<p>Article A. God Saves Jacob from Himself!</p><p>Genesis 33:18–34:31 (ESV) </p><p>This mystery of evil is at the heart of today’s text. The main point is that God uses evil to save Jacob from himself. I hope to show you that this is a source of great hope for you and me. </p><p>SECTION 1. THE SITUATION</p><p>33:18-20 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel. </p><p>This paragraph has been carefully crafted to alert the reader that God is fulfilling his promises to Jacob. I want to extract four quick facts designed to convince us that God has been faithful to his promises. </p><p>1st As Jacob was leaving Canaan for Harran God appeared to him in a dream (Gen 28) and promised Jacob a People, a Place, and Protection. Here is how Jacob responded, </p><p>(Genesis 28:20–21) 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, </p><p>Vs 18 notes that Jacob has returned “safely” to Canaan. “Peace” and “safely” are both translations of “salem.” 2nd Gen 33:18 is careful to tell us that Shechem is “in the land of Canaan.” It didn’t say that about Penuel or Succoth. </p><p>3rd Shechem was the first city that Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham, arrived at in Canaan. Therefore, Jacob’s return to Shechem signals his awareness that he is the heir of God’s promises to his grandfather, Abraham. </p><p>4th Jacob signals his confidence in the future of God’s promises by buying land from Shechem’s father, Hamor. </p><p>Only one part of Jacob’s vow remains unfulfilled. Jacob has not yet returned to his father, who lives in Hebron. That is his ultimate destination. </p><p>Show Map</p><p>However, before that can happen Jacob faces a mighty crisis, and that is the subject of this mornings text. </p><p>SECTION 2. THE TEMPTATION</p><p>2.1. The Facts</p><p>Shechem rapes Dinah </p><p>Shechem discovers that he loves Dinah </p><p>Shechem asks his father, Hamor, to approach Dinah’s father, Jacob, for Dinah’s hand in marriage. </p><p>Jacob’s eleven sons learn of Shechem’s defilement of their sister, and they return from the field angry. </p><p>Hamor approaches Jacob, but our hero waffles. He seems passive and indecisive. Jacob disappears from the negotiations and his sons, </p><p>2 of 12 the full brothers of Dinah, take over. Hamor suggests that they intermarry and become one people. </p><p>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.”</p><p>Jacob’s sons respond that they will not intermarry unless the citizens of Shechem become circumcised. </p><p>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.” </p><p>All the while Jacob is in the background observing passively. He does not object. Instead he seems willing to compromise. This is a great sin, and almost destroys the promises of God. </p><p>2.2. The Temptation</p><p>What is the temptation? There have been many warnings against intermarriage with unbelievers in the book of Genesis. Jacob is tempted to forget the threats and promises passed down to him by his grandfather, Abraham. </p><p>Them back on the story of the sons of Shem. Remember, Cain killed Abel and was banished. God started over with Shem. Then </p><p>3 of 12 there were ten generations between Adam’s third son, Shem, and Noah. In the tenth generation the flood came because the sons of God (Shem’s descendants) had intermarried with the “sons of man” (the descendants of Cain). Genesis 6:5 describes the results. </p><p>(Genesis 6:5) "5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."</p><p>Marriage to unbelievers is a disastrous mistake. </p><p>Then, after the flood, Noah emerged from the Ark with his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Noah got drunk. Ham uncovered his father’s nakedness, but Shem covered his father’s nakedness. Therefore, God promised to bless the descendants of Shem (Semites) and he promised to curse the descendants of Ham––the Canaanites. </p><p>Abraham and his family are descended from Shem. The Canaanites are descendants of Ham. That is why Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham, sent his servant on a 500 mile journey to Harran to secure a wife for Isaac from amongst his relatives, the descendants of Shem (Gen 24:3). It is why Isaac and Rebekah sent Jacob away to Harran. He would be safe amongst their extended family, the descendants of Shem. They also expect him to find a wife there. </p><p>(Genesis 27:46–28:2) "Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I loathe my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women like these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?” 1 Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and directed him, “You must not take a wife </p><p>4 of 12 from the Canaanite women. 2 Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother."