In Genesis 34 we see clearly how lust works and what its effects. Because of lust, all the men in one city died on the same day. That is why let us learn more about lust from the Bible so that we do not fall in it.
There are some principles of truth about lust that we can learn about lust in this passage, namely:
1. Lust only births lust.
Lust will not give birth to anything good. Lust will only give birth to another lust. That’s why you should never start something or build something with lust because it will end tragically.
The story began with the rise of sexual lust from a man named Shechem, son of Hamor, the king of Shechem, when he saw Dinah, Jacob’s daughter. Perhaps because he was the son of a king, he felt that he had the power to vent his lust. He immediately did it by raping Dinah (verse 2).
“And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.”
After raping Dinah, she fell in love with Dinah and wanted to make her his wife. So Shechem began his love story with lust and want to build a family from there.
How many people who start a romance or build a family with lust? No wonder their family’s life ended tragically, far from happiness.
After Dinah’s brothers knew that her sister had been raped, they became bitter and started showing lust for revenge (verse 7). So the lust of Shechem raised the thirst for revenge from Dinah’s family.
Then from both of these lusts, there were other lusts on both sides that emerged, namely the desire to have another man’s possessions (verse 23 and verse 25-29). So lust was reciprocated by lust.
There are at least three types of lust that are very dangerous and needs to be watched, namely;
- Lust of sexual desire.
- Lust of revenge/anger/killing.
- Lust of wanting to possess wealth quickly (want to be rich quickly).
These are the three kinds of lusts that occur most frequently and destroy human life, including Christians. We should be aware of all these three lusts. Do not let them emerge and control our lives.
If lust reciprocates with lust, if lust gives birth to lust, then the waves will become increasingly big and dangerous. In this passage, the end result was all men in Shechem City were killed. This initially started by the lust of a man in that city. Tragic!
2. Lust often creates brilliant ideas, but do not ever be fooled by it.
Shechem had a lust to Dina, then came a brilliant idea to have sex with her, then expressed his love and proposed to her. Since she had been tainted, it was most likely Dinah and her family would accept his proposal. To avoid getting embarrassed to people, it’s better to marry to cover the disgrace … That is what most people thought.
Dinah’s Brothers were hurt upon hearing Dinah was raped, then wanted to take revenge, but did not know how. Suddenly a brilliant idea emerged when Shechem’s father proposed to Dinah’s family. They gave a requirement, namely: all males must be circumcised because that is the law of God (spiritual reason).
When they experience pain after the circumcision, the sons of Jacob went to kill them all. So the thirst for revenge and lust for Shechem’s possessions were quenched immediately.
Lust often creates a brilliant idea, but do not ever be fooled by it. Brilliant ideas that emerged are not from God but from lust. And if the idea comes from lust, it can lead us into sin and end in death.
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:14-15).
“This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:15-17).
3. Lust often kills our common sense.
Shechem was very aroused when he saw Dinah and forgot about everything so he raped her even though he was a prince. As a prince, most women would like him and most likely his marriage proposal will be accepted by their family. But lust has turned off his senses. His common sense did not work. He forgot that he was a prince.
Upon hearing Dinah was raped, the children of Jacob were hurt and they killed all the men there, even though they were outnumbered.
“And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house” (verse 30).
Lust has shut off their senses so that they are no longer able to count correctly. Often that’s what happens in the lives of many people. If you are anxious to get something, our mind has become dark and chaotic. They cannot count properly.
All calculations are done by lust, not common sense. And the result was predictable: death, destruction, bankruptcy, loss, disharmony, etc.
“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident” (Proverbs 14:16).
A person who loves to vent his lust (could not control it) is referred to as a fool in the Bible.
“He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not” (Proverbs 21:26).
Lust always take and seize, lust does not like to give. But the righteous (those who can control lust) like to give, do not like taking that don’t belong to them.
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24).
Meditate the principles of truth about lust dan realize that people who already belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with the affections and lusts. That is why the disciples of Christ will no longer be controlled by lust, but by the truth in Christ Jesus. Amen!
Also read: The Difference between Quality and Mentality.
