(CONTINUE FROM PART 2)
Genesis 34:8, 11-12 (WEB)
Hamor talked with them, saying, "The soul of my son, Shechem, longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife.
Shechem said to her father and to her brothers, "Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you will tell me I will give.
Ask me a great amount for a dowry, and I will give whatever you ask of me, but give me the young lady as a wife."
Neither Shechem nor his father addresses the sin issue (the rape he committed); instead they were clamouring for the hand of Dinah in marriage. Proverbs 19:18 (KJV) Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Proverbs 28:13 (RSV) He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Proverbs 28:16 (BBE) The prince who has no sense is a cruel ruler; but he who has no desire to get profit for him will have long life.
When sin is not confessed, forgiveness will not be received. There is no point in time when Hamor condemned the action of his son, Shechem. As fathers, we should not condone sin in our homes. The Bible says, “He who makes signs with his eyes is a cause of trouble, but he who makes a man see his errors is a cause of peace, Proverbs 10:10 (BBE).” Don’t pat your child on the back for doing wrong; reprove him immediately. Show your disapproval of his dismal behaviour.
Hamor was playing prank on Dinah’s family by offering them juicy offer without dealing with the sin issue in the life of his son. In order to win you to his side, the devil can offer you anything, name it.. What can you give in exchange for your life?
CONSEQUENCES OF UNCOFESSED SIN
Genesis 34:13-24 (KJV): 13. And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister: 14. And they said unto them, we cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that [were] a reproach unto us: 15. But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we [be], that every male of you be circumcised; 16. Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.17. But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone. 18. And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son.19. And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he [was] more honourable than all the house of his father. 20. And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, 21 These men [are] peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, [it is] large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.22. Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they [are] circumcised. 23. [Shall] not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs [be] ours? Only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us. 24. And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.
Because the brothers of Dinah were still angry with Shechem, therefore they deceived him in order to revenge. Shechem and Hamor accepted the condition put forward –circumcision of all men in the land. It took them some time to convince their country men. They said one thing to Jacob’s family and different thing to their country men just to get their consent. Sin has no respect for anybody be they old or young, man or woman, boy or girl, poor or wealthy, the ruler or the subject.
Circumcision was the external rite by which persons were admitted members of the ancient church (Exodus 12:48). But that outward rite could not make the Shechemites true Israelites. Nothing is said of their teaching the people to worship the true God, but only of their insisting on their being circumcised; and it is evident that they did not seek to convert Shechem, but only made a show of religion- a cloak to cover their diabolical design which is yet to be revealed. Because the issue of rape was still pending, unresolved and the offender was yet to admit being guilty, seek forgiveness and probably restitute, therefore the grief was still there and the anger was hot and bottled. As a result they answered Shechem deceitfully. They were aiming at revenge.
PROVERBS 6:32-35(KJV)
32. [But] whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he [that] doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
33. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
Proverbs 6:34 (WEB) For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband. He won't spare in the day of vengeance.
Proverbs 6:35 (RSV) He will accept no compensation, nor be appeased though you multiply gifts.
GREED
Shechem, his father and the leaders of the town fell for the bait.
Proverbs 13:16 (RSV) In everything a prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.
Proverbs 14:12 (RSV) There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Proverbs 14:15 (WEB) A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
Shechem fell because of his inordinate affection for Dinah; his father fell because he wanted Dinah to marry his son at all cost thereby satisfy his son’s desire; the leaders fell because of their greed (quest for material gain), Genesis 34:23. They were after Jacob’s livestock and his other possessions to be gained from this bilateral relationship. They did not think twice before they ‘signed memorandum of understanding’ and agreed to be circumcised.
Proverbs 28:22 (DBY) He that hath an evil eye hasteth after wealth, and knoweth not that poverty shall come upon him.
Proverbs 28:25 (RSV) A greedy man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the LORD will be enriched.
Proverbs 27:12 (RSV) A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple go on, and suffer for it.
(TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 4)
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