</p><p>By contrast, the scripture is careful to point out that Ishmael, who will not inherit the promises, married several Canaanite women. And Esau, who will also not inherit the promises, married Canaanite women. Their marriage to Canaanites signaled their unbelief, and that unbelief demonstrated that they were not part of God’s elect. </p><p>In addition, circumcision was a sign of membership in God’s covenant people. Should the Canaanites get circumcised, and Jacob start treating them like members of God’s people, and they intermarry, they become “one people” (Vs 16,22), the religion of the Canaanites (Baal worship) will radically compromise the true religion of Israel. All of God’s promises of a people, a place, and protection will unravel. </p><p>Jacob knows about the perils of intermarriage with the Canaanites. He was raised with it. His parents, Isaac and Rebekah, and his grandfather, Abraham, must have drilled it into him. Now he faces a massive temptation to compromise. Why? </p><p>2.3. Contributing Factors</p><p>1st Presuming on God’s grace. He has sinned repeatedly and God has not abandoned him. In fact, God has blessed him. He has been faithful to his promises. He stole the blessing from his brother and deceived his father and yet God remained faithful. Because he didn’t trust God he put striped and peeled sticks in front of the mating flocks. Because he didn’t trust God he snuck away from Laban with </p><p>5 of 12 the latters daughters and grandchildren, and yet God was faithful. Because he didn’t trust God he shrunk in fear from his brother, Esau, and yet God protected him. And now he probably thinks, I have sinned in the past and yet God has blessed me. I can get away with sin. God will keep forgiving me no matter what I do. </p><p>2nd Prosperity. The temptation takes place at time of prosperity. Jacob has returned to Canaan very rich. He has a large family. He is at peace with his brother, Esau. He is at peace with Laban. God has faithfully protected him. Like King David’s temptation with Bathsheba, his temptation to unbelief occurs when times are good, when he is experiencing great prosperity, when the pressure is off. </p><p>3rd Favoritism. From the beginning Jacob has favored Rachel and her children, Joseph and Benjamin (not yet born). He has treated Leah and her children as second-class citizens. Leah, Simeon, and Reuben are all children of Leah. Is Jacob apathetic about Dinah because she is a daughter of Leah? Do Simeon and Levi take matters into their own hands because they think their father is passive because it is just the daughter of Leah? Probably. </p><p>2.4. Jacob’s response</p><p>Jacob’s response falls into one two categories––complicity or passivity. Both are grievous sins. </p><p>He probably doesn’t respond with knowing complicity. Why? Because he gets very upset with his boys when he discovers what they have done. </p><p>30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the </p><p>6 of 12 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?” </p><p>Therefore, Jacob must have responded to his boys offer to intermarry with passivity. He agreed to intermarry. Given the stakes, given what this would have meant, it is worse than complicity. Jacob comes under the spell of major plague passivity. At the bottom of it all is unbelief. </p><p>Application: Dad’s don’t be passive. Ladies, don’t marry a passive man. Faith inspires action. Unbelief inspires passivity. Faith comes from the knowledge of God’s word. </p><p>2.5. God’s Response. </p><p>The hero of this story is God. In fact, God is the hero of the entire book of Genesis. God has been the Savior, the intervener, the judge, the one who lavishes the undeserving with grace and mercy. He is the God of second chances. </p><p>In this story God uses the sinful acts of Jacob’s sons to save Jacob from his own stupid passivity, a passivity and stupidity motivated by unbelief. </p><p>On the third day after their circumcision, when the men of Shechem are sore and unable to fight, Simeon and Levi, the second and third sons of Israel by Leah, fall upon the town and murder the men in cold blood. The prospects of intermarriage with the Canaanites are over. </p><p>7 of 12 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. </p><p>God has made an unconditional promise to Jacob. He has promised him a people, a place, and protection. He is not going to allow Jacob’s sinful unbelief to wreck his promises. This is grace on a massive scale. Remember, grace is God’s favor shown to those who deserve judgment. Jacob deserves judgment, yet God is at work using the sins of Jacob’s sons to keep Jacob from a disastrous error, one that would short-circuit God’s promises to Jacob. God uses the wickedness of his Simeon and Levi to keep Jacob from intermarrying with the Canaanites. God’s intervention to keep his servants from sin is a biblical theme. </p><p>Genesis 20:6 Then God said to [Abimelech] in the dream, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. </p><p>Proverbs 22:14 The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit; he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it. </p><p>8 of 12 In this story God uses the sins of Jacob’s sons to keep Jacob from a greater sin. Yet God does this without tempting people to sin. </p><p>James 1:13 “Let no one say when he is tempted ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one.”