Deception of the worst kind

As I continue through Genesis, I though I would share this episode of Jacob’s sons with everyone. If you are not familiar with it you can find the entire book under Genesis chapter 34. The excerpt that I use just outlines the deception.

Genesis 34: 13-17 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. 15Only on this condition will we agree with you that you will become as we are by every male among you being circumcised. 16Then 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. 17But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter, and we will be gone."

Jacob's sons use the one thing that should never be used to deceive. God's word. Praying the rosary does not make you Catholic, showing up for Church every Sunday does not make you a Christian. These are things that we use as ways to show our faith, there has to be meaning behind them or they are useless. The Covenant of circumcision was a sign of faith. Simply doing it will not bring you in to the grace of God, you had to align your life with the beliefs of the Covenant for it to mean something. To use any sign of God as a way to trick your enemy not only cheapens the worth of the ritual, it undermines the value of God to unbelievers. For us touse God's name in trickery is inferring that God is acheat.

We see this today throughout our faith. People using the word of God to extract money for personal gain is an example that jumps to mind. As a result it makes it harder for honest people of the Lord to be taken seriously. Or people quoting Scripture as a way to incite hate and judgment. What Simeon, and Levi did was no different. How can people of the land (non-believers) take the God of Abraham seriously, if they cannot be sure what is heldout as a Covenant will be honored or not? This is a good example of why it is so important for us to hold true to the teachings of Christ, not because we see an angle to work, but because it bringsGlory and honor to the Lord. Jacob's sons had the opportunity to change the hearts of an entire town, instead they used God to kill them. May we all evaluate our intentions, and make sure that we are advancing the Glory of God, not our pride.

Peace,
Rev. T