Dads, Teach Your Sons to be Men

"Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, 'You have brought trouble on me by making me odious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and my men being few in number, they will gather together against me and attack me and I will be destroyed, I and my household.' But they said, 'Should he treat our sister as a harlot?'" -Genesis 34.30-31

Simeon and Levi return, and their father has some words for them. He is upset because of their actions and the possible ramifications they could have on him. But here's the thing, it's all his fault. Jacob didn't act when he should have, and his sons took action because he wouldn't.

I wonder if Jacob might be feeling guilty. He should have acted and didn't. His sons acted, but not in the way they should have. A city is now dead. And Jacob could have changed all of this, had he simply acted. He's the face of the covenant now. God was with him, and would have been with him as he sought justice, and yet he does nothing.

Abraham took action, he led his men into battle to save Lot. Isaac took action as well, he moved on and kept digging wells. And now when it's Jacob's turn, he is silent and does nothing. But when his sons do something he confronts them. It was his place to act and he doesn't do a thing. They took the wrong course of action, and it's his fault.

Men, it's our place to teach our sons how to be men. It's our place to show them how to control their anger and flee from revenge. It's our place to show them that a man comforts the hurt, and seeks justice for the oppressed. It's our place to show them that a man acts, and show them how to act correctly. When we don't we leave them to figure it out for themselves, and without a man to guide them they most likely don't do things the way a man should.

Men, teach your sons to act and show them how. That way when they do they won't make you odious to the inhabitants of the land. They will know what a man is supposed to do, and they will have the courage to do it because they have watched and learned from you. Teach your sons to be men.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor