Vengeance and Revenge

Genesis 34, Part 3

Vengeance and Revenge

Introduction:

7084 Front-Page Obituary

President Roosevelt’s favorite story was about the commuter from Westchester Country, a Republican stronghold, who always walked into his station, handed the newsboy a quarter, picked up the New York Herald Tribune, glanced at the front page and then handed it back as he rushed out to catch his train. Finally the newsboy, unable to control his curiosity any longer, asked his customer why he only glanced at the front page.

“I’m interested in the obituary notices,” said the customer.

“But they’re way over on page 24, and you never look at them,” the boy objected.

“Boy,” said the tycoon, “the _____ I’m interested in will be on page one, all right!”

—George E. Allen

Hatred. Anger. Ill will toward another.

They are not only common problems for us today. The who revenge/retaliation mentality is encouraged and praised in todays culture and society.

And this is not the minimize the reality of legitimate hurt. There is plenty of that to go around.

However, as we will see from the remaining story of Genesis 34, when we give vent to the vengeance, revenge, retaliation mentality today, it will come with dire consequences and devastation.

We must learn to trust God with retribution for sins against us.

We can and should call for justice, but revenge and vengeance is not ours to pursue.

Outline:

Big Idea: Vengeance is the Lord’s and we ought to trust Him with it.

1. Vengeance Vs. Justice

2. Vengeance is driven by anger – Vs. 5-7

3. Vengeance is not easily dissuaded – Vs. 8-12

4. Vengeance aims for destruction and evil. – Vs. 13-29

5. Vengeance has ramifications – Vs. 30

6. Vengeance disregards consequences – Vs. 31

7. Vengeance is Gods – Romans 12

Text:

The Defiling of Dinah

34 Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. 2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her. 3 And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. 4 So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this girl for my wife.”

5 Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah. But his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came. 6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. 7 The sons of Jacob had come in from the field as soon as they heard of it, and the men were indignant and very angry, because he had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing must not be done.

8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife. 9 Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves. 10 You shall dwell with us, and the land shall be open to you. Dwell and trade in it, and get property in it.” 11 Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. 12 Ask me for as great a bride-price and gift as you will, and I will give whatever you say to me. Only give me the young woman to be my wife.”

13 The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah. 14 They said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us. 15 Only on this condition will we agree with you—that you will become as we are by every male among you being circumcised. 16 Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to ourselves, and we will dwell with you and become one people. 17 But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter, and we will be gone.”

18 Their words pleased Hamor and Hamor’s son Shechem. 19 And the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. Now he was the most honored of all his father’s house. 20 So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, saying, 21 “These men are at peace with us; let them dwell in the land and trade in it, for behold, the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters as wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22 Only on this condition will the men agree to dwell with us to become one people—when every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised. 23 Will not their livestock, their property and all their beasts be ours? Only let us agree with them, and they will dwell with us.” 24 And all who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.

25 On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed all the males. 26 They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house and went away. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28 They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field. 29 All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and plundered.

30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.” 31 But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?” [1]

Sermon Body:

Big Idea: Vengeance is the Lord’s and we ought to trust him with it.

1. Vengeance Vs. Justice

a. Vengeance

i. Punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense : [2]

ii. — with a vengeance

1. 1 : with great force or vehemence

2. 2 : to an extreme or excessive degree[3]

iii. There is a very real sense in which God will enact vengeance/punishment upon his foes. His is a righteous vengeance.

iv. Typically, as we use it, it is driven by resentment, anger, bitterness, malice.

v. Scripture, however, will at times use this synonymous with Justice and just punishment for wrong doing.

vi. Truth is, that certain crimes do at times warrant extreme responses.

vii. BUT who are we to decide which crimes those are? Who are we to decide what that punishment is?

viii. See, when scripture says Vengeance is the Lord’s, what it means is that only God has the right and authority to issue punishment and consequence.

ix. When we as humans do so, we are only doing so under the direction and provision he has given.

x. Thus, when we enact vengeance, it is typically from a sinful point of view rather than biblical one.

b. Justice

i. jus•tice \ˈjəs-təs\ noun

[Middle English, from Old English & Old French; Old English justice, from Old French justice, from Latin justitia, from justus]

(12th century)

1 a : the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments

b : judge

c : the administration of law; especially : the establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law or equity

2 a : the quality of being just, impartial, or fair

2 b (1) : the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action

(2) : conformity to this principle or ideal : righteousness

c : the quality of conforming to law

3 : conformity to truth, fact, or reason : correctness[4]

ii. Vengeance is rarely if ever impartial. It is personal.

iii. Justice is often personal, but it is driven by a desire to do right, to hold perpetrators appropriately accountable for their actions.

iv. Vengeance (as we use it) is only after inflicting the same level of pain upon the one who hurt us.

2. Vengeance is driven by anger – Vs. 5-7

5 Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah. But his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came. 6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. 7 The sons of Jacob had come in from the field as soon as they heard of it, and the men were indignant and very angry, because he had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing must not be done. [5]

a. Unsure how Jacob heard

i. Public Gossip

ii. Dinah herself

iii. Hamor himself

iv. Messenger

b. Brothers were in field – They were in the field – They were shepherds by trade.

c. Held peace until brothers came in - The blood brothers, by culture, were responsible for the protection and care of younger siblings and females. He held off for them to be a part. Dinah was their blood sister.

d. Jacob held peace – godly or ungodly reaction?

i. Luther and Calvin contend godly

ii. Luther and Calvin explained that his grief was so devastating that he could not share it with anyone until his sons arrived. As for Jacob’s fear of Canaanite reprisals, Calvin contended that Jacob meant only to scare his sons into repentance. Luther maintained that the patriarch was a godly man whose burden was increased by the wickedness of his sons.535

iii. Others a sinful neglect of his duties

iv. Largely silent. Why? Not sure. Let’s consider it from both sides.

1. Godly reaction

a. Patient, forbearing, non reactive response, turn other cheek, refuse to repay evil for evil

b. Grieved and unable

c. Praying over, considering, and working to respond in appropriate fashion.

2. Ungodly reaction

a. Fear

b. Neglect

c. Unwilling to disturb foreign relations

d. Selfish protection of his own safety and security

3. Proponents on both side. I don’t take one. I am not sure.

e. Clearly, there is anger over the sin of Shechem and his abuse of Dinah. This would even be a righteous anger. A wrong was committed.

f. Righteous anger is warranted.

g. Example – Psalm 7

8 The Lord judges the peoples;

judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness

and according to the integrity that is in me.

9 Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end,

and may you establish the righteous—

you who test the minds and hearts,

O righteous God!

10 My shield is with God,

who saves the upright in heart.

11 God is a righteous judge,

and a God who feels indignation every day.

12 If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword;

he has bent and readied his bow;

13 he has prepared for him his deadly weapons,

making his arrows fiery shafts.

14 Behold, the wicked man conceives evil

and is pregnant with mischief

and gives birth to lies.

15 He makes a pit, digging it out,

and falls into the hole that he has made.

16 His mischief returns upon his own head,

and on his own skull his violence descends.

17 I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness,

and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High. [6]

h. Righteous anger is anger over the wickedness and godless actions of men who have rejected God and chosen to do their own thing.

i. God feels indignation everyday at the wicked desires and actions of man.

j. Righteous anger is warranted here.

k. HOWEVER, the danger for anger, righteous or otherwise is that it can morph quickly into unrighteous responses.

l. All vengeance, whether it is a righteous indignation and a cry for justice or a sinful wrath seeking retribution and anger, all vengeance is driven by anger from a wrong committed.

m. Our response will reveal the nature of our heart.

n. Sadly, too much of our responses are sinful in nature.

o. What’s more…

3. Vengeance is not easily dissuaded – Vs. 8-12

8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife. 9 Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves. 10 You shall dwell with us, and the land shall be open to you. Dwell and trade in it, and get property in it.” 11 Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. 12 Ask me for as great a bride-price and gift as you will, and I will give whatever you say to me. Only give me the young woman to be my wife.” [7]

a. Shechem is so infatuated and filled with lust, that not only has he violated her, but now he desires to make her permanently his.

b. He is willing to pay ANY brideprice.

c. FIRST OFF….there is a problem with this request to begin with…..

d. The proposal – intermarry; Problem with intermarriage?

e. See command in Deut 7

7 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and mightier than you, 2 and when the Lord your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. 3 You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, 4 for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly. 5 But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire.

6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt

f. Now, I realize that at this point in history, the command has not yet been given and Jacob and his family not necessarily under this restriction.

g. And yet, look what happens when Esau married pagan women?

h. There is a reason why God later institutes this command and restriction. It is much like what we read in the NT.

i. See NT equivalent – 2 Corinthians 6

The Temple of the Living God

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. (Marriage and best friends) For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

17 Therefore go out from their midst,

and be separate from them, says the Lord,

and touch no unclean thing;

then I will welcome you,

18 and I will be a father to you,

and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

says the Lord Almighty.”

j. Example: Balak, king of Moab hired Balaam to curse Israel. He saw how God gave them victory over other nations and was fearful.

k. Balaam was unable to. Forbade to go, told to go but bore God’s wrath – donkey, told to go but warned only to say what God told him to, attempt one – blessing, second attempt- blessing, third attempt – blessing

l. Balaam was prevented by God from cursing Israel. So what did he do?

