Honor, Honesty, Respect

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

HONOR HONESTY RESPECT

Gen 34:1-12

34:1 Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land. 2 When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and violated her. 3 His heart was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke tenderly to her. 4 And Shechem said to his father Hamor, "Get me this girl as my wife." 5 When Jacob heard that his daughter Dinah had been defiled, his sons were in the fields with his livestock; so he kept quiet about it until they came home. 6 Then Shechem's father Hamor went out to talk with Jacob. 7 Now Jacob's sons had come in from the fields as soon as they heard what had happened. They were filled with grief and fury, because Shechem had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter — a thing that should not be done. 8 But Hamor said to them, "My son Shechem has his heart set on your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife. 9 Intermarry with us; give us your daughters and take our daughters for yourselves. 10 You can settle among us; the land is open to you. Live in it, trade in it, and acquire property in it." 11 Then Shechem said to Dinah's father and brothers, "Let me find favor in your eyes, and I will give you whatever you ask. 12 Make the price for the bride and the gift I am to bring as great as you like, and I'll pay whatever you ask me. Only give me the girl as my wife."

NIV

How can a man violate a woman and then have his heart drawn to her and ask for her to become his wife? Did not the act itself make them one? But this was not how he sought Dinah as his bride. Jacob was not pleased; his sons were even more displeased with Shechem's disgraceful act with their sister. Now Shechem offered whatever they asked in exchange for permission to take Dinah as a wife. We know the cost will come later; for now, what can we learn? First, to live honorably, without offending others. Shechem did something dishonest, which went against God's principles. Jacob agreed to work for fourteen years to have his bride, but he got two, because Laban was not an honorable man. God has shown us through the lives of these men over the years: Adam, Cain, and Abel; Enoch, who walked with God and was no more; Noah; Abram, whom God changed his name to Abraham; and Isaac, for whom God provided a ram in the thicket; and Jacob, whom God named Israel and made the father of the twelve tribes. None of these men was perfect; many had flaws, but they worshipped the one true God. They encountered God or the LORD's angels. This truth shows that we should live humbly before God, living upright, honest lives among men. Jacob and his sons wanted to honor their sister and give her the respect she deserved, but Shechem did not; he disrespected her and her family. Let us make every effort to live in peace, to live an honorable life, even among those who do dishonorable and dishonest things. Shechem made a foolish mistake by telling Jacob and his sons he would pay whatever they asked, even though it would cost him his life. Let us live in a way worthy of the life Jesus gave us. Let us live with honor, honesty, and respect.