Love across cultures
Love across cultures can end in tragedy. There are those who overcome prejudice and thankfully, we are a long way passed mixed race bias in society. But so often misunderstanding, prejudice, and revenge bear the fruits of death and destruction. Romeo and Juliet is a timeless theme and we see the original story of love across cultures ending in despair and death here. Culture clash arises in Jacob’s sphere, over a daughter and her rape.
Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story
How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.
Genesis 34:14-19
“Ask me ever so much dowry and gift, and I will give according to what you say to me; but give me the young woman as a wife.”
“But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, and spoke deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister. And they said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us. But on this condition we will consent to you: If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised, hen 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. But if you will not heed us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and be gone.
“And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem, Hamor’s son. So the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. He was more honourable than all the household of his father.”
Dinah was raped
In this story we hear nothing of Dinah’s thoughts towards Shechem, the one who claims to love her, the one who raped her. We do know how her brothers felt and it is likely she felt the same.
But Shecham came from another world entirely. From the Hebrew perspective, He didn’t know love and respect toward a female. He didn’t know GOD. He knew lust and overtaking.
The story is tragic because this is before an age of forgiveness. And it is tragic because, I believe, Shechem, in the way he understood love, did love Dinah. And it is tragic because we can foresee the death and destruction that will be borne out inevitably, because of one word: “deceitfully”. The brothers spoke deceitfully… and so we can guess what is to come….
When deceit is used, it is not a tactic that pleases the LORD. The end does not justify the means. Deceit is cowardly, deceit is wrong.
According to Google, “Deceit is the act or practice of intentionally misleading, lying, or hiding the truth to cause someone to accept what is false as true. It involved dishonesty, trickery, or misrepresentation often for personal gain.”
On the last phrase is what the judgement hinges upon: “misrepresentation often for personal gain.”
There are times throughout Biblical history, and history itself, where deceit leads to safety: Rahab protects the Hebrews from abduction; Christians hide Jews in attics from the Nazis. Not all deceit is wrong, categorically.
In this instance, is revenge right and deceit right to ensure it is fulfilled? Let’s see what comes after the circumcision before we draw any conclusions…