Thurs.’s Devo - Jacob Meets Esau and Dinah’s Defilement

Read Gen. 32:13-34:31, Matt. 11:7-30. Ps. 14:1-7, Pr. 3:19-20 Jacob devises a plan to win Esau over with presents to placate his anger. After he has separated the flock and put everyone in marching order, he tries to sleep. Instead of sleep he found himself wrestling with a man until sunrise. The angel agrees to bless him and changes his name to Israel which means “he shall be the prince of God.” The fear that Jacob had about meeting with Esau proved unwarranted as is most of our fears. Jacob and Esau have a tearful reunion. If only their forgiveness would have passed on to the next generations, then we would see a different picture in the Middle East today. They part and Jacob settles in his home land. His only daughter, Dinah goes out to make new friends, but is defiled by Shechem the son of one of the country’s prince. When Jacob and Dinah’s brothers find out about it they are enraged. Shechem wants to marry Dinah and his father comes to meet with Jacob and plea for her hand. He offers to be their ally and to pay any price Jacob asks. Behind Jacob’s back, Simeon and Levi devise a plan to get revenge on Shechem and his whole tribe of people. They end up killing them. When Jacob finds out he is upset, but he doesn’t discipline his sons. I wonder what would have happened if he had. They are the same masterminds behind Joseph’s kidnapping. And then there is Dinah. Did she want to marry Shechem - her only hope for a husband. No one is going to marry a defiled woman. She never got to give her say. Misunderstandings. The Bible is full of them. Jacob to Esau, Shechem to Dinah, and the people to John the Baptist. To see what God is doing you have to have spiritual eyes. Lord, we read in Ps. today that you look down from heaven to see if any of us understand and seek You. Please bring your salvation to your people and restore the fortunes of your people.