There is a vast number of characters whom we can choose to side with. Like in Eden, it all started with eyes “lusting” for the forbidden.

We have a curious young woman, interested in the life and customs of the people who did not share the same God, ethnic code, or moral standards as her family.

We have a prince who takes by force what he cannot righteously acquire.

We have two zealots – two brothers – who avenge the rape and mistreatment of their sister. They do this not only through lying, but also by using a sign of the covenant which God made with Abraham, to deceive. They do not honour their father by allowing him to negotiate with the king, but instead they proceed with the negotiations in their own way.

We have those that are easily influenced, those who are persuaded that it is acceptable to loot and rob a community where all the men are brutally murdered after an incident against the zealots’ sister.

We have Israel (Jacob), the image bearer of our Creator, who reacts to all the “criminal” deeds of his sons by saying: You have made me a stench among the inhabitants of the land.

Whom do you back in this chapter?

Like with Abraham and Isaac, we can ask: was Jacob a bad father or not?

Should he have reacted like Shimon and Levi? Securing justice for his daughter?

That would have made him – the image bearer of our Father – a stench amongst the inhabitants, putting our Father’s character in a bad light.

That would have destroyed his household and the plans Father wanted to use to reach the other nations with the reflection of His character.  Jacob’s reaction tells us that he did not merely fear for his life and that of his family, but rather for his purpose. Life without purpose is empty.  Jacob was earmarked to draw the nations to his God, by living out the character of our Creator.

Shimon and Levi’s conduct only distanced them from God and His character.

Our Creator is a God who is slow to anger, and rich in love. Great in mercy and in grace.

I ask again, whom do you back in this chapter?

The curious: Interested in the ungodly practices of other peoples? Later in Scripture we are warned over and over again, not to do or live like other nations. (Deut 18:9-14, Joshua 23:7)

The zealots: Cheering on Shimon and Levi. They want revenge and will twist the truth of our Father in order to do so. No listening to their father and leader. Can you associate their reaction with the oh so familiar quote from John Stuart Mills in 1867? The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Sometimes the actions of good men can land them in the camp of the lawless ones.

Can Shimon and Levi be compared to Pinchas? I do not think so. Pinchas did not avenge his family member. He was protecting the camp from the wrath of God, the wrath they deserved for their compromises, idolatry, and adultery.

The easily influenced: Sin is like a pandemic; one sick person can contaminate a whole community. A sick prince with a selfish nature caused the zealots to react, and their actions caused the other brothers to turn into looters and kidnappers. All they needed to hear was that the people from Shechem all knew what happened, but still did nothing to help Dinah.

I can see myself in every single one of these groups during some specific time in my life and on my spiritual journey. Unfortunately, these conducts, even if they felt right and good at the time, do not bring honour to His Name.

Bringing honour to His Name is our purpose.

However, there is always hope and encouragement for us penned down in Scripture, and I found it in 1 Kings 7:45-46. Here we have a description of the copper vessels made for the temple.

They were made near Sukkoth, where the camp of Jacob was during the incident in Gen 34. How it was made was what caused me to pause and stand in amazement.

The shapes of the vessels were dug into the soil to form moulds. Copper was melted and poured into those moulds to form the copper basin and other copper utensils used in the outer court of the Temple.

The copper basin is the first object  we encounter when we enter the Temple with a longing to draw near to our Father.  This is where we wash ourselves after laying down our sins and returning to His ways, after a time of being purified by fire from the throne of our loving Creator.

The copper basin was moulded in the soil. This took me back to Eden where mankind was formed from the soil.

Father is telling us that there is a reset button. We do not need to lose hope, even when we fail. There is always a way back to Eden, a way back to His presence.

Even when you stray to that which is not suitable for His children, taking what is not yours, twisting His Word to fuel your zealotry, influence to steal, kidnap and become cruel… There is always a way back to His presence. He has made a way, even before He created man.

All we have to do is put down our sinful nature, be purified by His Word as led by the Spirit, draw near to Him in reconciliation and become His image bearers to the nations around us. All for the glory of His Name!