14/05/2023 - THE HEVITES LIKED THE PROPOSAL

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And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor’s son.  Genesis 34.18

There were two groups negotiating: one had no fear of God, and this was proven by Shechem’s attitude towards Dinah; the other looked farther ahead, to the end of everything, when God will judge the people. It’s unbelievable that they acted for their sister’s sake, something that could only have the Lord’s guidance. As for the acts toward the Hivites, only the Most High can reveal to us the reasons. To God be the glory!

It was an unforgivable attitude, but Jacob’s sons did it to clean the honor of their sister and their family, heir to the promise. They would decide the future later. However, behind this offer was the end of the Hivite people who lived in that place. The preparation for the coming of the Son of God into the world had ups and downs, pains and struggles. However, anyone listening to the entire story would say that the prince of the regions of darkness was defeated!

This should be our decision in any situation, without seeking or suggesting the death of those who do not follow us on the same path or have done us harm. We know that this is how Jesus guided the disciples in His ministry, which is one of life and not death, telling the disciples who wanted to set fire to the Samaritans who did not receive Him, saying: But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of (Luke 9.55).

We can never pray for God to kill someone who opposes us. In fact, it is the conversion of such a person that we must seek. In its early days, the Church gave a lesson by praying for the persecutor Saul of Tarsus. Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, where he was going through in order to mistreat our brothers: Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9.4). Read the whole chapter!

This is not to judge the sons of Jacob, but rather to say that today the ministry to be announced is one of life. After all, the word Gospel means Good News even to those who persecute or harm us. The glory of God is to see us praying, forgiving and asking for the salvation of those who are under the action of the hellish forces. Now, those who think otherwise must adjust to Christ’s words when He was here. The Lord is the Role Model!

One of Jesus’ great teachings is in the Sermon on the Mount, when he declared: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5.43,44). Anyone who thinks differently from the Lord needs to adjust to His Word and His doings; otherwise, the person is helping the devil, the murderer!

Our word must be good in the eyes of all, religious or not. Then the Lord will be glorified in these lives (Colossians. 4:6). When the lost understand that Jesus took away the sins of mankind on Calvary’s cross and accept Him, they will be saved in the twinkling of an eye and will be able to partake of the Savior’s eternal glory!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares