GOD'S GRACE IS GREATER THAN ANYTHING YOU WILL EVER FACE IN LIFE! (Genesis 34:1-31)
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.
SERMON NOTES:
The Greatness of God’s Grace
Genesis 34:1-31
God’s grace is GREATER than anything you will ever face in life!
Foolish wandering and thoughtless abuse . (1-4)
Calculated, self-serving scheming .(5-24)
Revengeful mass murder, plunder and kidnapping. (25-29)
Fear,selfishness and doubt. (30-31)
Do you truly believe God’s grace is greater than anything you will ever face in life?
How do you need to trust in the sustaining faithfulness and grace of God in your life right now?
study questions:
For the Next Lesson - Genesis 34:1-31
Warning – this passage contains explicit themes and descriptions. As you read this passage consider why would God include this passage in the Bible?
1.Read verses 1-4.Why do you think Dinah went out to see the women of the land? Was this action wise, unwise or neutral? How so? What happened to Dinah?
2.Read verses 5-12.How did each of the following people respond to the rape of Dinah: Jacob, Dinah’s brothers, Hamor, Shechem? How do you feel about the different responses? How can you see the differing values between the people of Israel and the Hivites? How do our values differ from those of our world, and why are they different? How do our differing values affect the way we live in this world?
3.Read verses 13-24.What was the counteroffer from the sons of Jacob to Shechem? Why do you think Jacob did not speak up? How did Hamor and Shechem respond, and what did they do? Were Hamor and Shechem honest in their dealings with Jacob and his sons (see vs. 23)? How can you see our culture in the response of Hamor and Shechem?
4.Read verses 25-31.What did Simeon and Levi do to the Hivites? What was Jacob’s response? What do you think about their actions? How do you think Christians should respond to crimes against a family member like rape? Seek justice, vengeance, retribution or something else? What Bible passages support your conclusion?
5.So what. Why do you think God included this passage in the Bible? What do the deplorable series of events in this passage teach us about how to live-out our walk with God in our world?