1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: And shechem said, unto her father and unto her brethren, 2 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: let me find grace in your eyes. And what ye 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: shall say unto me I will give Genesis thirty four eleven. 4 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: Dear God, as you are guiding my life, I will 5 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,280 Speaker 1: make sure to only make the move that You've designated 6 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: for me. I will not try to choose the easier 7 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: path or the path that looks more inviting. Instead, I 8 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 1: will stay the course because I know that every step 9 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: that I take has already been orchestrated for me and 10 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: my future. Holy Spirit, as I move, keep reminding me 11 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 1: that where I currently am is not my final destination. 12 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 1: Remind me that as I take the steps of faith 13 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 1: needed to realize your promises for my life, that you 14 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: will keep me from harm and destruction. Thank you Lord 15 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: that even when I step off the track, you are 16 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 1: faithful to allow me to not miss a step. When 17 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 1: I come back and ask for forgiveness, I stand with 18 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: excitement because I'm about to enter into my bethel, the 19 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: land and promise. Were you twell in Jesus's name. Amen, 20 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 1: Thank you for praying with me today. Continue listening for 21 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: an incredible Bible story brought to you by Bible in 22 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 1: a year dot. 23 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:46,040 Speaker 2: Com Dinah and Sheikha. 24 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 3: Before this story, we learned how Jacob feared the wrath 25 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 3: of his brother Esau. He prayed to God with great 26 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 3: anguish to deliver him. That night, Jacob wrestled with God 27 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 3: himself and had his name changed to Israel. Esau forgave 28 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 3: Jacob and the two went their way. Now we will 29 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 3: learn about how Jacob's daughter Dinah was taken advantage of 30 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 3: and the response made by Jacob's sons Simon and Levy, 31 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 3: inspired by the Book of Genesis. 32 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 4: We're so glad you joined us on the Bible and 33 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 4: of your podcast today. The Bible into your podcast is 34 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,640 Speaker 4: an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to 35 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 4: you each week through the support of listeners just like you. 36 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 4: Your support today is so important that we want to 37 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 4: thank you for your gift by giving you a copy 38 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 4: of my book called The Jesus Book. It is a 39 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 4: powerful guide that shows how every book of the Bible 40 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 4: points to Jesus and how his living word, the truth 41 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 4: of God's Word, will transform your life. So to get 42 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 4: a copy of The Jesus Book, simply go to Jack 43 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 4: Graham dot org slash Jesus that's Jack Graham dot org 44 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 4: slash Jesus Us, and thank you for your support. In 45 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,760 Speaker 4: our prior reading, we learned of Jacob's new name Israel, 46 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,359 Speaker 4: and of his repentant heart, and that Jacob and Esau 47 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 4: made peace with one another. Finally, it was a wonderful 48 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:18,679 Speaker 4: story of God's provision, grace, and blessing, and we saw 49 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 4: more mature, obedient Jacob, who now seems ready to follow 50 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 4: the will of God for his life. In today's reading, however, 51 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 4: Jacob seems to take a step backwards. As you listen, 52 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:32,920 Speaker 4: notice how Jacob once again shuns the role of leadership 53 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 4: to which God has called it. There will be a 54 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 4: great deal of bloodshed, pain and trouble that spreads through 55 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 4: Jacob's family. Eventually, Jacob will wake up to the tragedies 56 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:47,040 Speaker 4: and schemes his disobedience have created, and then turned to God, 57 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 4: truly turned to God for helping guidance. God once again 58 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 4: will prove his faithfulness to Jacob and his family, because 59 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 4: God is always faithful. Now let's listen to today's scripture. 60 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 3: Jacob and his family settled in a place God had 61 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 3: not intended. He was supposed to return to Bethel, yet 62 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 3: remained in the land near Heymoor. Dinah, the daughter of 63 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 3: Jacob and Leah, went out to visit some of the 64 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 3: women in the neighboring city a few miles away. She 65 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 3: walked with the innocent smile of someone painfully unaware of 66 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:26,280 Speaker 3: just how dangerous a city like this could be. Shecam, 67 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 3: the son of Heymoor, a prince of the land, saw 68 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 3: Dinah from Afar. Hidden by the shadows, he trailed her 69 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 3: at a distance. Shecum found Dinah intoxicating. He drew closer 70 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:45,160 Speaker 3: and closer, watching as she maneuvered through the busy streets. Sheacum, 71 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 3: like many young rich rulers of his time, knew if 72 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 3: he wanted something, he needed just take it for himself, 73 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 3: and he wanted Dinah. He burned with a self serving 74 00:04:56,120 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 3: and violent desire. Sheacum suddenly and seek seized Dinah and 75 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 3: drug her away. Flailing and fighting, Dinah realized there would 76 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:11,359 Speaker 3: be nobody there to help her. Shekhem humiliated Dinah and 77 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 3: raped her. Dinah was sent on her way, humiliated and defiled. 78 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:20,720 Speaker 3: Yet instead of releasing her with threats, Shecam spoke tenderly 79 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 3: and with gentleness. His soul felt drawn to Dinah and 80 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 3: he mistook his twisted and selfish desires with actual love 81 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:33,159 Speaker 3: and affection. So Sheacam spoke to his father Heymore, saying, 82 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:37,719 Speaker 3: get me this girl for my wife. Word came to 83 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:41,840 Speaker 3: Jacob about the assault of his daughter. A contemplative calm 84 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 3: came upon him. His sons were working in the field 85 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:48,159 Speaker 3: with the livestock, and he needed time to think before 86 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 3: releasing the information to them. As Jacob waited in brooding silence, 87 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 3: Sheicam and his father Haymore, came to Jacob to speak 88 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 3: of marriage. He would not be able to get a 89 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 3: word in before the sun of Jacob came racing in 90 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 3: with rage. A small army of men ran from the 91 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 3: fields as soon as they heard and immediately met them 92 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 3: with indignant rage. Under no circumstances would they allow Shekam 93 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 3: to have their sister Hamor. Finally able to speak after 94 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 3: the barrage of angry brothers, turned to Jacob and said, 95 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 3: Sheacam's soul longs for your daughter. Jacob, let us consider 96 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 3: a marriage, and all my land can be opened up 97 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 3: to you for trade, property and farming. Shekam then began 98 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 3: to speak. There was a look in his eyes, a 99 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 3: look of genuine affection and love. Yet behind them seemed 100 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 3: to be a mind capable of hideous things. It sent 101 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 3: an uneasy shiver down the spines of Jacob's brothers. He spoke, saying, 102 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,359 Speaker 3: let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you 103 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 3: desire for me, I will give name your price, and I. 104 00:06:57,440 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 1: Will honor it. 105 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:03,480 Speaker 3: Just please, please, let me have Dinah as my wife. 106 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 3: Jacob and his sons were men of God and had 107 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 3: set themselves apart from the rest of the world. Yet 108 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 3: their kindness was not weakness. They were men of honor 109 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 3: and loved their sister deeply. Their resolved to protect her 110 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 3: would not wane. The brothers answered, Sheicam and Haymour, it 111 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 3: would disgrace us to give our sister to someone uncircumcised. 112 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 3: Our only condition is that you and all your men 113 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 3: be circumcised. Then we will give all our daughters to 114 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 3: be with your men in marriage, and we can become 115 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 3: one people, sharing in all things. These words pleased Hamour 116 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,560 Speaker 3: and Shecam. Not only did Shecam get his desire, but 117 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 3: the whole land would get to share in the abundant 118 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 3: resources of Jacob's family. Yet they rejoiced naively for Jacob's 119 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 3: sons would not forgive what Shekam had done to their sister. 120 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 3: As promised, Hamour and Shekam went to all of the 121 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 3: men in their land and had them circumcised. Men young 122 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 3: and old took blades to their foreskins. Haymore's people did 123 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 3: so gladly, though in a great amount of pain, because 124 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 3: they knew they were going to become rich and Shekam 125 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 3: would get Dinah. Sheakam took Dinah to his home, and 126 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 3: she dwelt there for three days under his roof, captive 127 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 3: and afraid. On the third day, the city was quiet. 128 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 3: The sun was making its way down towards evening. The 129 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 3: heat of the day was colliding with the cool breeze 130 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,320 Speaker 3: of evening. The men of the land were resting, sore 131 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:38,319 Speaker 3: and doing their best to not make any sudden movements. 132 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:42,079 Speaker 3: The pain was nearly unbearable, but worth it for more 133 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 3: livestock and influence. While they all remained in their beds, 134 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 3: two pairs of footsteps can be heard coming through the gates. 135 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 3: Two sons of Jacob, Simon and Levy entered the city 136 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 3: with swords in their hands. No mercy, no politics or 137 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 3: chances to plead their cases, no negotiations, or empty threats. 138 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 3: With ferocity and decisiveness, the two plunged their swords into 139 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 3: the flesh of all Haimo's men. They would try to run, 140 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 3: but they couldn't because they were still in pain from 141 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 3: the circumcision. This was their plan all along, get the 142 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 3: men weak so they could enter in and take their lives. Easily. 143 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:29,199 Speaker 3: Picking up speed, the two brothers swung their swords with revenge, 144 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 3: making their way to the home of Hamor and Sheicum. 145 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 3: Haimor was the first to die. His begs for mercy 146 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 3: were interrupted by Simon's right arm, slowly gliding the blade 147 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 3: against his throat. The two brothers turned right through the 148 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 3: hall and burst through Shekom's door. There they saw him 149 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 3: and their sister pulling Dinah away. They pointed their swords 150 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 3: lightly on the chest of Shekom. They stared into his eyes. 151 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 3: The same eyes that had gazed upon their sister with 152 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 3: violence and lust now looked upon them with fear and 153 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 3: trembling no mercy. Shakum fell swiftly under the blades of 154 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 3: Simon and Levy. The only inheritance he would get from 155 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 3: his marriage to Dinah was iron. Sinking into his lungs. 156 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 3: The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered 157 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:22,319 Speaker 3: the city. They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, 158 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 3: and whatever was in the city and in the field, 159 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 3: all their wealth, all their children and their wives, all 160 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 3: that was in the houses they captured and took back 161 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:37,479 Speaker 3: with them no mercy. When they returned, Jacob was outraged. 162 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 3: He said to Simon and Levy, you have brought trouble 163 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:43,079 Speaker 3: on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of 164 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 3: the land, the Canaanites and the Perezites. We do not 165 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 3: have the same numbers they do. If they gather themselves 166 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 3: against me and attack me, we shall be destroyed. Simon 167 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 3: and Levey regretted nothing. What should we have done, they said, 168 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:00,920 Speaker 3: allow our sister to be he shipped off like a 169 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 3: piece of property, have a ravaged like a prostitute. Jacob, 170 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:11,719 Speaker 3: pressed with fear and anxiety, went before God. God spoke plainly, arise, 171 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 3: go up to Bethel and dwell there, make an altar 172 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 3: for me, as you did before you met with Esau. 173 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 3: So Jacob left for Bethel as he should have done 174 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 3: in the first place. He and his household came before 175 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:31,959 Speaker 3: God cleanse yourself, change your garments, wash, throw away any 176 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 3: idols you may have, and purify your hearts. Jacob commanded 177 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:40,319 Speaker 3: his people, a great danger threatens us, but we will 178 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:44,319 Speaker 3: arise to Bethel to seek God, who has always answered 179 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 3: me wherever I go. So they gave Jacob all the 180 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:51,480 Speaker 3: foreign gods that they had and the rings that were 181 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 3: in their ears. Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree 182 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 3: that was near Shechem. They journeyed far, fearful for their lives, 183 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 3: they rushed to Bethel. God in mighty power caused a 184 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:07,160 Speaker 3: terror to fall upon the cities that surrounded them. They 185 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 3: would not pursue God's chosen people. Jacob came to Bethel, 186 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 3: back to the land of Canaan, and there he built 187 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 3: an altar and call. And God said to him, I 188 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:23,680 Speaker 3: am God Almighty, be fruitful and multiply. A nation and 189 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 3: a company of nations shall come from you, and kings 190 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 3: will come from among you. The land that I gave 191 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 3: to Abraham and Isaac, I will give to you, and 192 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 3: I will give the land to your offspring after you. 193 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,400 Speaker 3: God blessed Jacob and his family the people of Israel, 194 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 3: and he would not leave them no matter what hardship, 195 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:47,319 Speaker 3: they found themselves captive. 196 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 4: To Jacob, encountered God, wrestled with him and received his blessing. 197 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,439 Speaker 4: He has now made peace with Esau and is free 198 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 4: to return to the place where God God intends for 199 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 4: him to live with his family. But that's not the 200 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 4: choice Jacob makes. Instead of going to Bethel, he remains 201 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 4: in another land nearby, this rule by a man named Hamor. 202 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 4: Jacob's daughter Dinah, visits the nearby city controlled by Shechem, 203 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 4: and as she is walking through town, Hamour's son, Shechem, 204 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:26,599 Speaker 4: pursues and rapes Dinah. Then he begins to feel what 205 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 4: he considers love for this woman. Of course, this is 206 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 4: not a god honoring love. This is us. This is 207 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 4: a man who forced himself upon a young woman. But 208 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 4: in his twisted mind he somehow feels some affection for 209 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:44,440 Speaker 4: her and asks his father to secure a marriage with her. Jacob, 210 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:47,640 Speaker 4: here's what happened to Dinah, and rather than acting, he 211 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 4: remains silent. He doesn't tell his sons of the rape either. 