Favorite Biblical Story - 2007-01-17 10:04
I re-read one of my favorite Biblical stories last night. Most of you might think it was Jesus’ birth, or perhaps his resurrection. Maybe I really like the story of Noah. Does Daniel’s story inspire me?
Yes, I like all of those stories, and many of them mean more to me and my eternal life. But I think my favorite story (because it is something I would have liked to have done) comes in Genesis 32.
Not familiar with Genesis 34? You should go read it, but let me give you a little run down. There was a guy (let’s call him Shechem – since that was his name) who saw a girl named Dinah and found her quite attractive. Instead of going the normal route of courting a girl (or perhaps in that time contacting her family and getting a marriage arranged), he “violated her” (can that be read as “raped her”?). The account said that he loved her and wanted her to be his wife. He told his father as much. So Hamor (Shechem’s dad) contacted Jacob (Dinah’s dad) and wanted to arrange the marriage. Dinah’s brothers weren’t too happy about the situation (as you can imagine brothers wouldn’t be). Hamor said he would pay whatever price would be asked for her in marriage. The brothers responded with a great proposal (in my eyes – remember, I’m a sinner)...
Circumcise yourselves and all your males.
Ex-squeeze me?
I’m not sure if you realize what that means. I know I don’t.
SIDENOTE: One of my wife’s students was circumcised at the age of eleven because his mom didn’t trust his doctor when he was born. The reason? He had six fingers on one hand. Ummm isn’t there another doctor around with the correct amount of digits? Anyway, he walked around pulling the the crotch of his pants to keep it from rubbing the aforementioned area. Poor kid.
Hamor agrees and has everyone circumcised. After they are all circumcised and are resting (if one could rest after that), Simeon and Levi (Dinah’s brothers) go through the city and kill all of the men. Sweet revenge.
If that isn’t the worst last 3 days of a person’s life, I’m not sure what is. I just hope my last 3 days are better. I suppose they can’t get much worse.