Alarming Grief and Grace / Genesis 34

Jacob’s partial obedience, of stopping in the promised land at Shechem, rather than returning to where God had commanded at Bethel, brings alarming grief and injustice upon his daughter and family. But responding to evil and injustice with greater evil and injustice, as Jacob’s sons do, is never the right solution. Where have we been tempted to betray our call as disciples to the gospel, to win, win, win, the smaller battles? And how gracious is a God who uses people like this, and us for his gospel purposes?