A Set-Up for Disaster

“A Set-Up for Disaster”

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This is one of the darkest chapters in the book of Genesis. In this chapter we witness one disaster after another in Jacob’s family. There is rape, deception, anger, vengeance and murder.

Everyone in his family makes decisions that lead to defilement, death and disgrace. This family is coming unraveled at the seams! Jacob arrives back in the land of Canaan; he leads his family to the city of Shechem. He buys some property there and settle down outside of the city.

His daughter Dinah who is between 14-16 years old goes into the city to see what was going on there and she is raped by the Prince of the country whose name was Shechem. Jacob hears about what happened to Dinah; but he doesn’t say or do anything.

But when her brothers hear about it they become angry. They deceive Shechem and his father Hamor into thinking they will let him marry their sister if he agrees to be circumcised. He agrees and also leads the other men in the city to be circumcised so there can intermarry with Jacobs’s family.

Three days after the circumcision; when the men would be unable to fight, Dinah’s brothers, Simeon and Levi take their swords and go into the city and kill all the males.

It was wrong! It was done out of anger, pride and vengeance! Jacob who has said nothing throughout the entire chapter finally speaks up at the end of the chapter and says to Simeon and Levi, V:30-“you have troubled me to make me stink among the inhabitants of the land and they’re probably going to come and kill us”.

Simeon and Levi’s said, V:31-“should he deal with our sister as with the harlot?

When you read this chapter, you asked yourself, why did God put this chapter in the Bible? I mean this is a terrible story!

One of the many reasons we know the Bible is the word of God is that people would never say about themselves; what God says about them. God tells us about the disobedience of Jacob, the rape of Dinah, the deception of Simeon and Levi, and the murder of the men of Shechem.

This is a dark, dark chapter, why did all this happen?

Could any of it have been avoid?

Is there anything we can learn?

There are the three decisions made by this family that are a set-up for disaster. And they are still a set-up for disaster today.

Decision #1:

1. Going only Half-Way with God!

V:1-3.

Let’s get the background that leads up to this chapter. Jacob was told by God when he was still in Haran, working for Laban, -“ I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, and where you vowed a vow unto me: now arise, get you out of this land and return to the land of your family.”

God instructed to Jacob was to return to the city of Bethel; the place where he meet God when he first left home, the place where he saw the ladder to heaven and vowed that God would be his God. Jacob was supposed to go to Bethel; the name Bethel means house of God. God’s instruction to him to go there; that was the will of God for him.

After all the terrible things that happen in this chapter; God said again to him.

-“And God said to Jacob, arise, go up to Bethel, and will their: and make there an altar unto God that appeared unto you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother”.

It’s like God is saying to Jacob; after all of this terrible stuff has happen to you, are you ready to obey me now? Arise and go to Bethel!

Jacob had returned to the land of Canaan; but he stopped short of full obedience; he didn’t return to the city of Bethel. And it cost him dearly! Can I tell you this morning; that partial obedience to God’s will always cost you. Jacob stopped 20 miles short of Bethel, and bought some land, which communicates his intention to stay there. He settles down outside the city of Shechem. Jacob is living in willful, sinful, halfway obedience to God.

Half obedience is full disobedience!

Why did he do this, why didn’t he obey God?

Because he valued flocks more than he did his family! Jacob was making his decision based on what was best for his cattle and sheep. Material things meant more to him than spiritual things.

Jacob chose to live in Shechem because it was good for his sheep and cattle; but it was very bad for his sons and daughter. How much more important is a child than a sheep! Jacob had lost all sense of true values.

He is disobeying God; because of the mighty dollar. He’s not the last person to do that; there are a lot of people who ignore what God has to say for a dollar, sex, pleasure, and the cheap thrills of this world.

When God speaks to you through his word do you receive it, believe it and obey it?

What is the basis for the decisions that you make?

