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Dinah: A Lesson in Satan’s Tactics for Today

Dinah: A Lesson in Satan’s Tactics for Today

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog about the insidiousness of sin that describes how when we are sinned against, a seed of bitterness, resentment, hurt, and anger is planted into our hearts. And how if this seed is not rooted out, then the wrong done to us, or someone we love, can grow in our hearts until we become filled with hate and, ultimately, become like the person who wronged us.

I also pointed out how Satan’s strategy is to inspire unrighteous people to do evil, to do real wrong against innocents, and then inflame the sense of outrage in the innocent and incite them to seek to destroy the evil by using the devil’s methods – to retaliate, to punish, to destroy the one who did wrong.

In another blog, I described how the Old Testament is the story of God’s creation of humankind, humanity’s fall into sin, and God’s promise to send the Messiah, and that essentially all the rest of the OT is focused on God’s agencies working to bring the Messiah to save humanity and Satan working to obstruct God’s plan.

In this blog, I want to show how these truths are revealed in the story of Dinah, the daughter of Leah and Jacob, recorded in Genesis chapter 34, and how the lessons taught in this story have practical application for us today.

Jacob had just returned from Mesopotamia and settled in Canaan near the town of Shechem. His daughter Dinah goes out to visit the young women of the town. Shechem, the crown prince of the region (for whom the town was named), sees Dinah and sexually assaults her. But he is completely infatuated with her and wants to have her for his wife. He seeks to console and comfort Dinah, and she chooses to stay with him in the city after the assault. He then sends his father, the king, to Jacob to negotiate for her hand in marriage. Shechem himself pleads with the family, promising to do whatever they want and pay whatever bride-price they demand to gain their blessing and have Dinah for his wife. Further, Shechem’s father offers to let them live in his territory and to become part of his kingdom.

Dinah’s brothers respond “deceitfully” and tell Shechem that the only way they can allow him to take Dinah as a wife is if all the men in his city are circumcised; they will then grant permission and promise to live in peace. The king and crown prince tell the men of the city what peace-loving and kind men Dinah’s family are, so the men of Shechem agree to be circumcised. Then on the third day, when all the men were incapacitated with pain from their circumcisions, Simeon and Levi, outraged at what happened to their sister, attack and kill all the men in Shechem. They then take all their possessions, flocks, herds, women, and children for their own.

Jacob is alarmed and concerned that their actions will cause the other city-states in the region to join together to attack and destroy his family, so he moves the family away.

Do you see Satan at work here – spreading sinfulness and attempting to destroy the avenue for Messiah? Do you see his strategy of inciting people to try and right a wrong by using evil methods?

Let’s spell it out step by step:

  • Shechem sexually assaults Dinah – evil is done; sin is committed.
  • The sinner, however, doesn’t seek to run from his crime, but seems remorseful and seeks to comfort Dinah. Then he goes to her family, acknowledges his wrong, and seeks to give Dinah station, name, and standing as princess of the region, by making her his wife and paying whatever price her family sets. He is willing to do all in his power to heal the injury he has caused. Dinah seems to be agreeable as she stays with him in the city.
  • The brothers, however, now have the evil seed of resentment planted in their hearts. That seed, unremedied, sprouts and causes them to become incensed, outraged, and offended. They do not forgive, but seek to expunge the evil – and what methods do they use?
    • Deceit (breaking the 9th commandment)
    • Murder (breaking the 6th commandment)
    • Dishonoring their father (breaking the 5th commandment)
    • Using the sign of God’s covenant for evil, thereby taking God’s name in vain (breaking the 3rd commandment)
    • Stealing property (breaking the 8th and 10th commandments)

Think of all the innocents in that city who were harmed by Simeon and Levi as they sought to punish the wrongdoer, to set the wrong right, to exterminate the evil, and to change society so such problems would not happen again.

They did all of this evil in the name of justice. They did evil as a way of dealing with evil. And Satan celebrates because sin spreads – the hearts and minds of Jacob’s sons are damaged, the goodwill toward Jacob and his family is turned to fear, distrust, and perhaps hatred, and innocents, who may have come to know Jacob’s God, are killed. Jacob’s family’s reputation is tarnished – who can trust any agreements with them? – and, thereby, God’s reputation is tarnished. No doubt, Satan will attempt to inspire others in the region to work against Jacob’s family, seeking to destroy the avenue for the Messiah. How many generations of violence with Jacob’s descendants stemmed from this event? Only in heaven will we know the full extent of the damage caused by the actions of Simeon and Levi.

We can never win God’s cause by using Satan’s methods.

Do we see these same strategies being used by Satan throughout human history and today? Satan inspires the unrighteous to do evil, then uses that sin to plant the seeds of resentment and outrage into the hearts of the innocent. The seeds bear the fruit of outrage, fomenting into violence focused upon destroying the evil, punishing the wrongdoer, and changing society.

But it is all a deception – a trick, a ploy, a con – being foisted upon people by the master-deceiver. The lie is so well hidden that those reacting to the initial wrong are just like Simeon and Levi, willing to break every principle of love in order to punish those they see as wrong, all the while claiming they are acting in righteousness. If it were possible, even the very elect of God would be deceived.


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The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

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I’m a native Ghanan, but am currently in France for my master’s degree. Prior to this, during my final years at undergraduate studies in Ghana, I was introduced to your ministry and I’ve been immensely blessed by what you share, especially about the Design and Imposed Laws. God richly bless you for that.

One of the first things I did when I arrived in France was to buy all four of your books. They not only helped me, but those I shared them with. I shared the message with an atheist student and I marveled at how God worked mightily in his life. Today this person shares the Love of God with others and debunks theories of who God is not. I want to share what you present in your “Heavenly Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment” pamphlet, because the message brought rest to my soul and I live today as a healthy person.

God bless you so much and your ministry.

Michael A., Ghana

 

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I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

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I was so blessed by a friend who gave me your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” while I was sitting in church asking God to please help me learn more about Him and help me not to be so confused and scared. That was about 2 years ago. Your books have helped me to love God even more. I’m not confused or scared anymore! I have listened to all of your bible study classes and feel like I know the wonderful people that attend every week. Thank you for all that you’re doing in spreading the true message about God and His law of love. God bless you and your whole class.

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