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?

Bibledoorajar Looks at Progeny

       "Children are a gift from God, the fruit of the womb is a reward. The children born when one is young, are like arrows in the hand of a warrior. How blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them; he will not have to be embarrassed when contending with foes at the city gate."
  
                                                                                   Psalm 127: 3-5

If the psalmist was correct all those years later, then truly Leah was going to do her part to see that Jacob's quiver was full! Quickly she became pregnant again as her sister Rachel remained barren. The second fruit of her womb she named Simeon, which means hearing. Sure that God was blessing her womb because her husband did not love her, Leah proclaimed His role in the naming of her son. Since Rachel remained barren, Leah felt that Jacob's pride in his sons would soon win him over to her. All this time, Jacob is busy working off a fourteen year debt to Laban for his two wives. In the power of producing two sons, Leah might render Rachel defeated.  But so far Rachel is holding her peace, although surely she is watching all this with a heavy heart. When will she take action? Will her actions be wise? Will it be now, with the score Leah 2, Rachel 0?

"Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him demonstrate it by the good way of life, by actions done in the humility that grows out of wisdom. But if you harbor in your hearts bitter jealousy and selfish ambitions, don't boast and attack the truth with lies. This wisdom is not the kind that comes down from above; on the contrary, it is worldly, not spiritual, demonic. For where there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there will be disharmony and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is, first of all, pure, then peaceful, kind, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. And peacemakers who sow seed in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."

                                                                                                   James 3: 13-18