Faith Forward
~Experiencing Forgiveness

Posted by Julie DeVisser on December 6th, 2010 in Blog | 2 Comments

You know how some stories in the Bible really seem to resonate with you? How you seem to be drawn to them over and over? Sometimes it’s a parable or a verse that has touched you during a happy or sad moment in your life.

Do you ever find that it’s because God is trying to teach you something through it?

For me recently, it has been the story of Dinah in the book of Genesis 34. Dinah was the daughter of Jacob and Leah and had many brothers looking out for her. Some might think too many. If you grew up in a home (or community) filled with guys, I think you’d understand… and even at times – since I grew up with 2 brothers and their many friends - I might be able to relate to how she may have been feeling through all of this.

Dinah fell in love with Shechem who was not an Israelite… and therefore not an approved suitor for her. When her father and brothers found out what happened, they were furious. But in the story, Shechem proves his love for Dinah and is willing to not only have himself circumcised, but also convinced all of the males in his community to do so, just to continue to be with her.

And when Shechem went to these great lengths, Dinah’s father forgave him. But her brothers did not… and killed him.

As I’ve been pondering, re-reading and meditating over this story recently I realized that so many times I am like Dinah’s brothers in the relationships I have. I agree to forgive someone (a friend, family member or even myself) for what has been done – big or small – but I still hold on to it.

I still want to “murder” them with it at the first opportunity of weakness.

But I need to be like Jacob.

To be a person that when the agreement or resolution is in front of me that I am able to fully forgive for what has been done and move past it. To not go back on my word and bring things up that are long into the history of our lives. To feel good about the relationship again… and not let the forgiven issue make things awkward or problematic. And maybe even to learn more about myself in the process and how I can avoid doing, saying, causing these things in the future.

God wants us to forgive others… and ourselves for the sin that we cause. He wants us to live our lives fully in Him and to do that we need to confess, and move past what has happened.

Without experiencing forgiveness, we will continue to “kill” those around us – and maybe even ourselves.