Genesis 34-37
The Ugly Side of Humanity

In Genesis 34, we have the account of the apparent rape, or sexual promiscuity, of Dinah, daughter of Jacob and Leah. Her brothers are so wrought in anger over this they plot revenge not only against the perpetrator, Shechem, the Canaanite prince, but against his whole city. Simeon and Levi entered the city and killed all the males of the city, took all their wealth and even took their children and wives captive. And these were the good guys in a land of wicked people! All of this was done without divine command.

Jacob their father expressed shock at the actions of his sons. They felt justified considering what had happened to their sister. But, in carrying out their justice, they too carried out an evil and wicked action.

The Bible is a remarkably frank and honest book. It does not sugar-coat its players; it does not cover up any misdeeds or acts of horror. Jacob the great patriarch tricked his brother and father (Genesis 27). Judah had sexual relations with his daughter-in-law, who worked to deceive him (Genesis 38). The Levite in Judges 19-a supposed godly man-callously cast out his concubine so wicked men can have their way with her. When they do, he cuts her body into twelve pieces and sends it across the land in outrage, calling the nation to action against such wickedness. Yet, he saw no problem with sending her out in the first place; and he had no problem with the vile butchery of dismembering her body in order to call attention to the perceived wrong done to him.

It also shows us good people who succumb to wickedness. Moses lashed out in anger at the rock and the people (Numbers 20). Gideon made an ephod that lead the Israelites to sin (Judges 8:22-28). David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband murdered (2 Samuel 11). Solomon was lead away from the Lord by multiple wives (1 Kings 11). Peter committed the sin of hypocrisy (Galatians 2).

The point of all this is that mankind-even those who have knowledge of truth and some desire to do right-is prone to sin, and sometimes vile sins. Men have long sought an answer as to why we sin. Most have sought to answer this question by saying we are born sinners and have no choice. Such an answer is not only unscriptural, but in the end removes our responsibility-after all, how can we be held accountable before God for something we have no control over? The simple answer is we sin not because we are born sinners, but because we choose to sin. The temptation is there to lust, to hurt others, to elevate ourselves, to take what isn't ours, and we take advantage of those opportunities and we sin. It is no more complicated than that.

Man, left on his own, will give himself over to sin and will suffer because of sin. The apostle Paul once wrote, "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25). That is why we need a Savior. That is why we need grace. That is why Jesus Christ came. Without Him, our world would be chaos, and our eternal future even worse. God does not overlook sins through Jesus, rather He forgives those who come to Him and shows them a better way. He removes the slavery of sin (Romans 6:17-18).

So, God's potential of grace by Jesus Christ is the divine answer to man's potential to sin. Thanks be to God for such love that sent such a Savior!