Bibledoorajar Observes the Power to Bless

      What did Israel/Jacob see in the future of his second and third born sons? They received the same blessing for the same evil deed. They had been instruments of cruelty. They had wiped out all the men of Shechem in retaliation for the rape of their sister Dinah (Genesis 34:25-29). This did not seem to be that big of a deal at the time. Jacob really said very little about it, but obviously moved by the Spirit, he remembered the event wrapped in its' spiritual significance. I guess it is true that our past can come back to haunt us. Though forgiven, the consequences of behavior live on. And oh, what ramifications it can have!
       It seemed that one of the biggest problems with Simeon and Levi's  behavior had been the degree of their anger. Apparently there is a fierceness of anger than is rooted in self-will rather than in godly, righteous anger. "Be angry and do not sin"(Ephesians 4:26). "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger…be put away from you" "Ephesians 4:31). God's people simply cannot have their way with anger; godliness must be the pursuit at all costs. As a result of the two brothers committing this great sin which stemmed from ungodly anger, they were to be divided in the new nation. This was particularly true of Simeon. His tribe became smaller and smaller and finally became the smallest of all the tribes. For Levi, the prophecy of being divided and scattered became a blessing. Because of demonstrating paramount faithfulness during the golden calf episode (See Exodus 32: 26ff), the tribe was scattered throughout the whole nation of Israel. Their inheritance was the Lord, not land. And from this tribe we see the evolution of Israel's priests living among the people.
     In the sphere of counseling, it is said that people do not improve their lot in life because they do not fix. That is, they refuse to handle their feelings within their families or communities correctly. Perhaps the story of Simeon and Levi helps underscore that observation. Anything need fixing?