Verses 21-22: Tame Your Passions, or they will Cost You More Far more than it is Worth
Reuben, despite his faults, was likely an honorable man. Perhaps he allowed the passions of his flesh to overpower him when he slept with his father’s concubine. But he wasn’t entirely bad. There was still some good in him, and he wasn’t without a conscience.
The same could be said for Shechem, the man who violated Dinah. Scripture says he was the most honored of all his father’s family (Gen 34:19). He genuinely loved Dinah but went about it the wrong way. He even tried to make amends by asking for her hand in marriage and offering the Israelites their lands and the possibility of intermarriage with their daughters and sons.
The problem is that the dignity and sanity of a woman cannot be compared to material wealth, affluence, or possessions. These men allowed their passions to burn too deeply, and it cost them far more than they could have ever imagined (Gen 34).
Verses 23-36: We Are Capable of All Manner of Evil When We Descend into Sin
The sons of Jacob had fallen so low that the life of their brother and the joy and peace of their father were worth only 20 shekels of silver. Jacob, their father, most likely lived in perpetual pain and grief, and scriptures say it wasn’t until he saw Joseph again that his spirit revived (Gen 45:27).
But we thank God that what the enemy meant for evil, God turned around for the good of the entire family. God was with Joseph throughout that dark season of his life. He found favor with God, and God prospered everyone Joseph worked for.
It’s truly a blessing that Joseph went to the school of God. Had he been in Canaan, he may have mocked his brothers or rubbed his success in their faces if he had easily risen to become the governor of Egypt. It’s unfortunate that Joseph had to spend 10-13 years in prison, but there’s no rush in the school of God. You move from one level to another—or sometimes stay at one level—for as long as it takes to humble you and prepare you to be a yielded vessel.
Honestly, I believe that by the end of Joseph’s dark years, he had become a fine, gentle, and sensitive man. The same man who once carelessly bragged about his dreams had been so thoroughly schooled by God that he became temperate.
You can see him genuinely concerned about the countenance of his cellmates, no longer wrapped up in himself. (Genesis 40:6)
You can also see that he recognized his gifts, abilities, and calling as coming from God when he was asked to interpret dreams. (Genesis 45:9-11)
At the reunion with his brothers, he had healed so much that he not only ensured they had enough to eat but also brought them to his land, where there was abundant supply.
Personally, I believe that yielding quickly to God’s crushing, His discipline, and having people intercede for you can help you stick to the time God has appointed for you in any given season.
It seems a bit to me like the human school system: you have to pass the promotional exam to move up. So, you could end up spending 7-8 years doing what should take 4-6 years.
In university, you end up with “carry overs” and extra years until you pass the course. In secondary school, though, if you fail one or two subjects but do well in the others, you can still be promoted.
Thank God for this, because…. honestly? I would still be in secondary school, I was terrible at mathematics—let’s not even get started on further mathematics. I mean, I just get slowww.😔
As for Nigerian law school, lawyers can relate to this: if you fail a core subject like legal ethics, you have to retake all your exams. But if you fail any other subject, you only retake the one you failed.
Perhaps it’s the same in God’s school—there are some tests you fail that keep you stuck on one level until you pass!
Parents and Guardians,
Please let’s teach our children what true value and riches are. Let’s teach them the precepts of the Kingdom of God and raise them to be men and women of honor and integrity. Let’s teach them and pray for them to live their lives in the fear and reverence of God.
Let’s teach them to love one another, to look out for one another, and to cheer each other on to achieve great things together.
I believe unity among the sons of Jacob wasn’t entirely lacking; however, their unity was used to achieve evil.
