Sun.’s Devo - Defeating Shechem

Read: Genesis 32:13-34:31; Matthew 11:7-30; Psalm 14:1-7; Proverbs 3:19-20 Jacob didn’t know what to expect when he met Esau since the last time they were together Esau wanted to kill him. Jacob strategically positioned herds ahead of him to be gifts to Esau to soften his anger. After all the gifts had gone, Jacob took his wives and children across the Jabbok River along with all his possessions. He was left alone in the camp when an angel came and wrestled with him until dawn. The angel begged to let go of him but Jacob refused until he blessed him. He man asked Jacob what his name was and when he told him it was Jacob, he changed it to Israel which means “he who will rule as God”. Jacob had fought with God and with men and won. Jacob wanted to know the angels’ name but he never told him. Jacob was injured in the battle and limped from that time on. Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with his 400 men and went to meet him. Esau met him with open arms and they wept on each other’s shoulder. Esau was introduced to his wives and children and saw all the wealth that Jacob had. Esau wanted Jacob to travel with him but Jacob explained they needed to travel too slowly because of the children. Instead, Jacob traveled to Shechem and set up a camp outside of the town. He set up an altar to the Lord and named it El-Elohe-Israel. Jacob’s daughter Hagar was violated by one of the local princess from Shechem. Once he violated her he wanted to marry her. Jacob found out what had happened and so did his sons. The leader of Shechem wanted to make a covenant with Jacob so that they would share in one another’s wealth. Jacob’s sons devised a plan to deceive the men of Shechem to avenge the violation of their sister. They told them they would make a covenant if the men would circumcise themselves. The monetary gain was worth the pain so they agreed to do that. When they were sore from their surgery, Jacob’s sons attacked the town of Shechem and killed everyone and took their possessions. Jacob found out what they had done and was upset because they had made his name a stink among the people. As John’s disciples went to tell John how Jesus had responded to his question about if he was the Messiah, Jesus addressed the crowd about John. He asked them why they had gone to see John. He explained who John was a big part of God’s plan. He was the one who was sent to prepare the way for him. He was the Elijah spoken of by the prophets and much of what they had said led to this very time. Jesus rebuked their generation because no matter what God did, they were not satisfied. Jesus had done miracles and they complained that he hung out with sinners. Jesus embodied God and yet no one wanted to know him because they didn’t truly want to know God. Lord, help us to truly seek your face and want to know your will and your ways.