shechem his son came to the gate of their city, and spoke with the men of their city, saying: “These men are at peace with us. Therefore let them dwell in the land and trade in it. For indeed the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters to us as wives, and let us give them our daughters. Only on this condition will the men consent to dwell with us, to be one people: if every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised. Will not their livestock, their property, and every animal of theirs be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us.” And all who went out of the gate of his city heeded Hamor and Shechem his son; every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.”

Their words pleased Hamor and Shechem: Despite the obvious sacrifice involved, Hamor and Shechem were pleased with this plan. Beyond the obviously deep attraction Shechem has for Dinah, they were also undoubtedly pleased to begin to marry into a family so large, wealthy, and influential.

Will not their livestock, their property, and every animal of theirs be ours? It is amazing what men will do for both women and wealth. A whole city of men submits to circumcision so they can take their daughters to us as wives and take their livestock, property, and every animal of theirs.

Verse 25 tells us Simeon and Levi destroy the city of Shechem & massacre of the men of the city of Shechem.

“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.”

When they were in pain . . . each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males…This was not only a brutal, deceptive act, but it also disgraced God’s covenant of circumcision. Surely, with this clever act of violent deception, Simeon and Levi showed themselves to be the children of Jacob from a bitter, competitive home environment.

Came boldly…shows us the hardness of their hearts.

Verses 26-29 tell us they rescue Dinah and plunder the city.

“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. They took their sheep, their oxen, and their donkeys, what was in the city and what was in the field, and all their wealth. All their little ones and their wives they took captive; and they plundered even all that was in the houses.”

They killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword…they justified this murder and theft by saying they and their sister had been disgraced, but the punishment clearly does not fit the crime.

They plundered even all that was in the houses…Simeon and Levi probably thought God blessed their murderous plans with great success.

Verses 30-31 tells us Jacob’s reaction.

“Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since I am few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, my household and I.” But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a harlot?”

You have troubled me by making me obnoxious…Sadly, Jacob is only concerned with HIMSELF. There is no concern for God’s righteousness or the death and plunder of innocents. This is Jacob, NOT Israel in action.

Should he treat our sister like a harlot?…Simeon and Levi were correct that Dinah had been treated like a harlot. Yet, their reaction was certainly ungodly.

FAR LATER IN GENESIS 49:5-7.…When Jacob was about to die, he prophesied over each of his 12 sons. This is what he said about Simeon and Levi: 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! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel. He saw Simeon and Levi for who they were, but he rebuked them far too late & his lack of leading, loving, guiding direction when they were born, and as they grew up…influenced the men they became.

AND THE PROPHETIC WORD OF GOD through Jacob proved true. God did in fact both divide the tribes of Simeon and Levi, and scatter them among Israel.

HOW AND WHEN?

The way it happened for each tribe was different. The tribe of Simeon, because of their lack of faithfulness, was effectively dissolved as a tribe, and the tribe of Simeon was absorbed into the tribal area of Judah. The tribe of Levi was also scattered, but because of the faithfulness of this tribe during the rebellion of the golden calf in Exodus 32:26-28, the tribe was scattered as a blessing throughout the whole nation of Israel. Both were scattered, but one as a blessing and the other as curse.