A Couple of Thoughts

One day Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, went to visit some of the young women who lived in the area.  But when the local prince, Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, saw Dinah, he seized her and raped her.  But then he fell in love with her, and he tried to win her affection with tender words.  He said to his father, Hamor, “Get me this young girl. I want to marry her.” [Genesis 34.1-4]

One thing is for absolutely certain, the Israelites' progression through time was not sterile!  Deception, idol worship, jealousy, drunkenness, and much more are all a part of Israel's story.  Does that speak anything to us today?  Maybe.  Maybe it tells us that our journey with God may not be completely sterile as well.  Perhaps we will experience some of these same things... perhaps we will suffer some of the same consequences...  But WILL WE follow through?

“To what can I [Jesus] compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t mourn.’  For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’  The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’  But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.” [Matthew 11.16-19]

Is Jesus not telling us here that God has attempted to reach us in different ways and still... most reject Him?  Is Jesus perhaps indicating that our methods may not hold the keys to the Kingdom as much as our hearts - our passion?  Obviously, there are many ways and venues to express our relationship with God through Jesus - but the sad truth is that most simply never engage with God utilizing ANY method.  Whether, like Jesus said, we are encouraged to repent and turn from our sinfulness, or we are encouraged to rejoice in unashamed abandon, we embrace neither.  We are simply calloused to a relationship with God.  God help us.

Father, help me to please You whether in repentance or jubilation.  Help me to throw my reservations to the wind and wholeheartedly embrace You and Your Word - whether it convicts me of sin or inspires me to the highest praise.  Show me how to get rid of the callousness of my heart!