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January 18, Day 18 – Negotiations with Canaanites?

Writer's picture: Dr. Eric StrickerDr. Eric Stricker

"The Confrontation of the Cross" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Oil on Panel under Glass
"The Confrontation of the Cross" © by Terri L. Stricker - Original Oil on Panel under Glass

Our readings for today contain much truth for us to ponder and consider. Yesterday, Proverbs reminded us [1] to seek wisdom by searching for it like we might search for silver or for hidden treasure, and [2] to recognize that its source is the LORD. Today, Jesus warns us not to allow our hearts to become calloused – lest we close our eyes and ears to the truth. Indeed, we are fortunate to see and hear what many have historically longed to see and hear, but our good fortune comes with great responsibility, which we dare not ignore and for which God will hold us accountable.


In Genesis 34-35, we see foolishness and rash behavior by the children of Jacob. In 34:1, we read that Dinah, the daughter of Leah, “went out to visit the women of the land.” What was the purpose of her visit? We are not told, but from everything we have learned about the land in our previous readings of Genesis, we conclude that such a visit by a single girl alone was dangerous. No sooner does Dinah leave home than “Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite “sees her, takes her, and violates her” (verse 2). These same verbs parallel Eve’s sinful actions in the Garden of Eden (cf., Genesis 3:6). Hearing this, Jacob “kept quiet about it until his sons came home” (verse 5). Where was Jacob’s outrage? Instead, we see this family entering into marriage negotiations with Canaanites – something against which Isaac specifically warned Jacob. Hamor’s position is, “intermarry with us” (cf., verses 8-12). The world is always interested in candy-coating spirituality with its evil desires to look, taste, smell, feel, and appear more attractive than it really is. The world is actually a Canaanite cesspool, and no matter how much anyone attempts to cover it over with perfume, it still stinks. In the end, its sewage is still putrid. Now Jacob’s sons will follow in his path by replying “deceitfully” to Shechem (verse 13). Unfortunately, fighting deceit with deceit leads only to greater deceit. They should have stated the truth – Shechem raped Dinah, and he should face punishment for his action. This whole chapter relates an embarrassing departure from God’s desired best for us. It is always the better part of wisdom for us to maintain a position of separation from the things of the world, the thorns of which threaten to choke the spiritual life out of us. In chapter 35, we see God renew His covenant promises to Jacob and rename him “Israel” a second time (cf., Genesis 32:28 and 35:10). The chapter concludes with the deaths of Rachel and then Isaac.

In Psalm 10, the writer clarifies for us certain truths about wicked people so we can recognize and identify them when we come into their presence. They are “arrogant, they victimize the weak, they boast and revile the LORD; they are proud, and they lie and reject the truth and the laws of God” (verses 1:11). In addition, Psalm 10 reminds us that the LORD is King forever. He “defends orphans and the oppressed so that man will no longer terrify” the earth (verses 10-18). God promises to take up vengeance for His people.


In Matthew 12:46–13:17, Jesus begins by identifying for us the true members of His family. He doesn’t deny His birth mother or brothers, but He adds that the real members of His family are those “who do the will of His Father in heaven” (verse 49). This is a classic illustration of what Jesus meant when He stated that “new wine” does not belong in “old wineskins” (cf., Matthew 9:15). He came to establish new relationships. In chapter 13, Jesus begins to teach in parables. A parable is a didactic story that projects one thing by the side of another for comparison or contrast. In Scripture, parables are always occasioned by some inattention or inflexibility on the part of the hearers. This indicates that Jesus understood the precise need for His hearers to hearken to what He was teaching; Christ’s teachings addressed the exact needs of his hearers, even when they were completely unaware of their own needs. We notice that He spoke in parables because “though seeing, they do not see, and though hearing, they do not hear or understand” (verse 13). Jesus began with the parable of the Sower. Its purpose is to communicate that the kingdom of God does not appear the way that the Jews (or we) would expect. It does not come in with pomp and power; it comes in by the Word of God. May God grant us the capacity to follow the truths outlined in His Word!

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