07/05/2023 - PASSIONATE REQUEST

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Then Shechem said to her father and her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. Genesis 34.11

After Hamor asked Jacob and his sons to give Dinah as a wife to Shechem, his son, the Hivite prince showed the despair of his heart. He felt that there would be a tragic end for him if he did not convince them that he loved Dinah. Now, those who love do not act like him, but let love, and not passion, solve everything first. Shechem was like Pharaoh who took Sarah to be his wife and was rebuked by God (Genesis 12:10-20). Fear the Lord always!

Hunger cannot be resisted. It was this that motivated Abraham’s descent into Egypt, a country that had the Nile River as a gift. The drought of those days prevented good harvests, leading to a lack of food in Canaan. So, the patriarch headed towards the largest empire in the world, which did not depend on rain, because the river that arises in Lake Victoria, in Northeast Africa, supplied that territory.

Abraham had a covenant with the Lord, so he believed that Pharaoh would not touch Sarah, even though he prepared a celebration to turn her into his wife. She was the wife of a faithful servant and was in communion with Heaven. Before the celebration, the king realized that, ever since he had taken her to the palace, his kingdom had serious problems: But the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. (Genesis 12.17). Shechem, who must have known this story, was alarmed!

In his distress, the prince asked that grace be found in the eyes of the heirs of the promise, and assured that he would pay whatever dowry was determined. In the days of Peter and John, a magician named Simon said that he would give whatever they wanted in order to obtain the power to give the Holy Spirit to whoever he laid hands on: But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money (Acts 8.20). The gifts are non-negotiable!

Shechem would give them whatever they wished, but they could not betray the Almighty by doing the will of the Hivite prince. There are things that the man of God cannot sell, because they are part of the divine plan. The work of the Most High is one of them, as it is in the Bible: For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9.16). [...] freely give. (Matthew 10.8). There is no price for honor!

Those who have the fear of the Lord don’t sell themselves nor sell their blessing, but give themselves to the Almighty willingly. The Israelites could neither compromise nor prevaricate, for they were the chosen and anointed people whom the Lord was molding through them. Woe to anyone who comes in as a sheep and is a ravening wolf. The damage he caused will be asked of him on the Day of Judgment (Matthew 7.21-23). Why give in to the devil? Convert soon and be a blessing!

Shechem’s request would not be granted as he thought. After all, what happened was a sign that the prince didn’t respect anyone and after the embarrassment, he would do something else. It’s sad how some people don’t take care of their own lives or their neighbor’s as they should. Dinah was inexperienced, and he disrespected her naivety. God is justice!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares