Simeon and Levi : Instruments of Cruelty (Part II)
Gen 49:5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. 6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they digged down a wall. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
Simeon and Levi are not cursed, but their anger is cursed. Like the citizens who sought to build a Tower at Babel, they must not be allowed to remain together to avoid worse consequences of their uncontrollable passions. They will be scattered, divided and so weak. A divided house is a doomed place where nothing will work well. Do you not see that your anger must be curbed and you must bring your passions under control or else you will have to suffer needlessly. The anger of Simeon and Levi was not the common anger that lasts for brief moments but it was a fierce anger degenerating into cruel wrath. Cruelty is often not far from unabated anger. It is not as noisy but a quiet anger that plots a deep and painful act of revenge … and refuses help and support to those in need because of past hurts. May God help us. We discover later that the tribe of Levi is rescued from this terrible predicament when in the time of Moses they alone united and stood out for the Lord amongst the other tribes. They became a special tribe of priests – their destiny was changed by an act of singular exceptional courage for God.
Exo 32:26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. … Num 3:6 Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
We learn in this devotional that actions have consequences that go far into the future. We also see that God can wipe out the negative consequences and replace them with fresh good consequences for unusual exceptional choices at critical moments. May we be found standing up for Jesus in the present times when faith in God is under virulent attack. May God give us grace to end well.
Song.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross; Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead, Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the solemn watchword hear; If while ye sleep He suffers, away with shame and fear;
Where’er ye meet with evil, within you or without, Charge for the God of battles, and put the foe to rout.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey; Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day.
Ye that are brave now serve Him against unnumbered foes; Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone; The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer; There duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, each soldier to his post, Close up the broken column, and shout through all the host:
Make good the loss so heavy, in those that still remain, And prove to all around you that death itself is gain.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long; This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song.
To those who vanquish evil a crown of life shall be; They with the King of Glory shall reign eternally.
Prayer : Lord, Help me to stand up for you…and be numbered among your special army. Amen
The Songs of Joseph is an integration of encouragement scriptural devotions, prayers and a compendium of songs of mercy, salvation, new beginnings and victory. We can expect as we trust and obey that our end will indeed be ultimately glorious because God works His marvellous agenda. Be blessed as you read and sing along, daily. Edited by Bolade Apampa
