Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Review of Genesis 34:1-12

a) Evil had been committed

b) Shechem had raped Dinah

i. He defiled her

ii. He violated her

2. Unfortunately, faith was not exercised by Jacob and his family

a) Jacob met this evil with silence

i. He had no answers

ii. He wasn’t able to speak out against the rulers of the country he was staying in

b) The sons of Jacob met this evil with even more evil

i. They schemed

ii. They felt they were justified to do so (Genesis 34:13, 27, 31)

THE EVIL THAT WAS PERPETRATED BY THE SONS OF JACOB

1. Deception

a) They spoke deceitfully (Genesis 34:13-17)

i. Shechem and Hamor had been genuine

ii. But the sons of Jacob countered with their own offer

iii. To become one people, all male Hivites must first be circumcised

b) The misrepresentation of truth

i. The act of circumcision alone would not make them one people

ii. What was needed to be of the same faith

(1) The Hivites would need to know God first

(2) The Hivites would need to believe in Him

(3) They would need to give up their wrong and idolatrous ways

iii. The sons of Jacob did not share such knowledge with the Hivites

c) Shechem and Hamor being ignorant were deceived (Genesis 34:18-24)

2. Wickedness (Genesis 34:25-29)

a) Their deception was used as a cover

i. They disguised their hatred

ii. They did not make known their wicked intentions

iii. Circumcision was not meant to make them one people but to incapacitate them

b) A premeditated attack

i. They waited till the Hivites were in pain and unable to fight back

ii. Simeon and Levi then slaughtered all the males including Shechem and Hamor

c) The sons of Jacob were also involved in this evil

i. They plundered the city

ii. They enslaved the women and children

THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR EVIL DEEDS

1. Jacob made known to Simeon and Levi the consequences of their evil deeds

2. The consequences (Genesis 34:30)

a) They had troubled their father and their family

i. They didn’t consider how their actions might affect him, their family, their future

ii. They didn’t think how it could impact a small family like their own

b) They had made him obnoxious among the people of the land

c) Jacob feared for his life and the lives of his household

i. The cycle of violence and evil would not stop

ii. Jacob feared the neighbouring nations destroying all of them

CONCLUSION (Ephesians 4:20-24)

1. The old man

a) Our former conduct

b) Corrupt and evil

i. Anger and hatred

ii. Deceit and wickedness

2. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

a) We are a new creation because God works in our lives

b) We become a new man

3. Our challenge

a) Put off the old man

b) Have a renewed mindset to battle and overcome the problem of sin

c) Put on the new man