Contemplative Bible Reading

Genesis 34:7 (New Living Translation)

Meanwhile, Jacob’s sons had come in from the field as soon as they heard what had happened. They were shocked and furious that their sister had been raped. Shechem had done a disgraceful thing against Jacob’s family, something that should never be done.

A group of brothers is furious that their sister had been raped. This was “something that should never be done.”

Note that this (hi)story is in Genesis. This all occurred before God the Creator gave Moses “the law” as part of the Ten Commandments. Note that everyone knew this was wrong.

I could fall into all sorts of trouble here by discussing controversies of theology that have names I don’t know. I find it sufficient to note once again that before Moses banged out the Ten big ones on stone, people everywhere had a strong sense of right and wrong. There were some things that you did not do. If you did them, the community would punish you.

In our post-post-post-post…modern world, it seems we have lost this idea that there are “somethings that should never be done.” We have replaced the “never” with “Well, ya’ know, there are times when you have to…” And note that I write “we” as in all of us. Yes, me, too.

Perhaps we need to return to the time of “never.”