Shechem literally means “appointed place”. God sends his people to appointed places. The testing grounds for the righteous and the not so righteous. Maybe a meeting with God is scheduled for you?
Here’s how my tests started.
Growing up, Easter was one of my favorite holidays. Not because of the candy or the bunny rabbit or the egg hunt. It seemed people were in a better mood during that season. Also, all the Bible movies were on TV.
I would watch these movies in awe and wonder. The splendor, the magic and the majesty of God and his people. I couldn’t believe what God could do.
My parents were not at all religious folks. They received a family bible as a wedding present. I would take the Bible down and read the old testament stories. “Wow, it must be true!” All the occurrences I saw on TV are also written in the Bible. Daniel in the lion’s den, Samson, and Moses. One of my favorites was Joseph.
Joseph was my favorite story. It made me think, “Why would God allow such a cruel thing to happen to Joseph? Was he really unloved by the brothers? What made Joseph so forgiving? What made the brothers hate Joseph?”
So here’s my thoughts.
Genesis 37:12. “Now his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem, 13 and Israel said to Joseph, “As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I am going to send you to them.”
We see Israel sends Joseph to Shechem. We see the purpose for going to Shechem. What Joseph doesn’t see, is that God will meet Joseph there.
Genesis 37:14 Then Joseph arrived at Shechem, 15 a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?”16 He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?”17 “They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’”
At this point, Joseph could go back to his father. There was no proof the brothers were in Dothan. Just some stranger, who said they were in Dothan. No big deal. Joseph would still be the favorite son and eventually take leadership of the tribe. Joseph would have an easy life.
Yes, the stranger was significant in the story. Some Scholars believe this “stranger” to be Jesus (A christophany. Jesus pokes his head up throughout the old testament). This was the fork in the road. Joseph had to make a choice. Follow God’s finger to Dothan or run home.
So many people discount family members, friends, and even strangers as “well meaning, yet wacky.”
Hebrews 13:2. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
Im now thinking about how I came to know Jesus. People who talked to me kindly. 2 pastors… One that offered to listen to me. The other that reasoned with me.
God sent these people to me. My “strangers” who pointed where I should go.
“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” Isaiah 55:6, 7.
Story:
I talked with a man who said he had an encounter with God. That’s why he’s a Christian. He feels no need to read the Bible. Drinks, smokes them “funny cigarettes,” cusses all the time, dislikes the church for how they treated family, etc. Now I’m not judging him. I’m sharing exactly what he told me and what I saw and heard. I believe he had a Shechem moment. Yet, what did he do with it?
The idea is to go where God points to next. What’s next? Increasing knowledge of God is a start.
Here’s a Bible example of what not to do.
Shechem has history. Joseph’s sister, Dinah, was assaulted in Shechem. In retaliation, the sons of Israel (excluding Joseph) tricked and killed the men of the city Shechem. Israel had to leave the area, before the neighboring cities exact revenge on the tribe (Genesis 34:13-31).
These were God’s chosen people. Who had to run away from the appointed place. They didn’t allow God to intervene. The sons of Israel did things out of human nature. The truth is, we have to follow God. He is loving and caring. Human nature is usually the opposite.
Story:
A man stands in a prison cell. He’s tired of his life and heroin addiction. “Jesus if you’re real, take the heroin addiction from me. Including the memory of the high.” The man fell asleep in shakes and sweats. He woke up clean and without the desire for drugs. He dedicated his life to Christ. In return, Jesus made him a pastor. Shechem is important, if you follow Jesus’ finger, there is a reward. The reward is not immediately given, it may not be seen in your lifetime. Yet it’s given. Tests and trials are usually endured first.
Matt 24:13, “but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
That pastor died in 2017. His body died, but he now lives with Jesus. Please understand, this “life” is temporary. Yesterday I was 16; running the streets wild. Now I’m 62; A Jesus freak. Hahaha. My encounter with Jesus has led me here. Writing, hoping one person can see this and understand.
I point to Jesus. He said of himself, “I am is the way, the truth and the life…” John 14:6a
God bless
Called 4 Jesus 