January 13, 2026 - Genesis 34-36

The story of the defiling and humiliation of Dinah, the killing of Shechem and Hamor, and the plundering of their city is one of the most sordid in all the Bible, though, there are others.  Here’s the thing, unlike many, the Bible does not try to sugarcoat the human condition.  It does not flinch from telling the truth about sin and its consequences.  Reading some of these terrible stories leads one to conclude that the Bible simply “tells it like it is.”  And if it tells the terrible truth about events such as the one surrounding Dinah surely, then, when the opportunity arises to tell good news, surely, the Scriptures will do so clearly and truthfully.  And so, the good news of redemption continues with the blessing and renaming of Jacob, and the promises made to Abraham remain on track to be fulfilled.  It’s almost as if, always in the darkness of human sin, there is a light shining and leading to life.  The story continues with the deaths of Rebekah and Isaac, the listing of Esau’s descendants, and the dreams of Joseph.  On and on the story pushes ahead.  Many curves and detours.  Many mountain tops and valleys.  But the story moves forward!

O God of Bethel, by whose hand

thy people still are fed,

who through this weary pilgrimage

hast all our fathers led;

Our vows, our prayers, we now present

before thy throne of grace;

God of our fathers, be the God

of their succeeding race.

Through each perplexing path of life

our wandering footsteps guide;

give us each day our daily bread,

and raiment fit provide.

O spread thy covering wings around

till all our wanderings cease,

and at our Father's loved abode

our souls arrive in peace.   --Philip Doddridge (1736)