DCLM Search The Scripture 10 July 2022 || Lesson 27 (Youth) || Dinah’s Defilement Avenged
DCLM Search The Scripture 10 July 2022 || Lesson 27
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LESSON 27
DINAH’S DEFILEMNT AVENGED
TEXT: Genesis 34:1-31
MEMORY VERSE: “And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males” (Genesis 34:25).
DCLM Search The Scripture 10 July 2022 || Lesson 27 (Youth)
The Scripture forbids sinful curiosity, careless wandering and quest to explore new grounds of friendship exhibited by youths. These unguarded passions have great and damnable consequences. Dinah’s quest to see and interact with the daughters of the land, a heathen nation, led to the incident of rape and this resulted in frightening murder of innocent people.
The Scripture clearly states that “…evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33). It will be strange for Christian youths who have covenant relationship with God and live by His laws to have interest or seek to copy the lifestyle of sinful people around them (2 Corinthians 6:14-16).
Question 1: What lesson can Christian youths draw from the book of Exodus 23:2?
“When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations” (Deuteronomy 18:9). Whatever may be the practice of unbelievers in our community, Christian youths are to steer clear and “… be thou an example of the believers, in word, conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4: 12). This study contains useful lessons for Christian youths on how to maintain moral chastity that will help prevent similar incident of defilement and its attended consequences.
DANGEROUS AIMLESS VISITATION AND UNEQUAL YOKE (Genesis 34:1-4; Proverbs 7:6-27; Job 1:7; 2 Corinthians 6:14-16; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Timothy 3:6; Luke 15:11-24; Proverbs 4:14, 15)
Dinah was unmindful of the evil tendency in unregenerate hearts. Her visit was on the pretence “to see the daughters of the land”: how they dress, dance, socialise and what they eat, drink and worship. Recall that her father who had just returned from Padan-aram was a wealthy and God-fearing man. Thus, it was not for want of food or any material need that she embarked on the strange adventure. “And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her” (Genesis 34:2). A similar account in Proverbs 7:6-27 reveals the deadly present and eternal condemnation of wanderers.
DCLM Search The Scripture 10 July 2022 || Lesson 27 (Youth)
Question 2: What are the dangers of aimless visitation and wandering?
“And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not (1 Timothy 5:13). Wandering around people who do not know that rape is “sinful” is deadly. Aside rape, wandering exposes the wanderer to the danger of kidnapping, ritual armed robbery, cultism, harlotry and human trafficking. Wanderers are hardly innocent.
They are characterised by idleness, talkativeness and gossiping. Satan inspires aimless wandering because it serves his purpose to steal, kill and destroy. He is a wanderer himself. “And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered… From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it… your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (Job 1:7; 1 Peter 5:8).
He influences children to abandon their families and.run from pillar to post; inspires carnal believers to move from one fellowship to another without settling in one, just to waste their lives and talents. Young people and strangers in a new environment are often prone to exploring new areas and interacting with people whose ways of life are different from theirs. It was curiosity that made Dinah went on the picnic when her brothers were on the field shepherding the flock of their father.
DCLM Search The Scripture 10 July 2022 || Lesson 27 (Youth)
Perhaps, she felt nobody should limit her freedom of movement. Bitterly however, she learnt the benefit of parental tutelage/ control and the truth that freedom has limits. It was for ungodly friendship that Samson also lost his eyes and life prematurely. Careless visitation and unguided sightseeing are dangerous to believers in Christ (Proverbs 25: 17).
Observe that Shechem was not rebuked by his father for his evil deed, probably because it was an acceptable practice for the prince to take any lady at will. He had done the evil with pride as the son of the king. Thus, he could go further to ask his father to arrange for marriage with Dinah.
Shechem and his people however, learnt that sin will not go unpunished whether they are committed by the high or the low. It is abominable to sin against people have come under our roof or land on the basis of pledged hospitality as friends, colleagues, visitors or house helps (Genesis 19:1-8). Christian youths must avoid careless visitation as it can lead to many other evils.
DECEITFUL MARRIAGE OFFER WITH UNGODLY INTENTION (Genesis 34:5-24; Deuteronomy 22.27-29. 7:1-4; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17; 1 Peter 2:9)
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Jacob heard about what happened, held his peace and waited for his sons. However, before the family of Jacob could come up with the next line of action, Hamor brought marriage proposal for Dinah and Shechem (Proverbs 18:13). This meant inter-marriage between two different nations: heathens and the people of God.
