12/05/2023 - WE WILL BECOME ONE PEOPLE

• 
• 
• 
• 

Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to us; and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. Genesis 34.16

That was all Shechem wanted: to have Dinah and Jacob’s family at his feet. Next would come the demands of the Hivites. Jacob’s son Joseph pleased Pharaoh by his wisdom and anointing regarding the famine that would ravage Egypt (Genesis 41:27,28). Hamor and Shechem were surprised, for everything was going just as they had planned. In a short time, they would enslave Jacob and his children. Complete delusion!

The plan was in full swing, so the Hivites could not even think about what they would soon see. There was only one problem, but if everyone went through the circumcision, their proposal would be accepted. Now, the circumcision of the Hebrews was a divine commandment and an outward sign of something important done within the Jews, and it certainly wouldn’t do to fix Shechem’s conscience by marrying Dinah. Something serious was going to happen!

It seemed that everything was falling into place. If the other Hivite men agreed to circumcision, after each one was healed, they would have the celebration. However, would the Lord allow this, or would He prevent His people from mixing with people who had lost the fear of God? The tragedy of the Flood had already been erased from their minds, so they all went back to sin as it was before the worldwide flood, when eight lives were saved (1 Peter 3.20).

One thing is clear in all the history of the world: people are quick to forget the pain they felt due to a serious fact that caused the death of mankind – except Noah, his wife, three sons and their wives. They did not learn their lesson from their parents. After all, all mankind came from Noah’s three sons, who no doubt talked about this with their descendants. Today, no one is preparing for Jesus’ return. And what will they do?

In those days, the talk among the Hivites was the blessing coming from the sons of Jacob: to be part of the people of Israel. There was no lack of plans for the mixture that would take place and that promised much. Would God do nothing for His plan of redemption of man to continue, or would it not work out? It was only a matter of time, and the true reason for the offer made by Jacob’s family, which pleased Shechem and his father so much, would be revealed!

Everything seemed fine, but as the Scriptures say, the answer has to come from the Lord. Man makes plans, uses his money, and prepares in every way, but the best happens when he lets God act (Proverbs 16.1). Because of one woman, the entire male population of that place would suffer the pain of circumcision, but how important was Jacob’s daughter for her to suffer all the pain of being raped? They agreed to be circumcised out of love for Shechem, but they didn’t know what awaited them.

The idea of Jacob’s sons made the Hivites smile, because the Hebrews would give their daughters, and they would give theirs in return; so all the families would benefit. The Lord declares: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29.11). Jacob knew what God was thinking!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares