When God Is Left Out [Genesis 34]


1Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the daughters of the land.

 2When Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force.

25Now it came about on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, each took his sword and came upon the city unawares, and killed every male.

 26They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem's house, and went forth.

 27Jacob's sons came upon the slain and looted the city, because they had defiled their sister.



Life in the godless lane hasn't changed very much. When God is not the focus, women can get raped just like Dinah did. When a sister or daughter gets hurt, anger and unforgiveness can turn to murder when God is not the center. It is still that way all these many years later. A focus on God changes everything. When people take their issues and problems to God His solutions will bring about forgiveness and a chance for reconciliation whether the problems are big or small.

Thank you, God, that you are always available to give us a better way out of our difficult situations in our difficult world. Cause us to run to you and not be driven by our feelings. Cause us to keep you as our center.

Beth Warlick, 1/27/2010