How Not to Respond to Wrong Doing- Gen. 34

Similar to our look at Gen. 32 (How to Deal with Fear), we are going to look at chapter 34 from a Biblical counseling perspective, learning how to respond to wrong doing and learning how to help others do the same.

I. What is the wrong done (to us)?

In this case, the wrong was severe—rape (cf. 3:6–7 with 34:2)

The wrong specifically—what is it? What is all of it?

The wrong biblically

We begin with Scripture

We move to the Laws of the land

the wrong’s outreach

Dinah (long term affects of rape, dishonor)

Her father/brothers

The Seed of the Woman, cf. Gen. 3:15)

We need to be very careful of balancing addressing the wrong without becoming obsessive of the wrong

Example: racism today, DiAngelo, White Fragility, “Because I will never be completely free of racism or finished with my learning...” (147) We need to acknowledge the sin of racism (or, favoritism, as the Bible calls it) without becoming so focused on it that we never move on from it

II. What was the response?

What is our response to the above mentioned wrongs?

Jacob heard about it but waited to react because his sons were gone (34:5)

What do you think about Jacob’s delay?

How do you think this affected Dinah?

Shechem was in love and tried to work out a deal to marry Dinah (34:8–12)

What do you think about Shechem’s prior feelings and his subsequent rape?

How does Hamor’s actions factor into this account? (seeking a marriage rather than restitution and justice)?

How do you think this affected Dinah?

The sons of Jacob developed a scheme to destroy (34:13–24)

The sons of Jacob used circumcision (17:1–14), the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant (which would include blessings to Abraham, his children, and eventually all the nations of the earth) to destroy the entire town (34:25–29)

How do you think this affected the views God by the surrounding peoples (cf. 34:30)?

How do you think this affected Dinah?

III. What should have been the response?

With the absence of a government, their options were (perhaps) limited

They could have went to Hamor and worked out some type of justice for Dinah

They could have prayed for wisdom

They could have trusted the LORD (Deut. 32:35; Rom. 12:17–19)

IV. What are some principles to guide our responses?

Be aware of our emotions- 34:3; 34:7, 34:8, 34:18 (James 1:19–20)

Be aware of our relationships- 34:1–2 (2 Sam. 13:3; 1 Cor. 15:33, Menander, Greek Poet from 320–300 BC Thais 218)

Be aware of our spiritual state- 34:4–7

Be aware of the severity of the wrong while keeping in mind the laws of the land- 34:2, 7, 31 (e.g., child abuse)

If