Read Genesis 34:1-31
This
lesson underscores the forbidden practice of intermarrying with unbelievers. As
with the entirety of Scripture this lesson is for our profit and prosperity as
opposed to hindering our capacity to “enjoy” life to its fullest.
Remembering Jesus’ statement: …I am come that they might have life, and that they might have
it more abundantly. John 10:10b
That gives us a whole new perspective; the common view is
that we can have all this “material” goods with disregard for proper attitudes,
and virtues as honesty, integrity, etc...
A vile thing happens to
Jacob’s family as Dinah, the daughter of Leah, is seduced by a Hivite. From the
outset of Abraham’s saga we’ve learned of God’s mandate not to intermarry with
unbelievers, no matter how much in love you are. See Gen.34:8-14.
Scripture gives ample reasoning for this prohibition:
1. It
defiles (makes dirty; pollutes; taints; makes unclean) the believer; Dinah
2. It’s
a reproach (instill a fault within the tribe) [believers are to be sanctified
(dedicated) and consecrated to God] to believers
3. Samson
lost not only his eyesight when seduced but Delilah, but also his spiritual
strength with God
4. David
lost a son with his adultery with Bathsheba [adultery and sex outside of
marriage both bring reproach]. It matters not that the unbeliever thinks it to
be alright to intermarry with a believer.
5. Solomon’s
many wives turned his heart from the Lord and the kingdom was torn from his
family though many of those relations were established to forgo war between
Israel and evil nations; the ultimate purpose of those marriages was against
God’s will no matter what man devised.
6. Not
only this but history demonstrates such behavior passes from generation to
generation sinking lower and lower into degradation.
7. It
is a satanic ploy to foster illicit unions with believers [see vs. 9]
Jacob’s sons devise deceitfulness
Not being able to dissuade the sons of Hamor, Jacob’s
sons resort to deceitfulness:
1. One
condition: that all males subject themselves to circumcision. [The lesson here is
no person can be coerced into making a decision for Christ; it must be based on
a clear cut conviction, persuasion, and convincing of the vicarious death,
burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for their sins, nothing more, nothing less].
Their ultimate reason was to render them helpless, thus setting them up for
slaughter.
2. Hamor
agrees to circumcision believing it to be the start of intermarrying between
both nations.
3. Three days after the circumcision, while they
were yet sore, the sons of Levi went in and murdered them all.
4. Next
they murdered Hamor and his son, Shechem, looted the city, plundered the wealth
of the city, took captives of the women and children, and took their sister
Dinah home.
Such actions by Simeon and
Levi caused Jacob to be angry with them, as now the entire nation of Israel
would become a stink in the hands of their ungodly neighbors, the Canaanites
and Perizzites, vs.30-31.
True enough believers are to
be hated by all, however, not for atrocities but for shunning the practices of
their neighbors. Even in the OT Israel lived next to unbelievers, so also do
you and I. Likewise we also are to subscribe to Biblical mandates rather than
succumb to worldly views and practices. Rom.12:1-2
Read Chapter 35:1-29
Now
Jacob is sent, by God, back to Bethel, where he had inquired of the Lord God
before he reunited with Esau.
It’s very important to return to the place where you last
had an answer from the Almighty. Sometimes we forget how to get to Him in times
of trouble. The exact geographical location is not nearly as important as is
the attitude of one’s heart. So Jacob humbled himself once again and sought the
face of God. this is demonstrated by his demanding his people surrender their
idols and submit themselves to God as well.
Sometimes
even you and I have need to cast all our idols at the throne of the Almighty,
confessing and receiving His forgiveness that we might prosper in His ways, not
ours. It’s not a hard thing to understand their plight as we heap many an idol
upon ourselves without knowing. Idols of money, material goods, sexual
perversions of all stripes, power, fame, influence, affluence you name it we
can worship it without realizing it.
9-12
Now God
once again appears to Jacob, blesses him, and changes his name from Jacob,
deceiver, trickster, to Israel, and reiterates Abraham’s blessings to him.
13-15
Jacob erects a stone pillar and pours a drink offering
and oil upon the pillar symbolic of God’s forgiveness, presence, and anointing.
16-20
Rachel, his
beloved wife, dies in childbirth and Jacob buries her in Ephrath which is
Bethlehem.
21-26
Israel, still nomadic, sets up camp in Edar. His 12 sons
are listed. I find it interesting to notice that all those who were from
Abraham’s loins forward were nomadic; the NT describes you and I as seeking a
home whose building and maker is God just like Abraham. We are sojourners and
nomadic like Abraham.
27-28
Jacob’s father, Isaac dies at the ripe old age of 140
years, in Hebron, where he and Esau bury him.
Faith
Building Practice and Review
1. What
NT passages specifically speak against intermarrying with unbelievers?
2. List
5 reasons God gives for avoiding unions with unbelievers.
3. What
is meant by defiling?
4. What
is meant by consecration?
5. What
might be other consequences for being unequally yoked with unbelievers?
6. There
comes a time in our lives, not unlike Jacob, when God changes our name.
Elaborate.
7. Don’t
you find it curious that we are also nomads like Abraham?
8. Explain
9. What
is a nomad?
10. Explain.
Knowing
God
A brief [not complete, add
to the list] synopsis of the persona of God:
·
Love
·
Gracious
·
Merciful
·
Righteous
·
Longsuffering
·
Gentle
·
Faithful
·
Compassionate
·
Forgiving
·
Friend
The ultimate goal of Bible study is to
know God, not to simply memorize Bible trivia.. As you study, identify the
attributes of God. For instance: make a note when you read of God extending His
forgiveness or compassion, and remember how He has done the same for you.
