28/04/2023 - THE TRAGEDY

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And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her. Genesis 34.2

A daughter of God in a strange land must be more prudent than among her own. Therefore, she cannot go out to meet young people who have no fear of God. Now, the saints hardly think about the bad things that can happen to them, because they live in holiness and love, something non-existent in the world. Even among those who call themselves Christians, it is necessary to watch and pray. Imagine walking among unbelievers!

In that land of the Hivite people, Shechem, son of Hamor (which means donkey), was a prince. He saw Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, who was seeking friendship with the local girls, and he became interested in her. We don’t know details about when and how they started meeting and taking an interest in each other, but the end was not good. Abraham’s descendants, being heirs of God’s promises, were wary of those who did not serve the Almighty!

The New Testament strictly forbids marriage between the saved and the lost: Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship has righteousness with lawless (2 Corinthians 6.14). We have seen many disregarding this prohibition. Then, when there is pain and crying, the parents ask God not to let a divorce take place, because of the fights that arise. Be careful!

This courtship could not have taken place, especially without the control of the parents. When Dinah went to the girls of the city, who certainly did not know the Lord, she heard comments that led her to Shechem, and soon they exchanged their first kiss. As Dinah was already producing the natural hormones of youth, convinced by Prince Shechem, they went to bed. She had gone out to meet the girls and saw what she shouldn’t have. Why take a glimpse at what the devil shows?

What first happened between them must have been a fiery passion, for it does not say that he forced her, but it does say that he humiliated her. Dinah would be the first person in Jacob’s family to marry, for it is very likely that she had sisters, as the text later hints. After he got what he wanted, Shechem humiliated her, perhaps taking her to her house with despicable words. The blood Covenant was disrespected. What did poor Dinah do?

She must have been very disappointed. After the experience, we can imagine that Shechem saw that she was no different from those in the land and despised her. Whoever believes in someone who lives far from the Word will be despised by such a person after such person has reached their goal. One cannot disobey the Creator and be free from the shame that accompanies every forbidden act.

The worst was to come. When her family found out, Shechem was sure that they would not be rid of a vendetta. After all, when Jacob bought the land from the hand of Hamor’s sons, and one of them was this one, they saw that he was serious about negotiating (Genesis 33.18-20). Such tragedy in Jacob’s house!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares