The Third Day

An Expensive Delay Led to a Third day of Death

“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” (Genesis 34:25).

 

Jacob should have continued to Bethel. God instructed him to return to the place where he first met the Lord. But instead Jacob bought a parcel of land, pitched his tent, built a house and dallying in Succoth and buying more time in Shechem.

 

Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom and lost his daughters (Genesis 19:30ff), and Jacob moved too close to Shechem and lost Dinah. Jacob was not in a hurry to get back to where he first met God.

 

Jacob’s delay in obedience to the revealed will of God indirectly brought heartache to the family. Jacob’s granddaughter Dinah was raped and his two sons became murderers because Jacob tarried. When we fail to comply fully to God’s will we place ourselves and our loved ones in danger. Delay led to defilement to deception to disgrace.

 

Don’t settle “twenty miles short of Bethel” in willful, halfway obedience. We can build our altars to God and it will not “alter” your life. Disobedience never makes up for whatever sacrifices you may give. Morally weak, still deceiving, the old nature lingers in us and we must reckon ourselves dead in Christ everyday. Pay the high cost of right actions before God. The welfare of your life and your children matter.

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