212 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 4: Perhaps he knew they were prone to violence, or maybe 213 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 4: he was slipping back into his old complacent ways and 214 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 4: failing to lead his family. Whatever the reason, he does 215 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 4: nothing but when his sons hear what happened to Dinah, 216 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:10,480 Speaker 4: their sister, they intend to avenge her. When Haymour and 217 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 4: Shechem come to ask for Dinah's hand, Jacob takes a 218 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 4: back seat in the conversation. Haymour offers a political and 219 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 4: financial alliance if they will allow Shechem to marry Dinah. 220 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 4: Jacob's sons counter that all males in Haymour's land must 221 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 4: be circumscised before they will allow Dinah to marry Shechem. 222 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 4: Their true intention was never to bring these men into 223 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 4: a relationship with God. It was a mere ruse of 224 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 4: war to buy some time before their full plan was 225 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 4: set in action and perhaps cause Haymour and his men 226 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 4: some serious discomfort. In the meantime, Jacob's sons attacked these 227 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 4: men when their guard was down due to a negotiated treaty, 228 00:14:51,720 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 4: and kill them all and rescued Dinah. This may seem 229 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 4: like justice, but is far from it. They used a 230 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 4: sacred act ordained by God, not for a holy purpose, 231 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 4: but for bloodshed, vengeance, and plunder. Heymur and Shakum's actions 232 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 4: were not honorable, but neither were the actions of Simeon 233 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 4: and Levin, and when Jacob discovers what they've done, he 234 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 4: is shaken out of his complacency and once again attacked 235 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 4: with fear. He knows his son's actions could bring calamity 236 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 4: upon his own family, so once again he goes to God, 237 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:31,600 Speaker 4: and God tells him to go to Bethel and build 238 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 4: an altar to him there. It was what he was 239 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:37,040 Speaker 4: supposed to do from the beginning in obedience to God, 240 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 4: But now he finally obeys. How often do you and 241 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 4: I go through unnecessary and unwanted trouble simply because we're 242 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 4: not listening to God? If we would only do what 243 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 4: God says from the beginning, we would not face so 244 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 4: many of the trials and struggles and difficulties that we face. 245 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 4: Before he flees to Bethel, Jacob knows he and his 246 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 4: family must leave behind not just the land, but the 247 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 4: gods and idols they're holding on to instead of the 248 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 4: one True God who is always with them, always faithful. 249 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 4: We close today's story with another example of this faithfulness 250 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 4: of God to Jacob. He strikes fear the cities around Jacob, 251 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 4: so nobody pursues Jacob's family and he can safely arrive 252 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 4: at Bethel God once again affirms the promise he's made 253 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 4: to Jacob and to Isaac and to Abraham before him. 254 00:16:29,840 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 4: He will give him this land and from him will 255 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 4: come many nations and kings. And a key figure in 256 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 4: this plan is one of Jacob's son, Joseph, whose colorful 257 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 4: story will begin next time. Dear God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, 258 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 4: and Jacob, thank you today for what we have read 259 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 4: in your word and that it teaches us that obey 260 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 4: you is always the right plan, the best plan. Thank 261 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 4: you that when we fail to obey, there is forgiveness 262 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:06,080 Speaker 4: when we turn to you in confession and repentance, because 263 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 4: you are always faithful to forgive and cleanse us through 264 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 4: your son Jesus. And it is in his name that 265 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 4: we pray. Amen. Thank you for listening to today's Bible 266 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,680 Speaker 4: into your podcast, and before we go, I wanted to 267 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 4: let you know that the Bible into Your Podcast is 268 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 4: an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to 269 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:31,640 Speaker 4: you each week through the support of listeners like you. 270 00:17:31,640 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 4: Your support today is so important that we want to 271 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:36,639 Speaker 4: thank you for your gift by giving you a copy 272 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 4: of my book called The Jesus Book. This book is 273 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:43,159 Speaker 4: a powerful guide that shows how every book in the 274 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 4: Bible points to Christ and how you can better read 275 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 4: and understand the Bible and how God's Word transforms our lives. 276 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,640 Speaker 4: So to get your copy of the Jesus Book, simply 277 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:58,400 Speaker 4: go to jaggraham dot org slash Jesus. That's Jagraham dot 278 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:01,680 Speaker 4: org slash Jesus and thank you for your support.