Genesis 35:5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

Dinah had just been raped and two of Jacob’s sons had killed all the men in the city where their sister was abused. Jacob chastised his sons because he feared that his entire family would be killed by those seeking revenge for the killing of their loved ones. Jacob worried that the situation was soon going to escalate as the inhabitants of the Promise Land sought eye for an eye revenge.

The fears of Jacob were unjustified. God was with Jacob and God was not going to allow the family of Jacob to be destroyed because his sons defended their sister’s honor. Jacob had lost sight of God’s promises for his life and this is why he allowed worry to enter into his life when God did not want him to worry.

It is easy to take your eyes off of the promises of God. As you focus upon that which God desires you to focus upon, you will fill your mind with thoughts that God never desired you to think about. The longer you mind is not upon the things of God, the more Satan will be able to tempt you into concerning things that are never going to occur.

Jacob had seen God protect him from his brother Esau and from Laban, Jacob did not need to worry about the inhabitance of the Promise Land. God was working on behalf of Jacob and God made sure that those who desired to do harm to Jacob feared the Lord. God worked in their minds and caused Jacob’s enemies to fear that Jacob was stronger than he was.

Throughout scripture we see how God put the fear of the Lord in the enemies of those who served God. When the nation of Israel re-entered the Promise Land, we learn that God the city of Jericho feared God because 40 years earlier he had utterly destroyed the Egyptian army with the Red Sea.

Jesus commanded us in the Sermon on the Mount that we are not to worry. God is our protector and provider. HE does not want us to waste our time thinking about what could go wrong. Instead we need to focus our attention upon the promises of God. As we remember what HE has promised us, we do not need to worry about what may occur. God desires that our focus be on HIM, not on our problems.

If we take the time to add temperance to our life, we will be able to say no to the temptation to start worrying about the things of this world. Worry is a common temptation. However, we can overcome worry by simply saying no and exercising the faith that is necessary so that God can be glorified through your life. It is easy to worry, but you need to exercise self-control so that God might be glorified in your life.

Jacob was worried about what others might do to him so he did not properly protect and defend his daughter. Jacob was worried about what others might do so he chastised his sons for doing what he probably should have done. Jacob did not have to worry because God had already taken care of the problem. God protected Jacob by putting the fear of the Lord in Jacob’s enemies. Jacob had no need to fear and as such, his fears were simply a waste of his time and were a determent to the growth of his faith. Your faith will grow when you allow your focus to be placed upon the promises of God rather than the worries of the world.

Genesis 34:25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.

Shechem had done a great evil when he had raped Dinah. However, this did not justify the actions of Simeon and Levi in killing all the men in the city. Just because Shechem was more honorable than the men of his father’s house, this did not mean that the men in his father’s house had to die for his sin.

Shechem had sinned and it was the duty of the next-of-kin to punish Shechem. However, this does not mean that Levi and Simeon had the right to deceive Shechem and take the lives of all the males in the city. Levi and Simeon had established their own standards. They were upset at what Shechem had done to their sister and they were going to take matters into their own hands.

Technically, this was not a grudge that Levi and Simeon had a right to recompense. It was the duty of their father to seek punishment for the crimes of Shechem. When Jacob accented to the plan to have all the males of the city circumcise themselves, the matter was settled. Levi and Simeon were not responsible for punishing Shechem. Because they did seek to punish Shechem, they ended up doing so in their own strength and many innocent individuals lost their lives.

It is really easy to hold a grudge for someone else. As you stand at the water cooler, you hear some story about how someone has done something wrong. Without questioning the other parties involved, you determine that the first persons story is correct and you allow yourself to give the silent treatment to the offending party. Solomon tells us in Proverbs 18:17 “He that is first in his cause seemeth just; but his neighbor cometh and searcheth him.”

Do not jump to conclusions just because someone has told you something. It is really easy to get caught up in the daily gossip. It is not God’s plan for us to mess with other people’s gossip, instead, God often brings these people into our lives so that we might be able to help them reconcile with those who have wronged them. People have problems, and God desires that we learn to share HIS perfect plan for how they can forgive their adversaries.

Satan loves to get our attention upon the injustices of the world. If we start focusing upon the injustices of the world, we lose sight of God’s perfect plan for our life. Yes a terrible thing happened to the entire family of Jacob when Dinah was raped. However, it was not the perfect plan of God for Levi and Simeon to kill all the living males. Instead, a lesson in forgiveness would have been beneficial.

It is really easy to allow your emotions to get the best of you. Anytime you hear or see of some injustice, stop and think about what God desires you to learn from this lesson. By demonstrating self-control over your emotions, you will be in a better position to share with others the hope that is within you. The temperance of refusing to yield to the temptation of seeking revenge or taking a grudge for another will result in you having a much stronger spiritual life.

Levi and Simeon took matters into their own hands. It is real easy to follow the example of Levi and Simeon. Once a man came to Jesus asking Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him. Jesus refused to take sides in the matter. Jesus demonstrated to us how to respond to those individuals who try to manipulate us into take their side in a matter.

Genesis 34:19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter: and he was more honorable than all the house of his father.

