Genesis 34:1-31 Taking Matters into Our Own Hands

Because sin abounds in our world, from time to time we may find ourselves dealing with people who have mistreated us in one way or another. How do we respond in these instances? Do we turn the other cheek? Do we do nothing? Do we take matters into our own hands?

Things were no different in Jacob’s day, and human nature has not changed. Jacob and his family faced a situation in which someone did evil. As we read the account, we can learn some things about how and how not to respond when we are mistreated.

The event is rather straightforward. Shechem, the son of the Hivite Hamor, raped Jacob’s daughter, Dinah. When Jacob’s sons heard about it, they were understandably furious.

Shechem wanted to marry Dinah, and his father Hamor approached Jacob and the brothers to win their approval. The brothers decided to trick Shechem and Hamor. They told Hamor that Shechem could marry Dinah on one condition. If all of the Hivites became circumcised then the marriage could take place.

Hamor presents the plan to the leaders who agree to the circumcision. They thought that this plan would enable them to eventually acquire all of the Israelite’s possessions. As the children of the tribes intermarried, they Hivites would ultimately prevail.

The circumcisions took place. Three days later, Levi and Simeon took grabbed their swords, entered the city and killed all of the Hivite males. They rescued Dinah and returned home.

Jacob became angry fearing that the people of the land would retaliate and destroy him. The brothers responded by reminding Jacob that Shechem had treated their sister as a harlot.

Simeon and Levi were quite properly outraged at the conduct. However, they acted in inappropriately to rectify the situation. First, they lied. Second, they killed an entire city of people, most of whom had nothing to do with the defilement. This action brought discredit the family and ultimately to God Himself.

It was wrong of them to respond as they did. We see no record of them praying about this situation or asking God to intervene. They made no attempt to talk to the elders of the Hivites and bring about a just decision. They merely flew off the handle and murdered many people.

When Jacob wrestled with God he had received a new name, Israel. That name was a reminder that God would fight for him. Jacob’s sons certainly did not act in accordance with the great truth that God would fight for them.

This act had negative consequences for Levi and Simeon later in life. When Jacob was an old man he blessed each of his children in a solemn act. Of Simeon and Levi he said, “Their swords are implements of violence. Let my soul not enter into their council; Let not my glory be united with their assembly; Because in their anger they slew men, and in their self-will they lamed oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel. I will disperse them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.

When suffer mistreatment, we should never sin to try to make things right. When we take matters into our own hands, we often produce a result that is worse than the original event. In addition, sin always has consequences. Some of those consequences may last long into life.

It is possible that you have been mistreated recently, or that you or I will suffer this week from someone’s sin. Let’s be careful to respond in godliness. Let’s ask God for wisdom and respond as He would have us to respond. In that way we bring glory to Him and demonstrate our total commitment and trust in Him who cares for us.

Let’s continue to remember that God fights for us. He is with us. We do not need to take matters into our own hands in order to make things right. We can rely upon Him.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield. For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in Thee.” - Psalm 84:11-12