God’s Design and Image
Part 43: Sin, Folly, and Injustice

Scripture: Genesis 34:1-31.
Genesis 13:12 (ESV)
12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom.
Genesis 26:1 (ESV)
1 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines.
Genesis 26:35 (ESV)
35 and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.
Genesis 28:1 (ESV)
1 Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women.
1. Failure to Follow God is not Just Sinful, It’s also Foolish
Proverbs 10:23 (ESV)
23 Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
Proverbs 14:16 (ESV)
16 One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
Exodus 20:14 (ESV)
14 “You shall not commit adultery.”
Proverbs 6:32 (ESV)
32 He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.
2. While We are to Long for Justice, Our Vengeance Only Increases Injustice
Genesis 49:5-7 (ESV)
5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. 6 Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.”
Leviticus 19:18 (ESV)
18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Deuteronomy 32:35a (ESV)
35a Vengeance is mine, and recompense…
Proverbs 20:22 (ESV)
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
Proverbs 24:17-18 (ESV)
17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, 18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.

Matthew 5:38-39 (ESV)
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Matthew 5:43-47 (ESV
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
James 1:19-20 (ESV)
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Romans 12:19-21 (ESV)
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, with good.