Jacob’s decision was based on money not on obedience to God. His disobedience to God put his family in a vulnerable position. Here’s a dad who is more concerned about cattle and cash than his children. You say, but Pastor, Jacob built an altar in Shechem, , yes he did, he gave public witness of his faith in Jehovah God. But sacrifice is no substitute for obedience!

-“Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

Nothing you do for God, or give to God can substitute for obedience to God!

Jacob is setting his family up for disaster by leading them to this ungodly city, outside of the will of God. There’s not one reference to God in this whole chapter; you can’t disobey God, go your own way and experienced the presence, protection and peace of God on your life!

Do you think that you can live in sin and disobey God; and then pray God bless me anyway? That does not work!

Jacob is not responsible for the decision of his daughter and sons; but he sure didn’t help them by taken them to this place.

What if Jacob had gone all the way to Bethel like God told him? What if he took command of God seriously? Things would’ve turned out different!

Where are you living this morning spiritually?

Are you living in Shechem; a place of partial obedience? Are you living in Bethel; the place of obedience, the place of fellowship with God?

You’re living in one of those two places spiritually this morning. You either living in disobedience or you’re living in obedience. Don’t just go halfway with God this morning! Disobedience always brings disaster into your life and the life of your family!

It is your obedience to the gospel that enables you to be obedient in everything else God says!

God’s great salvation creates in us a heart of love and obedience! We have a new master when we get saved. Who you live far, serve and obey is your master. That can be your own flesh, Satan and the world. Or it can be the Lord Jesus Christ and His word.

Jesus said if you love me keep my commandments.

It’s just that simple; if you love me, trust me and obey me! Obedience is possible through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible says:

· Come to church when the church meets.

-“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The question is will you obey. God told Jacob to go to Bethel which means house of God; but he didn’t and it set his family up for disaster.

· The Tithe is the Lord’s.

-“Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Jesus Christ didn’t give 10%, Jesus Christ gave 100%, and died on the cross for my sin. How can I refuse to give 10% of my income in obedience to him?

· Live a life of sexual purity.

-“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification that ye should abstain from fornication: It is God’s will for you and me to live lives of sexual purity.

We should obey God in the matter of sexuality. This means not looking at pornography. This means not having sex with someone before you’re married. This means not engaging in a same-sex relationship. This means not committing adultery on your spouse. God tells us that any sexual relationship outside of marriage between a man and woman is sinful and wrong. God gives us these instructions for our own good! God who created you, loves you and wants what’s best for your life; and the only way for you to have the BEST in life; is to Obey God! Disobeying God is a set-up for Disaster; when we disobey the Lord, we put ourselves and our loved ones in danger.

Don’t just go half-way with God!

Decision #2:

2. Looking for Satisfaction in the World!

V:1-2-“And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her”.

The term “went out to see the daughters of the land” means this was an act of rebellion and defiance. In this culture girls that were Dinah’s age were not allowed to leave the tents of their people without a chaperone.

Dinah went out behind Jacob and Leah’s back. What was Leah’s problem? She wasn’t satisfied living in obedience to her mom and dad. She wasn’t satisfied with her relationship with God. So she began to look for satisfaction in the world. That is a set-up for disaster!! She began to look at the daughters of the land; should began to check out the Canaanite girls. All of us need friends; but you better be very careful about the friends you pick. Who your friends are is one of the few decisions in your life which you have 100% control over. Dinah climbs out the window, and heads to the bright lights of the city of Shechem. She sees their fashions, and lifestyle she looks at their photos on Instagram, Facebook. And what they were doing seemed so much better than what she was doing.

The devil does a real good job painting up the garbage dump of this world to look good.

Dinah goes to the world looking for satisfaction; but all she finds is heartache and disappointment. Satan has perfected his ability to make things appear to be something they are not.

Satan made the tree of knowledge of good and evil look good to Eve, he never mentioned that the tree bring death!

David saw Bathsheba and his eyes caused him to lust and commit adultery with her.

What he did not see was the death, disgrace, and tragic results it would bring to his family.

Satan who is the angel of light, dresses up sin to make it look so attractive, he never lets you see the real picture of what sin does in a person’s life.

Some of you this morning; are looking at so-called greener grass on the other side of the fence. That grass is greener because it’s growing on a septic tank! The grass is not greener on the other side!

You think if I had that man or that woman or that job or that house, if I had their life then I’ll be satisfied. No you wouldn’t; because those things never bring lasting satisfaction. Lasting satisfaction is found in the Lord Jesus Christ only!

Looking for satisfaction in the world is a one-way street to disaster. Are you satisfied in Jesus Christ this morning? Are you satisfied in the word of God?

Jesus can satisfy your soul!!

If you’re satisfied with Jesus, his word, your spouse, job, house, and are committed to each one of them; then you have closed many door for the devil to bring dissatisfaction in your life. Oh how we need to be satisfied and thankful people!

The worst thing that could have possibly happen happened to Dinah when she was visiting the nightlife of Shechem happened.

She’s there by herself as a 14-16-year-old girl; her parents don’t know where she is; she’s not at a Bible study, she’s with ungodly people and she’s taken advantage of.

Listen young people and moms and dads; we live in a very sinful, wicked and perverted society. There are some places you should never go, and some people you should never hang out with. Not everybody has pure intentions in their mind.

A young man named Shechem, who is the Prince of the country who was filled with lust raped Dinah.

My heart is broken for his young, naïve girl.

V:2-“ Shechem- saw her, took her, and lay with her, and defiled her”.

This Prince of the land; was acting just like the Prince of darkness Satan himself. He sexually assaulted and raped Jacob’s daughter.

This guy is a thief- he takes what does it belong to him, he is a dirt bag! The prince of the power of the air who rules this world has one desire; to kill, steal and destroy. This sinful society is bent on destroying your life and family! When you go looking for satisfaction in the world you’re headed for disappointment and disaster.

Shechem after he rapes Dinah says, V:3-4, I love Dinah and want to marry her”

This is not love; this is lust; committing violent rape and keeping the girl confined in his house was a strange way to show love! He said he wanted to marry her. He didn’t know what love was; if he loved her he would have forced himself upon her and raped her.

, tells us the characteristics of love: Love is long-suffering, kind, not jealous, or prideful, love behaves itself, is not selfish, not easily angered, doesn’t keep a record of wrongs, does not rejoice in sin, but rejoices in the truth, bears burdens, believes in the other person, hopes for the best, and is committed to the end.

If you’re dating a guy who wants to take from you what doesn’t belong to him, he doesn’t love you; he loves himself. That guy who is all hands when you get alone; is going to destroy your life.

Lust takes- love gives.

If you’re dating a girl who leads you away from God and church, and your parents; you’re dating the wrong girl. But bro; she’s so hot; yeah; and you’re going to get burned!!

If you’re dating someone who doesn’t respect you; you need to break up with them!

Sing this song to them:

Slip out the back, Jack Make a new plan, Stan Hop off the bus, Gus we don't need to discuss much Just drop off the key, Lee and set yourself free.

Don’t let some ungodly person destroy your life! You’re setting yourself up for disaster when you look for satisfaction in the world! Decision #3:

3. Allowing Your Anger to Control You!

V:5-“Jacob heard that Shechem had raped Dinah, and Jacob held his peace”.

Jacob’s response to the crime, rape done to his daughter Dinah was to say and do nothing. He doesn’t go to Shechem’s father and confront him about the sin of his son. He doesn’t go and bring Dinah back home. Here is a man that is no longer leading his family spiritually or morally. The sin and crime of Shechem should have been confronted and punished in the proper way. I am shocked by what happens to Dinah; but I’m more shocked by the way Jacob responds to what was done to Dinah!

