Bible in a Year, Day 24: Why Revenge Never Heals (Genesis 34)

Today's reading

Today's reading is Genesis 34, the painful account of Dinah and her brothers. Pastor Jack Graham draws us to the end of the chapter, where Jacob confronts his sons and they answer him.

Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me, to make me odious to the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I am few in number. They will gather themselves together against me and strike me, and I will be destroyed, I and my house.” They said, “Should he deal with our sister as with a prostitute?”

(Genesis 34:30-31, WEB)

Reflection

Pastor Jack Graham says plainly that there is "no polished way to tell this story." Dinah was violated by Shechem, and her brothers were enraged. Simeon and Levi then used religion as their weapon, deceived the men of the city, and slaughtered them while they were still in pain from circumcision.

Graham does not wave away the brothers' anger. As he put it, "They had a right to be angry, righteously angry." What Shechem did was clearly evil. The trouble came with what the brothers did next, and Jacob saw it at once: they had brought danger on his whole household.

Graham's verdict on revenge is blunt: "human vengeance never brings healing. It only multiplies the pain." The world says an eye for an eye. Jesus said that when you follow him, you do not repay evil with evil. You love your enemies and go the extra mile. Graham adds that this does not mean we tolerate or accommodate evil.

The difference is in how Jesus' kingdom moves. In Graham's words, "earthly kingdoms rule with force, but God's kingdom, the kingdom of Jesus Christ advances through powerful love." And so, he says, "Our weapons are truth and love and the word of God and the testimony of the gospel."

Simeon and Levi tried to bring justice with the sword. Jesus, centuries later, brought true justice and judgment through the cross. When he was mocked he did not strike back, and when he was beaten he did not retaliate.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.

(Luke 23:34, WEB)

Graham closes with a word for anyone carrying a wound: "If you've been wounded, please know that God knows and God sees you." He offers healing and hope, and the promise that one day God will make all things right and make all things new.

Take it with you

• Is there a wrong done to you, or to someone you love, that you keep answering with anger in your mind? Name it honestly to God.
• Anger at evil can be right. Ask yourself where it is turning into a wish to hurt someone back.
• If you are carrying a wound, remember that God sees you and promises to make all things new.

Prayer

Lord, you see every wrong done in secret and every wound we carry. Thank you that you are not blind to our pain. When anger rises in us, keep us from answering evil with evil. Teach us to trust you with justice, and shape us in the way of Jesus, who forgave from the cross. Heal what has been broken in us, and make us people who live in love. Amen.