The Living Water – Christ Apostolic Church Daily Devotional Guide
Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Topic: Beware Of The Daughters Of The Land
Read: Genesis 34:1-7
Genesis 34:1-7 Now Dinah daughter of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob, went out [unattended] to see the girls of the place.
And when Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he seized her, lay with her, and humbled, defiled, and disgraced her.But his soul longed for and clung to Dinah daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke comfortingly to her young heart’s wishes.
And Shechem said to his father Hamor, Get me this girl to be my wife.
Jacob heard that [Shechem] had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field. So Jacob held his peace until they came.
But Hamor father of Shechem went out to Jacob to have a talk with him.
When Jacob’s sons heard it, they came from the field; and they were distressed and grieved and very angry, for [Shechem] had done a vile thing to Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter, which ought not to be done.
MEMORIZE:
He who walks [as a companion] with wise men is wise, but he who associates with [self-confident] fools is [a fool himself and] shall smart for it. (Proverbs 13:20)
EXPOSITION
The great philosopher, Aristotle said, “A friend to all is a friend to none.” You can have a thousand people on your newsfeed, or more than that liking and following you on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social platforms, and have none of them as a true friend. No doubt, the children of Jacob were peculiar among the people in the world, just as Christian are, today. It’s a pity not many known their status in God, the reason Dinah unequally yoked with the world (cf. 2 Cor. 6:14-16).
Dinah Jacob’s only daughter, forgot she was of a royal priesthood (cf. 1 Pet. 2:9), whom God has separated for His own purpose. Thus, she went out to see the daughters of the land of the Hooters, and never remained the same afterwards. What do you go out to see? The Bible says, Outside are the dogs (Rev. 22:15), filthy, aggressive, barking and ready to prey on whatever is available.
Who were these daughters of the land? If they were friendly, were they godly? How much do you know of your environment? Definitely, Dinah’s father must have instructed her to stay back at home. As children of God, we must know our boundaries. Had she known that obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22), she would have thought of the ugly consequences that would likely follow.
For Dinah’s sake, God’s name was in disrepute, her parents were unhappy and she lost her status and dignity. That is what happens when a child flouts God’s and parent’s orders. What of having a name you wouldn’t want your unborn children to bear in the future, and if you live to tell the story? To avoid regret and untold hardship now and in the future, Come out from among them and be separate… (2 Cor. 6:17). Are you already enmeshed in worldliness, God is calling you to return home! Sinners, why will you die?
Prayer Points
1. Let us pray for our children and youths that God should deliver them from their flair for worldliness.
2. Pray for sisters who have fallen into the hands of ‘brothers’ like Dinah fell into the hand of Shechem, that God should deliver them in His own way.
3. Pray that God should give parents the grace to be more committed to seeing their children do only what pleases God.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Psalms 22-24; Revelation 3