Shechem had just raped Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. After raping Dinah, Shechem desired Dinah so much that he asked Jacob to allow him to marry her. The sons of Jacob told Shechem and his father Hamor that a marriage could not occur because they were uncircumcised. Shechem’s desire for Dinah was so strong that he did not wait to have himself circumcised.

Scripture tells us that Shechem was more honorable than the house of his father. Shechem had just raped a young lady and he is considered more honorable than the house of his father. This indicates that Shechem was raised in an environment where the men did what they wanted when they wanted with the women. Shechem apparently had seen this behavior and he simply was following the example of his father when he raped Dinah.

Shechem had been raised in an environment where women were used for the sexual pleasure that they could give to men. Shechem simply followed the example of mistreating women when he had his way with Dinah. However, something happened after he raped Dinah and Shechem realized that he had gone about his relationship with Dinah all wrong. Shechem was willing to do whatever he could to rectify the damage that he had created.

Just because Shechem had seen the bad example from the house of his father, this does not justify his actions. Shechem was still responsible for what he did. Because Shechem sinned and raped Dinah, it not only ended up costing him his life, but it also ended up costing the lives of all the men in the city. Shechem may have been more honorable then his father, but the consequences of his sin far exceeded anything that he ever imagined.

When we sin, we tend to look at other sinners around us and compare our small sins to their large sins. Because we see that our sins are not as great as those around us, we fail to properly confess our sins before a Holy God. Shechem apparently never was sorry for his sinful behavior, instead, he simply decided to cover his sin by simply buying off Jacob and marrying his daughter.

We will get ourselves into more trouble if we compare our sins to other’s sins. Others are not the standard by which we are to guide our life. Instead, we must compare ourselves with the perfect standard of Jesus. When we compare our sins with Jesus Christ, we will always fall short of the glory of God. When we compare our sins with others, we can always find someone who did something more sinful in our eyes then what we had done. Sin is sin, if we violate HIS perfect standard, we have sinned against God.

While it is easy to compare ourselves with others, we need to exercise self-control and stop comparing ourselves with others and start comparing ourselves with the way God desires us to live. As long as we are focusing upon the world, we will never fully take care of our willful violations of the perfect standards of God. By adding temperance to our life, we can resist the temptation to compare ourselves with others and start properly dealing with our sins.

Shechem sinned when he mishandled Dinah. He may have been more honorable than all his father’s house in that he decided to marry Dinah after he had his way with her. Nonetheless, his good intentions did not end up sparing his life. Shechem chose to sin and that sin ended up costing him his life. The consequences of sin can be great.

Genesis 34:13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:

Shechem saw Dinah and his lust for her was so great that he raped her. Afterwards, Shechem requested Jacob to name a dowry and he would pay it. The sons of Jacob saw the evil that Shechem had committed and they lied to Shechem pretending that everything was ok even though it was not. The sons of Jacob had no intention of letting their sister marry the man who had raped her; they were going to obtain revenge.

We need to remember that vengeance belongs to the Lord. It does not matter what wrong others have done to us, this does not give us the permission to play God and be the judge. Jacob did not have to allow Dinah to marry Shechem; nonetheless, once he decided that a marriage could occur, he needed to keep his word. The problem is that the sons of Jacob did that which is right in their own eyes and they lied to Shechem and then had him killed.

Two wrongs never make a right. The sons of Jacob deceived Shechem into thinking that he was going to be able to marry Dinah. The sin of deceit was being passed down from generation to generation. First Abraham lied when he said Sarah was his sister. Isaac then lied by saying that Rebekah was his sister. Jacob had a long list of lies that he told including telling his father that he was Esau. Now the sons of Jacob were telling Shechem that he could marry their sister if he circumcised himself only to kill him once he was in a position that he could not defend himself.

As long as you are living according to the principles of the world, you will find yourself making your own rules by which you live by. Most people would not condemn the sons of Jacob for deceiving Shechem after he had raped their sister. In fact, most people would justify the actions of Jacob’s sons as reasonable behavior. However, we must remember that our ways are not God’s ways.

God holds you to a higher standard. God expects that your yes be yes and your no be no. As long as you are seeking to be your own judge for your actions, you will find that situational ethics will always dictate that there are times when you can stretch the truth. However, this is not God’s perfect plan and this behavior will never result in God’s best for your life.

When you add temperance to your life, you must say no to the temptation to take matters into your own hands and be your own judge. Instead, you must daily choose to do that which is right and allow your tongue to glorify God by speaking the truth to everyone regardless of what they have done to you.

Bad things do happen to good people. When bad things happen to you, this gives you the opportunity to turn to God and allow HIM to direct your path. God does not make a mistake. Just as God did not make a mistake when HE allowed Joseph to be falsely accused of attempted rape, so likewise, God could have turned the evil of Shechem into something that glorified him. Instead, Jacob’s sons tried to play God and simply made a bigger mess out of things.

It is not always easy to do the right thing. However, before you open your lips and commit yourself to something that you may latter regret, take the time to talk to God and allow HIM to direct your mouth. You will not find yourself in nearly as much trouble if you hold your tongue then if you open your mouth and have to latter retract your words.

Genesis 34:12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.