</p><p>God doesn’t always save those he loves from their sin. Think about David, the man after God’s own heart, and Bathsheba. He tends to do so when our sin stands between himself and the fulfillment of his promises. </p><p>However, just because God used the sin of Simeon and Levi for good, does not mean that they get a free pass. They are not innocent. They are culpable. God is not the author of evil. God does not tempt to evil. God’s sovereignty over their sin does not exempt them from reaping what they have sowed. </p><p>Therefore, Simeon and Levi do not escape unscathed. Rather, when it is time to decide through whom the Messiah will come their ruthless cruelty causes God to pass over them. On his deathbed Jacob will call his sons to him and bless them. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, he predicts how they will reap. </p><p>(Genesis 49:5–7) "5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. 6 Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel."</p><p>9 of 12 We are compatibilists. That means we understand that the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man are always compatible. God is always sovereign and man is always responsible. </p><p>God saves Jacob from himself. </p><p>SECTION 3. SO WHAT? </p><p>3.1. Ethical Application</p><p>1st Fear God. Those who believe in God’s threats and promises fear him. They never presume upon his grace. The fear of God is a byproduct of a real, living faith. Those who fear God resist the temptation to compromise God’s will. </p><p>2nd Don’t compromise Biblical Marriage. </p><p>Some of you married unbelievers before you were a Christian. Since then you have converted but your spouse has not. This was no accident. Your marriage was not a sin. You were not a believer when you married. At that time you were equally yoked. God wants you to be thankful.</p><p>However, for those of you that are single Christians, I urge you not to become unequally yoked. It doesn’t matter if your love interest says they are a Christian. Christian is as Christian does. Here is the question: What or who does their life revolve around? Sports, Movies, Career, School, or Christ through the gospel? If you are a female there are additional questions––Is this someone I can follow? Will he provide me with spiritual leadership? Is he a man of integrity? </p><p>10 of 12 If you are a man the question is this––will she let me lead? Am I comfortable leading her? Does she encourage me to lead? Am I willing to lead her? </p><p>Caution: Don’t be too quick to judge this. </p><p>Parents: Start teaching your children how to select a mate at an early age. Your children need your help. (Judy’s Birthday discussion last week). </p><p>3rd Reject Polygamy</p><p>4th Don’t’ give in to favoritism with your children. </p><p>3.2. Theological Application</p><p>God used the sin of Simeon and Levi to save Jacob from a foolish decision. In the same way, God is constantly turning evil and using it for our good. Rom 8:28 reads “for those who love God… all things work together for our good.” </p><p>I will repeat what I have already shared with you many times. It is easy to look at Jacob and say, “I can’t believe God would turn evil and use it to bless someone like Jacob.” However, that thought assumes that you are morally superior to Jacob. But, the truth is this: you and I are no better than Jacob. </p><p>At one time we were all God-haters. </p><p>(John 15:18–19) “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." (vs 25)</p><p>11 of 12 Here is the measure of God’s goodness. He used the world’s hatred of him to actually save us from the effect of our sins, which is his wrath. In their hatred of Jesus the Jews represented us. They expressed their hatred by sending Jesus out to be crucified. But for the grace of God you and I would have been right there participating. </p><p>Yet, God turned their evil intentions and boomeranged them back for their good. God used the sin of the Jews to fulfill his promises that came to them through Abraham and Jacob. Just as Jacob was saved through the sin of his sons, we are saved by the sin of the Jews. </p><p>Yet, as he did with Simeon and Levi, God held the Jews responsible for their sin. </p><p>So, why does this matter to us this morning? To each of us this means great hope. It means that God is actively using your past sins––your fornication, your adultery, your abortions, your divorce, your same-sex-attraction, your academic failure, your business failure––for your good. Such is the measure of his love for you. All of these things he will use for good even as you reap what you sow. </p><p>God saved Jacob from himself. He will also save us from ourselves. It will be easy. It will be messy. He will save us through our sin and failure. But his salvation will be wonderful, and we will spend eternity thanking God for his kindness. Right now God is using the sin of fallen man for good. That is how big our God is. He is infinite in power, might, sovereignty, knowledge, and most importantly. goodness. </p><p>What happened with Jacob foreshadowed what would eventually happen at the cross! </p><p>12 of 12</p>