TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE THINGS RIGHT

PROCLAMATION

“And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully … because he had defiled Dinah their sister …”  Genesis 34:13 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In chapter thirty-four of The Bible Book of Genesis, Dinah, Jacob’s daughter by Leah, went out to visit the women of the land.  When Shechem, son of Hamor the Hivite and prince of the country, saw her and he took her and raped her.  He wanted her for his wife and told his father to get her for him. (Genesis 34:1-4)  When Jacob heard what had happened to Dinah, he did nothing.  When his sons found out what happened, they were shocked and furious. (Genesis 34:4-7)  Soon afterwards, Hamor and Shechem met with Jacob and his sons to ask for Dinah to be Shechem’s wife.  Jacob’s sons told them that they could not give their sister to a man who was not circumcised. (Genesis 34:8-14)  They agreed that if all the males would get circumcised, then they could intermarry and become one people.  Days after all the men were circumcised, Jacob’s sons Simon and Levi took their swords and killed Hamon, and his son Shechem, and all the men while they were in pain recovering from being circumcised.  Then they took Dinah out of Shechem’s house and left. (Genesis 34:15-26)  The other sons of Jacob went to the city where the men had been killed and looted it, taking all the flocks, and herds, and donkeys, all of their wealth, and their women and children.  Jacob was not pleased with his sons’ behavior but they had no regrets for their actions. (Genesis 34:27-31)

 

APPLICATION

Taking something that we like because we want it is not right.  Being intentionally deceitful in our conversation is not right.  Taking our revenge out on someone is not right.  Stealing, lust, rape, fornication, lies and deceit, revenge and vengeance are all sins.  Just because someone does us wrong does not make it okay for us to pay them back.  “… For it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ saith The Lord.” (Romans 12:19)  As the old saying goes, “Two wrongs do not make a right.”  Planning to deceive or intentionally misleading someone is never a good thing.  “Oh what tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” (Author Unknown) Even if no lie is told, God knows our heart and our intentions, and we can sin with our thoughts.  “… Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28)  “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he …” (Proverbs 23:7)