Today’s Reading: Genesis 34; Genesis 35; Genesis 36; Luke 14
Scripture: Genesis 34:1-2
1 Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land. 2 When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and violated her.
Observation: Dinah decides to make some new friends so she goes outside of her family circle and into the society of the pagan peoples that lived around them. I'm sure this seemed harmless to her and maybe even a benevolent kind of outreach. But the result is that Dinah is raped.
Application: Dinah put herself in a dangerous situation. By going outside of her clans, into a culture that she was unfamiliar with, and among people that she did not know, she was vulnerable. There was not protection for her and, apparently, the men in authority could take whatever liberties they desired. And so Dinah was helpless to stop the assault against her.
Bottom line: It is common for people, young people especially, to make unwise associations with others who seem exciting and counterculture. So often, however, these associations result in great harm to those who engage in them. The choices we make in selecting our friends have much more to do with our destiny than we think. Choose friends who are solid in their commitment to Jesus. And when you move outside of that circle, have others around to protect you from harm.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for illustrations that can teach us how to stay safe. I pray for all our young people -- that they will have godly friends and that they will stay away from unsavory and questionable individuals. Lord, keep us and those we care for safely in your protection.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
2 comments:
So true! I think of all the people we have counseled over the years that had their lives wrecked because of alliances with ungodly people (especially boyfriend/girlfriend relationships).
This is also what happens to Christians that leave the safety of their church family in search of other things that the enemy would have for them. They get hurt!
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