How does Genesis 34:20 demonstrate the importance of wise counsel in decision-making? Setting the Scene in Genesis 34 • Shechem has violated Dinah and now wants to marry her. • Jacob’s sons deceitfully agree—if every male in Shechem’s city is circumcised. • Verse 20 records the moment Hamor and Shechem bring this proposal to their townsmen. What Happens at the City Gate (34:20) “So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city.” • The city gate was the public forum—where legal matters were settled and counsel was sought. • Instead of opening the issue for honest, searching discussion, Hamor and Shechem give a sales pitch (vv. 21-23) that spotlights economic gain and downplays moral cost. • The townsmen agree, trusting two voices without wider, godly counsel—and their decision proves fatal (vv. 25-26). Where Wise Counsel Was Absent • No spiritual perspective: they never ask what God thinks of intermarrying with a family called to be set apart (Genesis 28:13-15). • No moral reckoning: rape, deceit, and forced conversion are glossed over. • No plurality of godly advisers: only Hamor and Shechem speak; the people rubber-stamp. • Result: physical pain from circumcision, total vulnerability, and ultimately death. Scriptural Principles on Seeking Godly Counsel • “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22) • “For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many advisers comes deliverance.” (Proverbs 11:14) • “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.” (Proverbs 12:15) • True counsel begins with the fear of the Lord (Psalm 1:1-2; Proverbs 9:10). Practical Takeaways for Our Decision-Making • Involve a circle of believers who fear God and know Scripture before making major choices. • Evaluate proposals by moral and spiritual impact—not merely by profit or convenience. • Refuse to act on pressure from persuasive voices until you have weighed the matter before the Lord (James 1:5). • Remember that unwise counsel can entangle innocent people in painful consequences. Putting It Into Practice Today • Build relationships with mature believers whose first reflex is to open the Bible. • Make prayerful consultation a habit, not an emergency measure. • Test every “good opportunity” against God’s unchanging standards; never sacrifice righteousness for advantage. • Teach children and younger believers the difference between flattering speech and godly counsel, using Genesis 34 as a cautionary tale. |
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