(Genesis) Genesis 34:31
The sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting God's plan and not taking revenge, as seen in Romans 12.
In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of following the teachings of Romans 12 for Christians today. He explains that seeking revenge or taking vengeance goes against walking by faith and trusting God to handle situations. The preacher acknowledges that the actions of Jacob's sons in the Bible story were unjustifiable, as they did not adhere to the principles outlined in Romans 12. He suggests that instead of resorting to murder, the brothers should have allowed their sister to marry the offender, even though it may not have been the ideal solution. The preacher concludes by stating that there is no excuse or justification for the actions of Jacob's sons.
Full Transcript
And then these boys, of course, attempt to defend themselves and they said, should he deal with our sister as with a harlot? Well, it's a good question. And I would say that if they wanted to take the judgment in their own hands, they first of all should have heard this boy out and let him marry their sister. It wouldn't be the right thing to do in the sense that it would be the best thing to do under the circumstances.
But it's not the right thing by any means, but it's the only thing to do under the circumstances. And certainly that would have been better than to go to the extreme of murdering, and that's what it amounted to, the inhabitants of that land. And friends, there's no excuse that can be offered, and I hope no one's attempting to justify these men.
I certainly am not. I have no defense to offer for them at all. They should not have done the thing that they did here.
But we must understand that they are not living in the light of Romans 12. And Romans 12, beginning at verse 19, says, Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath. For it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him. If he thirst, give him drink. For in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Now, the whole thing boils down to this particular thing here. And that is, for a Christian today, Romans 12 is the policy that we should follow.
The very minute we attempt to take revenge or get vengeance today, it means we're no longer walking by faith. We're saying we can't trust God to work this out. But very candidly, I'm not sure that you could bring these boys and certainly Jacob up to that level at this particular time.
But you cannot justify this terrible deed that they have committed here. And you can well understand that they're acting because of their feeling for their sister and the shame that it brought upon the family. So you see that this boy Jacob now is beginning to see that a whole lot of chickens come home to roost, not just a few.
Sermon Outline
- The Situation
- The Wrong Approach
- The Right Approach
- The Lesson for Christians Today
- Walking by faith and trusting God's plan
- Not taking revenge or seeking vengeance
Key Quotes
“But it's not the right thing by any means, but it's the only thing to do under the circumstances.” — J. Vernon McGee
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” — J. Vernon McGee
“For in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.” — J. Vernon McGee
Application Points
- As Christians, we should trust God's plan and not take revenge, even when faced with difficult situations.
- Walking by faith means trusting God to work things out, rather than trying to take matters into our own hands.
- Giving place to wrath and trusting God is the key principle in Romans 12.