Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me obnoxious to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.” But they replied, “Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?” (Genesis 34:30, 31)
This is one of the more difficult chapters in Genesis to read.
It’s sickening to read of the rape of Dinah. The term ‘defiled’ is such a packed word with a great deal of meaning, emotion and weight behind it. It is a big deal. It is not anything to be treated lightly or swept under the carpet of diplomatic convenience.
The premeditated response of the sons of Jacob, however, highlight the problems with taking matters into your own hands. The crime did not in any way merit the level of deception and devastation that happened in response. It is a very sad episode to read and seeing how bad things get between both sets of people, whether the perpetrators or the family of the victim.
What this also highlights is the growing complexity of family characteristics. Abraham had a complicated situation with the resentment between Hagar and Sarah and subsequently Ishmael and Isaac. Isaac would then suffer the tensions and animosity between Esau and Jacob. Now Jacob is beginning to see the issue with a number of sons who have no problems taking things on their own strength for any perceived slights. As we know this won’t be the last time the sons of Jacob take matters into their own hands to rid themselves of an annoyance.
The desire for revenge can override the needs of justice as well as completely dismiss any sense of mercy. It is a sign of out growing need for help in our character to address how we respond to being the victims of mistreatment or connected with those mistreated. It is a challenge to prefer an approach that upholds the law and justice, whilst looking to follow Jesus’ model of reacting to injustice. That wasn’t the means of vengeance – that is leaving that to God who judges rightly.
However trivial or serious the case may be, we certainly need the divine help to leave vengeance to God and seek more constructive ways of addressing the horrors in the world.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 