Genesis 34
At Shechem Jacob’s daughter Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land. Jacob knew the people were very wicked; also that his father and grandfather kept away from them. But if Jacob had a house and a field, no wonder his daughter made friends with the people about. “The friendship of the world is enmity with God; whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:44Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)).
The ruler of Shechem was Hamor, and his son was Shechem. When Shechem saw Dinah he said to his father, “Get me this damsel to wife.” So Hamor asked Jacob. Jacob and his sons all knew they should not agree, but they spoke deceitfully. Hamor also promised to give Jacob many things, and suggested they might be one people and live in the land and trade, and marry together. Just like the world of today; they want Christians to be one with them—no difference. O Christians, be careful! The Lord says, “Come out from among them and be ye separate” (2 Cor. 6:1717Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (2 Corinthians 6:17)). The world says, “We may be one.” The Lord says, “Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Tim. 2:1919Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)).
Jacob’s sons said, “We will dwell with you, and we will become one,” if they would all be circumcised. Then they would live and trade with them. If not, they must take back their sister. Hamor and Shechem agreed, and they urged all the men of that land to be circumcised. On the third day, when they were all sore, Jacob’s two sons, Levi and Simeon, came upon the city boldly, and killed all the men, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house. They also took all the sheep, cattle, asses, and everything in the city and in the field, all their money, their children and wives, even all that was in the house.
How sad was the end of Jacob’s effort to make friends with the world! Many years later, at the end of his life, he was still sorry. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1 John 2:15-1715Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:15‑17)).