He should have been outraged, heartbroken and on his face begging God to forgive him for leading his family to Shechem.

He should have been asking God to help him rescue his daughter. But he’s doing nothing; he saying nothing!

Jacob failed as a father; he didn’t have the relationship with his daughter he should’ve had. He didn’t set boundaries for his daughter, he is not protecting his daughter.

Parents its hard work to protect your children in this society; but you must do it! Know where your kids are at all times; protect what they watch and read. Know who their friends are; check their devices; understand that their game systems can access the Internet. If you can’t figure it out, get rid of it. Jacob responded the wrong way, he was passive, weak and uninvolved in dealing with what happened to his daughter. Jacob didn’t lead his children; he was passive, weak, and uninvolved in their life. His priorities were messed up, he didn’t lead his family to the house of God-Bethel. If your kids are not plugged into the church; is because you have not led them to be.

On the other hand Jacob’s sons, especially Simeon and Levi react to the other extreme. They allow their anger to control them. We can certainly understand why that would be angry, mad and heartbroken about what had happened to their sister.

We are told when they heard about it they said,

V:7-“And the sons of Jacob came out of the feel when they heard it: and the men were grieved, they were very angry, because he had sinned and allying with Jacob’s daughter: which thing ought not to be done”.

These two young man hear the news; and come to the right conclusion; this thing ought not to be done! What he did to our sister is morally wrong! I hope that when you hear the news of what’s happening in America; you have the spiritual and moral discernment to know what’s right and what’s wrong.

Shechem tells Jacob and his sons he wants to marry Dinah; the son’s say we will let you if you agree to be circumcision. And we will let the men of your city intermarried with our women if they agree to be circumcised. Simeon and Levi are lying through their teeth to Shechem, they have no intention of allowing their sister to marry him, or intermarrying. It was a plan to incapacitate them and then kill them. Shechem and the men of the city agree and are circumcised, and three days later when the men of the city are unable to fight; Simeon and Levi take their swords go into the city of and kill all the males.

They take their sister out of Shechem’s house; they plunder the city and take the property, wealth, women and children. What Shechem had done to their sister was sinful and wrong! But what Simeon and Levi do is equally sinful and wrong! It is wrong to respond to sin and unrighteousness; with more sin and unrighteousness!

· Bombing and abortion clinic because they kill babies is wrong.

· Hating someone; because they hate you is wrong.

· Two wrongs never make a right!

We are to act against unrighteousness, in a righteous way! We’re never to do anything that would damage the testimony of Jesus Christ or his church. We are to be bold, and stand against sin and unrighteousness. Were to lift up our voice like a trumpet and show people their sins! But were not to let our anger, emotions or revenge control us; we are to allow God to control us, as we stand for truth and righteousness!! The only time Jacob says anything is in, V:30-“and Jacob said the Simeon and Levi, you have troubled me to make me stink among the inhabitants of the land… They’re going to gather themselves together against me, and kill me and I will be destroyed, me and my house”.

He tells them, you have destroyed my testimony! We are not to respond to injustice, evil, and wickedness in a way that would destroy our testimony, or hinder the work of God in the world.

-“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath”. When you allow your anger to control you; you’re setting yourself up for disaster; you will hurt people around you, destroy your testimony, and grieve the Holy Spirit of God. When Jacob was on his deathbed he remembered this incident at Shechem. -“Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. For in their anger they slew a man, cursed be there anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, but it was cruel. After all this is there any hope for this family? Jacob’s only hope, Simeon and Levi’s only hope, and our only hope is found in the ultimate son of Jacob, the Lord Jesus Christ who bore the wrath of God for our sins that we might have life through his name! A set up for eternal life is found in the Lord Jesus Christ! Your only hope, my only hope is found in Jesus; I invite you to come to Jesus to find a life, forgiveness, and salvation.

· Don’t just go halfway with God.

· Don’t look for satisfaction in the world.

· Don’t let your anger control you.