m. Numbers 31

31 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people.” 3 So Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian to execute the Lord’s vengeance on Midian. 4 You shall send a thousand from each of the tribes of Israel to the war.” 5 So there were provided, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. 6 And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand from each tribe, together with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand. 7 They warred against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and killed every male. 8 They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. And they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword. 9 And the people of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones, and they took as plunder all their cattle, their flocks, and all their goods. 10 All their cities in the places where they lived, and all their encampments, they burned with fire, 11 and took all the spoil and all the plunder, both of man and of beast. 12 Then they brought the captives and the plunder and the spoil to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the people of Israel, at the camp on the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

13 Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the chiefs of the congregation went to meet them outside the camp. 14 And Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in the war. 15 Moses said to them, “Have you let all the women live? 16 Behold, these, on Balaam’s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the Lord.

n. Revelation 2

To the Church in Pergamum

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

13 “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

o. Balaam, when it was revealed he could not curse Israel gave some advice that caused the nation of Israel to fall into sexual immorality and idolatry. Many scholars and biblical historians believe that the advice was to make friends and intermarry with the nation of Israel. Thus, they compromised their relationship with God and fell away.

p. Balaam was killed for this later.

q. Proposal of intermarriage a legit one? No.

r. Proposal of intermarriage a legit one for us? No.

s. Application:

i. Don’t consider someone for a lifetime mate, helper if they do not share your love for God and repentance from sin.

ii. If you already find yourself in that situation, love God, serve them, pray for them, and seek to reveal the God of glory to them in your daily life.

iii. 1 Peter 3

3 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct.

iv. Goes further – Best friends, Exposure to circumstances and experiences

v. 1 Cor 15:33

33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

vi. The people, places, and things we expose ourselves too WILL affect us. Don’t be dooped into thinking they won’t

t. Action Steps:

i. If you find yourself in a relationship to an unsaved person and are not married yet, break it off, humbly, gently, and explaining why. Pray for their salvation.

ii. If married, remain so, pray, serve, and model Christ like conduct before them.

u. Back to their vengeance…Hamor and Shechem come, after the offense, and seek to make nice and appeal to them for their daughter/sister in marriage.

v. Not only does his dad speak on his behalf, but Shechem himself interjects and pleads for them to concede and surrender Dinah to him.

w. We already understand the lengths that sin will go to in order to satisfy itself…having looked at that at length the past two weeks.

x. Notice, the focus of all his requests…it is solely about himself He has not once considered her or the devastation of what he has done to her.

y. Be warned…sin is NOT your friend.

z. They have the offer on the table to for anything…any bride price and he would likely pay it.

aa. But despite that, the brothers are not dissuaded from their path of vengeance…

13 The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah. 14 They said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us. 15 Only on this condition will we agree with you—that you will become as we are by every male among you being circumcised. 16 Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to ourselves, and we will dwell with you and become one people. 17 But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter, and we will be gone.”

bb. It is not clear yet what their plan is, but it is clear that they have one and that it is NOT to acquiesce to Hamor and Shechem’s request.

cc.They answer deceitfully….

dd. Truth is this…when we are operating out of sinful wrath and vengeance, we will not be easy turned aside from our anger and desire to seek retribution no matter how lucrative the offer.

ee. With a righteous indignation, this is not a bad thing. It will not be a bribed out of righteous justice.

ff. With a sinful anger and vengeful desire, it will not be easily dissuaded from its path of revenge and hate, even if true repentance and sorrow is present.

gg. Beware, when sinful anger latches on…if we have not fostered a humble and contrite heart, we are in great risk of allowing anger to latch on to us and drag us into all manner of wickedness.

hh. Look at what it does for Jacob’s sons….

4. Vengeance aims for destruction and evil. – Vs. 13-29

13 The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah. 14 They said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us. 15 Only on this condition will we agree with you—that you will become as we are by every male among you being circumcised. 16 Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to ourselves, and we will dwell with you and become one people. 17 But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter, and we will be gone.”

18 Their words pleased Hamor and Hamor’s son Shechem. 19 And the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. Now he was the most honored of all his father’s house. 20 So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, saying, 21 “These men are at peace with us; let them dwell in the land and trade in it, for behold, the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters as wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22 Only on this condition will the men agree to dwell with us to become one people—when every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised. 23 Will not their livestock, their property and all their beasts be ours? Only let us agree with them, and they will dwell with us.” 24 And all who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.