DCLM Search The Scripture 10 July 2022 || Lesson 27 (Youth)
Question 3: What does the Bible says concerning marriage with an unbeliever?
“Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly” (Deuteronomy 7:3,4).
Hamor highlighted the benefits that would accrue to Jacob’s family. Even Shechem promised to give whatever would be demanded to marry Dinah. Here is a plan by Satan to terminate the covenant of God with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Whereas the patriarchs have been careful with the marriages of their sons because of their covenant with God, here comes a temptation to forfeit or corrupt Israel.
Some vibrant Christian youths at their unguarded hour who are being tempted often fail to the grand design of the enemy to frustrate the divine plan not only for them, but also for their future generation. We need to watch and pray to see the larger picture of God’s plan for our present and future life in order to escape the snare of the fowler.
Marriage is for mature adults and not for teenagers; therefore, any proposal from unconverted persons at this stage should not be accommodated by Christian youths. However promising the union might be in terms of religious, economic and social benefits, we must not consider their proposal or propose to them. Yield not to.their temptations for yielding is sin. Your answer as a child of God at this stage of your life should be the response of Joseph to Potiphar’s wife: “how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).
DCLM Search The Scripture 10 July 2022 || Lesson 27 (Youth)
Christian youths should reject any suggestion or proposal from their parents to marry unbelievers no matter the pressure on them or the supposed profits attached to their proposal because of the displeasure from God on such union. The sons of Jacob hatched a plan and offered the suitors a deceitful proposal. “But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised; Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people” (Genesis 34:15,16).
The family of Hamor agreed to the terms of marriage given by the sons of Jacob. Since the proposal was for all the inhabitants of Canaan and not just for Shechem, the king used his position to influence his people to key into the scheme. Christian youths should learn here that the ungodly Would be willing to submit to any Christian rites to achieve their purpose. They can change church, wear Christian clothing and act like Christians, but without conversion just to get what they want.
Though the rite of circumcision was required to benefit from the Abrahamic covenant, that would not have made the Canaanites forsake their idols. So, those who promise to marry the ungodly on the condition that they join their congregation deceive themselves by thinking they can profit from relationship that God forbids (Galatians 6:7).
Believers should examine all things in the light of the Bible and with the help of the Holy Spirit before doing them. Hamor’s influence on his people brought destruction upon them. Hamor and Shechem did not escape the sword; so shall the sensual, deceivers and the deceived be judged.
The wages of sin for all, both the high and the low, is death, Shechem did not know, that his youthful exuberance, power to rape and enjoy sinful Pleasure would lead to death and destruction of the entire city where he would have reigned later as the heir apparent. Sin terminates destiny.
DCLM Search The Scripture 10 July 2022 || Lesson 27 (Youth)
DINAH’S DEFILEMENT AVENGED (Genesis 34:25-31; 49:5-7; Psalm 1:1-4; Proverbs 4: 14, 15)
Shechem was wrong for their dealing with the daughter of a stranger who had dwelt with them for over seven years thereby violating the rules of hospitality in the then world. Unknown to them however, the terms of intermarriage was designed to render them easy prey for massacre. “And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.
And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out” (Genesis 34:25,26). When Jacob confronted Simeon and Levi, they justified their murderous and bloody act with the cloak of religion (Genesis 34:30,31)
DCLM Search The Scripture 10 July 2022 || Lesson 27 (Youth)
Question 4: How should Christian youths handle those who cheat or offend them?
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:19-21).
It is unscriptural to take anybody’s life for whatever reason. God is righteous and just. He did not spare Simeon and Levi for killing of innocent people. “Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel” (Genesis 49:5,7).
When Haman wanted to wipe out all Jews in Shushan just because Mordecai who offended him was a Jew, God intervened since the punishment was not proportionate to the offence committed. Human life is sacred. Those who hide under religion or use it as cloak to perpetrate kinds of evil, including murder, shall not escape the wrath of God, except they repent.
Question 5: Why was the act of the sons of Jacob condemned?
“The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation” (Numbers 14: 18). Children of God should not tread the ensnaring path of the ungodly (Psalm 1: 1-4; Proverbs 4: 14, 15).
The events in this passage emphasise the conditional security of saints: Dinah lost her chastity and Levi and Simeon forfeited the covenant blessings Jacob would have pronounced on them on his dying bed. Christian youths must abide in holiness till the end to be able to enter heaven. Sinners should repent and be saved to avoid perishing like Shechem and the inhabitants of the land who lost their lives.
DCLM Search The Scripture 10 July 2022 || Lesson 27 (Youth)