Shechem had just raped Dinah. Shechem saw what he wanted and he took it. However, once he had exploited Dinah for his own fleshly lusts, he discovered that he was not content and that he desired to have Dinah for his wife. Shechem spoke with his father and with Dinah’s father Jacob and said he was willing to pay any sum in order to obtain Dinah as his wife.

Even though Shechem had defiled Dinah, Shechem understood the value of Dinah. Shechem was not concerned about the price that Jacob would charge him, all he was concerned about was obtaining that which he perceived had great value.

How much more beautiful this story would have been had Shechem only been able to exercise self-control of his lusts. Shechem saw the value in Dinah and he was willing to pay any price that Jacob named so as to obtain the valuable treasure that he discovered.

Husbands need to learn to value their wives as Shechem valued Dinah. Your wife is a valuable treasure and you should be willing to pay any price in order to obtain and keep that valuable gift that God has given unto you. Jesus tells us that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Shechem was willing to give up great treasure so that his heart could be with Dinah.

Men, when was the last time that you gave up your treasure in order to obtain something for your wife. When was the last time you gave up your time so as to do some projects that your wife desired to be done? Yes you could have spent that money on something you enjoyed, but instead, by spending it upon your wife, you demonstrated to your wife your love for her. Rather than spending the weekend watching your favorite team play a game, by giving your time to her, you demonstrated to her just how valuable she was to you.

I Peter 3:7 charges husbands to dwell with their wives according to knowledge, and give honor unto their wives as unto a weaker vessel. Women are similar to valuable china whereas men can be more like Tupperware. If a husband treats his wife as he treats his best friend, he will do great damage to his relationship with his wife. Men are warned in 1 Peter 3:7 that if they do not properly treat their wives the way that God intended, then their prayers will be hindered.

Shechem did not have the greatest start with his relationship with Dinah. However, we see that he was willing to do whatever it took to start repairing the damage that he had caused. He was not going to allow his money to hinder him from doing the right thing.

While you are on this earth, you must be careful that you do not allow the lusts of your flesh to destroy your relationship with your wife. Next to God, your relationship with your wife should be the most important thing to you. You should be willing to pay any price in order to obtain and maintain that relationship. You must be willing to demonstrate self-control so that you can help your wife bloom where she is planted.

The lusts of your flesh will not only trample your relationship with God but also that of your wife. Jesus taught that you can only serve God or money, you cannot serve both. So likewise, you cannot serve both the needs of your wife and yourself, you must choose one. Adding temperance to your life will allow you to prioritize others above your pocketbook.

Genesis 34:2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her and defiled her.

Dinah, the daughter of Jacob was raped by Shechem. Shechem was a ruler and he saw Dinah and he desired her so he simply took what he wanted. Shechem did not exercise any self-control, he simply took what he wanted, when he wanted it regardless of how it would affect those around him.

Shechem appears to be more honorable than David’s son Amnon. Amnon saw his half-sister Tamar and he thought he loved her. Amnon and his friend devised a plan by which Amnon was alone with Tamar and this made it easy for him to rape his half sister. However, once Amnon had fulfilled the lusts of the flesh, he discarded Tamar from his presence as a bone from a piece of chicken that he had just eaten.

After Shechem had fulfilled the lusts of his flesh, Shechem still loved Dinah and he proceeded to ask Jacob to allow him to marry Dinah. Shechem was basically following the faulty premise that it is better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission. How different this story could have turned out had Shechem been willing to control the passions of his flesh while he first went and asked Jacob to allow him to marry his daughter.

It is doubtful that Shechem would have so quickly raped Dinah had he known that the consequence of his action would be that he would lose his own life within a week. Shechem was in the line of succession to be a ruler. Shechem had the ears of the men of the city and he was very persuasive. However, because he allowed the lusts of his flesh to control his decisions, he set himself up so that he lost his kingdom and he lost his life.

Satan is always going to be quick to devise plans whereby you yield to the desires of your flesh. We do not have to yield to the lusts of our flesh but can overcome these temptations by putting the things of God first in our lives. When we add temperance to our lives, we start saying no to the temptations of this world so that we are free to more freely serve God.

Shechem is not the only man in the world who found his demise because he yielded to the sin of sexual immorality. Scripture shows us that the strongest man in the world, Samson, was led to his death by strange women. Scripture shows us that the wisest man in the world, Solomon, was led astray by strange women. Scripture shows us that a man after God’s own heart, David, sinned when he yielded to the temptation of pursuing the lusts of his flesh.

The fire of lust can appear to be rather small, however, if it is fanned, it will quickly destroy more than was ever contemplated. David did not control his sexual appetite and it was not very long after that we see great turmoil in his kingdom because Amnon rapes Tamar and then Absalom kills Amnon. Had David simply demonstrated self-control, he might have spared the turmoil in his own family that appears to be God’s judgment for his sin.

Shechem saw and he took what he wanted. Dinah did not have much choice in this matter; she was simply used for the pleasures of Shechem. Every day, millions of men try to enjoy the pleasures of sin by looking at pornography. They allow their eyes to feast upon that which seems desirable to them without contemplating the damage that is being done to others. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap.