Sunday morning
I woke before sunrise and took a moment to appreciate my leisurely stay in bed without the immediate need to ‘jump up and go.’ I lingered in bed for a couple of hours this morning, scrolling through my phone, pinning things on Pinterest, updating my socials, and enjoying the beautiful sunrise. After Joseph and our furry companions woke, we snuggled together before beginning our morning routine. Then, Joseph and I had our bible study and coffee. Later today, we’re taking the Harley for a ride to enjoy this beautiful weather and get some fresh air.
Today, our bible study was in Genesis chapters 33 & 34.
What a difference between chapters 33 and 34. The beauty of effort and reconciliation in chapter 33, then the awful events in chapter 34. I have mixed feelings about the topics I will cover today, so this post will be a dichotomy along with the chapters.
Genesis 33 is about Jacob and Esau (brothers).
Jacob and Esau are estranged, but despite their problems, Jacob approaches Esau with humility and respect. They reconcile and become close again, showing how forgiveness can mend broken family relationships. Earlier in Genesis, we see how Jacob has stolen, schemed, and been deceitful. Now Jacob has changed, and he is coming to his brother with gifts to reconcile and return/share the blessing he stole from Esau.
The story of Dinah (Jacob’s daughter) in Genesis 34 highlights the consequences of vengeance.
Shechem defiles Dinah; he then proposes marriage. Following the circumcision of all the men in the city as part of the proposed marriage agreement, Simeon and Levi, two of Jacob’s sons, slaughter all the men of the city, including Shechem and his father Hamor, in retaliation for Shechem having defiled their sister, Dinah.
We can easily apply this story to the digital age, where online feuds and vindictive behavior can escalate rapidly; this story underscores the destructive nature of seeking retribution without considering the broader implications.
These chapters emphasize the enduring significance of forgiveness and reconciliation. Extending grace and seeking reconciliation can foster healing and restore broken relationships in our personal lives and society as a whole, for that matter. Forgiveness is nearly a lost art.
Side note:
There is a vast difference between turning the other cheek and casting pearls before swine.
In Matthew 7:6, Jesus advises against giving valuable things to those who will not appreciate their worth. It implies discretion in sharing valuable resources, ideas, or information. It ultimately comes down to your God-given discernment. We all have an innate sense of right and wrong. It’s possible to pardon someone for their actions, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to welcome them back into our lives.
Casting pearls before swine
I’ve witnessed this scenario time and time again with drug users and individuals with malicious/selfish intent. These individuals tend to burn all their bridges outside their immediate family and fall on their family for support whenever they face hardship. They unapologetically exploit their family without genuine appreciation or respect. They make repeated promises to improve and change, only to return to their old ways. In such cases, I believe that is the very definition of casting pearls before swine, and these people should be left to fend for themselves before ensnaring or harming others within the circle of family or friends.
1 Corinthians 5:11-13 advises believers to distance themselves from individuals who persist in unrepentant sin: “But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. Expel the wicked person from among you.”
I digress; that will be a blog for another day.
Getting back on track
In chapters 33 and 34 of Genesis, scripture reminds us of the consequences of unchecked emotions and vengeful actions. In our world with instant communication, an easy example to give that happens quite often is the temptation of keyboard retaliation. This Word warns us of the far-reaching consequences of such impulses. While it’s a reach to compare the two scenarios, it is still a valuable lesson.
Conclusion
I strive to emulate Jacob’s humility and Esau’s capacity for forgiveness. Involving Dinah’s tragedy, it’s interesting to note that it is rare for the Word to say that someone’s actions are evil and to point out that an action “Ought not have been done.”
The key takeaway from this morning’s study is that by embracing forgiveness, seeking reconciliation, and resisting the allure of vengeance, we can navigate the complexities of life with wisdom, compassion, and integrity. Often, it is easier said than done, but if we can be mindful of this, that’s the first step.