25 On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed all the males. 26 They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house and went away. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28 They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field. 29 All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and plundered. [8]

a. Their deceit? Make all the men get circumcised.

b. Painful at any age, but more so when you are an adult.

c. By day three as healing has begun, scabs forming, etc, is when they struck

d. TWO sons, Simeon and Levi went and murdered all the men of the city.

i. Unclear if this was the plan of all the sons all along or just these two

ii. After murdering them all, they plundered the city, taking all it’s wealth, woman, and children…most likely becoming slaves in the houses of Jacob’s children.

e. Vengeance not only took the lives of the one man who was guilty, but of every man and every family in the city paid the cost.

f. Sad reality is, we are living in a day in which we celebrate and praise such vengeful “get even” type of actions.

g. Example – Movie, man cheating on his wife, she finds out, while he is in the shower, pours oil on floor so he falls and hurts himself when he gets out. This action is celebrated.

7081 Return Call At 3 P.M.

A college professor answered his telephone at 3:00 A.M. “This is your neighbor, Mr. Smith,” said the voice. “Your dog is barking and keeping me awake.” The professor thanked him kindly and hung up. The next morning Mr. Smith’s telephone rang at exactly 3 A.M. “This is the professor,” said the caller. “I just wanted you to know that I don’t have a dog!”

—The Bible Friend

h. Example – Serves you right; laughing when bully gets his; etc

i. Entire movies, shows, books are based on the concept of getting even. It forms the basis of our entertainment, amusement, and conversations as a world.

j. Christian standard?

Romans 12

Marks of the True Christian

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

k. Does this negate consequences? No! Can enforce justice and legal consequence but in a spirit of forgiveness, love, gentleness, and humility.

l. Forgive – Matthew 18

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

m. Difficult, yes. Impossible, No.

n. Jacob’s sons allowed flesh to govern their actions. We must be ruled by the Spirit

o. Application

i. Refuse to repay evil for evil, rather return good for evil.

ii. Confess and repent of anger, resentment, bitterness, and ill will towards offenders.

p.

5. Vengeance has ramifications – Vs. 30

30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.”[9]

a. Not only were their actions sinful and destructive to these families, families who did not partake in Shechems sin…but it would have profound and dangerous ramifications for Jacob from surrounding cities and peoples when they see the crime committed against Hamor and his city.

b. And it was a legit fear on Jacob’s part. We will see later in 35:5 that it was only the fear of God falling upon these cities that kept them from attacking Jacob.

c. Sinful vengeance will result in a fallout of destruction because it does not stop to consider or care about the consequences.

d. When rebuked by the father for their extreme and unjust actions, they justify it and disregard the damage as acceptable to regain their sisters honor.

6. Vengeance disregards consequences – Vs. 31

31 But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?” [10]

a. Answer is…no of course not.

b. But does that justify your particular response? No, it does not.

c. Thing is, vengeance does not stop to count to the cost, to calculate the residual damage. It does not care. It is only focused on getting even; on inflicting hurt on the offender.

d. And even if it does stop to count the cost, it does not care.

e. They felt completely justified in their actions because of the sin against their sister.

f. They acted as judge, jury, and executioner.

g. Pain begets pain.

h. Hurt seeks hurt.

i. There is a righteous and just desire for retribution, for vindication…but righteousness waits for God and trust his timing and will.

7. Vengeance is Gods – Romans 12

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. [11]

a. Truth is, we all will be hurt at some point or other right?

b. Our sense of hurt and even justice will cry out for retribution and vindication.

c. Two things to remember….if they are an unbeliever, what is the final result of their sin and rebellion? Hell.

d. Do you think you can improve upon God’s judgment plan for them? Do you really think that what you can do them will be worse than that? No.

e. If they are a believer, the price for their sin has been paid by Jesus’ blood on the cross. Do you think that his blood was not sufficient to cover the cost of their sin against you? Do you think that they still owe you when the ultimate price as been paid? No.

f. You and I cannot improve upon God’s justice plan.

g. This is the promise and truth we have to cling to when we are sinned against.

h. God has it under control. Trust that.

Conclusion:

The reality is, we will all face legitimate hurt, offenses and crimes committed against us.

However, what we must be reminded of, while it is ok to call for justice to be done, it is NOT ok for us to take matters into our own hands and enact our own vengeance.

Big Idea: Vengeance is the Lord’s and we ought to trust Him with it.

1. Vengeance Vs. Justice

2. Vengeance is driven by anger – Vs. 5-7

3. Vengeance is not easily dissuaded – Vs. 8-12

4. Vengeance aims for destruction and evil. – Vs. 13-29

5. Vengeance has ramifications – Vs. 30

6. Vengeance disregards consequences – Vs. 31

7. Vengeance is Gods – Romans 12

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ge 34:1–31). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[2] Merriam-Webster, I. (1996). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary (10th ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.

[3] Merriam-Webster, I. (1996). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary (10th ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.

[4] Merriam-Webster, I. (1996). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary (10th ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.

[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ge 34:5–7). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ps 7:8–17). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ge 34:8–12). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ge 34:13–29). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[9] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ge 34:30). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[10] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ge 34:31). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[11] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 12:19–21). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.