Dinah's Disastrous Decision

Genesis 34


“And Dinah…went out to see the daughters of the land.”

Vs.1

Jacob bought ground in the land of Canaan, by the city of Shalem, apparently planning to make it his home. He has just met with Esau again and all is well between them. (Read Gen 28:1 - They were not to take a wife of the Canaan, like Esau did.)

Jacob’s daughter by Leah, Dinah, decides to go out to see the daughters of the land. Some sources state she may have been going to a festival or party-type gathering. It seems many agree with Josephus, a Bible historian, that the gathering was likely an annual festival of nature worship. What we do know is that she went to see the daughters of Canaan, girls Dinah shouldn’t have had any fellowship with. While out, Shechem, the son of Hamor (who Jacob had purchased the land from), saw Dinah, took her and defiled her. The next verse tells us that he loved her, his soul clave unto her and he spoke kindly unto her, so he asked his father to arrange the marriage. He father was told not to marry a daughter of Canaan, thus Dinah shouldn’t have been hanging out with those girls and neither should she get tangled up with a man of Canaan. But both happened to her because she wanted friends.

Meanwhile, Dinah went home and told Daddy what had happened. The Bible says that Jacob, “held his peace until they (Dinah’s brothers) were come.” Her brothers eventually avenged for Dinah, meaning they fought for her cause, resulting in the death of all that cities men.



Important Facts to Consider:

Dinah was the only girls with 12 brothers

She was probably 15 or 16 at the time

Most likely she was spoiled and used to getting what she wanted.

She probably craved female companionship like most women do.



Dinah’s decision to go off “to Town” alone to make friends or maybe hang out with friends she had already made affected the rest of her life. One commentator said that Dinah “went out to see” the world and it’s people instead of being a “keeper at home” like young ladies are supposed to be. She probably was of marrying age, but a husband shouldn’t have been looked for in Canaan. I think it’s safe to say that single women of marrying age and younger should be extra careful in what they do and where they go. The world is alluring but it is oh, so dangerous. The same thing that happened to Dinah, defilement (rape), may not happen to you but other life changing things could.

Be careful who you become friends with and where you spend your time, it will change your life forever, good or bad.



*Note: I know that rape is a serious thing and I can’t excuse the fact that Shechem did what he did, but I think it could have been prevented if Dinah hadn’t gone where she shouldn’t have to make friends with girls she shouldn’t have. I believe Shechem saw her, lusted after her and acted on that lust, but I think that he did love her. The Story seems different in the case of Amnon and Tamar in 2 Sam. 13, he defiled her, but then immediately after the act it says that he hated her more then he had loved her before the act. In any case, God gives healing to those who have gone through these situations, but there are some ways to safe guard against it happening to you.

Serving Your Generation

(From June 11)

“For David, after he had served his own generation
By the will of God, fell on sleep…”
Acts 13:36

    Twice now this past week someone has mentioned this verse to me. And for some reason it never stuck out to me before. My sister and I always say that we wish we lived a long time ago, even though the work was hard, life was simple and people were satisfied. But I was talking to my friend while working one day about my desire to start a website to help teen girls with the issues they face. She was saying how God puts us here, in this time period, to reach our generation. In some ways we must come up/ keep up with ways that our generation lives. A website is a prime way for people to be reached in this generation.
     Apparently God felt it important to mention that David reached his generation. And the Bible is still true for us today. May we reach our generation too.

         But how did David serve and reach them?
              And How can we?
Looking at his life just briefly I found some things that stuck out to me.
1. He was faithful and obedient to His father.
       He tended the family sheep(a girl’s job in Bible times) and carried supplies to his brothers.
2. He had courage to stand up to Goliath without protective armour
        He knew this enemy of God needed to be taken care of and he didn’t need anything but God and a strong dose of faith. He is mentioned in Hebrew’s Hall of Faith because of this.
3. He used his talents for God’s Glory
        He played his harp skillfully, first for his sheep and then as a form of comfort for King Saul’s troubled spirit.
        He also wrote or composed the majority of the Psalms which still give comfort today.
4. He had friends that encouraged his to do right
        Jonathon was like a brother, but he was older than David. He gave us his position with out a fight - so David could do God’s will.
5. He tried not to abuse his position
         He was king and could have let his position pull him away from the Lord. Instead he prepared to build the Temple (furthering the work of God)
6. He knew how to confess and forsake when he sinned
         He did abuse his position but not going to war, seeing Bathsheba bathing, killing Uriah, and marrying Bathsheba, but we was convicted, he confessed,  and he was restored.
7. He Fought and was a man of war
          David had to conquer the land, defeat the worldliness. He knew God didn’t want His children influenced by the pagan customs and lifestyle.
8. He was a man of God with Convictions
       God called him a man after God’s own heart and we know he was chosen, not because of the outward appearance but because of his heart.
9 He did great things for God
       Battles were won, preparations were made for the Temple, songs were written, God was glorified, and he raised Solomon to be the next, and wisest king.

There are more things I know, but the point is: David’s generation could see what he lived for and he served/ reached them. Esther had her generation to serve “For such a time as this.: (Esther 4:14)       

                              How will I serve and reach my generation?
                                       How will you?