Hello
As an impulsive person, I understand the premise of ‘Act now; face consequences later’. I’ve learnt however, from sometimes painful experience, that impulsiveness carries a cost. Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to think about the cost.
“Afterward Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have ruined me! You’ve made me stink among all the people of this land—among all the Canaanites and Perizzites. We are so few that they will join forces and crush us. I will be ruined, and my entire household will be wiped out!””
Genesis 34:30 NLT
After the mass murder, the silence. The what ifs, the fear, the impotence.
We don’t know what the relationship was like between Jacob and his boys (except that he was very biased towards Joseph, and that comes later); but we know that he had intended to figure out how to respond with them. Their actions preempted any discussion.
They were nice to Hamor before their father; and then went and committed murder – premeditated murder. Clearly, they thought through the revenge; but it seems obvious that they did not calculate the repercussions. Had it been only the two boys’ actions, Jacob might not have those what if moments. The boys would have been punished (or killed) and they would frame a new normal. But the other brothers exacerbated the situation by plundering the city after the mass murder; and captured the wives and children! (War almost always has that effect on women and children.)
Jacob was at risk of losing almost all of his children! Because I strongly doubt he was going to be welcome anywhere else. And then there was the threat of retaliation. Perhaps those boys didn’t care about the consequences. After living in their grandfather’s space, they might have been hardened. But much of their actions seem to be rooted in impulsiveness and anger. Never a safe combination.
And so I urge us (especially myself) to guard our hearts against anger and bitterness. Before we respond; think, pray, walk away, ask questions … whatever it takes to reduce impulsiveness. Most of all, as we learn from the nougat, let us asked God to empower us so that we do not sin when in the moment. And let’s not go to bed angry – it could cost us our lives.
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
