We read in Genesis 30:21, 34 and Genesis 46:15 about Dinah who was Jacob's only named daughter from his marriage to Leah. She grew up in a home with ten older and two younger brothers. We learn about her family struggles that likely stemmed from two sisters that married the same man. Dinah’s mother Leah and her sister Rachel were rivals for Jacob’s love and Leah always had known that Jacob had a deeper love for Rachel than he had for her. We are not told in this story how the bitterness and jealousy between these two sister wives of Jacob may have affected Dinah but it isn’t too hard to consider the likelihood that it could have. When Dinah was a teenager the family had moved to live in a town in the promised land called Shechem located north of Bethel and Jerusalem

Dinah went out for a walk through town one day and we are told that “she was noticed and raped” by the son of the ruler of the city. His name was Shechem like the city’s name. Shechem did ask his father to make arrangements for him to marry Dinah but that did not change the view of her brothers, Jacob’s sons.  They felt that Dinah had been violated, shamed and damaged. They could not get past the insult to their family and Jacob did not provide the leadership in this situation that perhaps a father should have. Jacob’s sons then chose to take matters into their own hands and the results were very bloody.

This victimized Dinah a second time. Her brothers disrespected her by not consulting her and their actions did not bring her comfort. They used her as bait in their game and it led to the murder of all the men in Shechem’s village. Her brothers profited from the massacre snd her father Jacob did nothing about it. Oftentimes when tragedies happen like this the victim is pushed aside and their feelings are not taken into consideration and someone pays a very high price because of it. 

We probably can think of someone we know that can identify to this situation, perhaps you yourself have experienced being a victim like Dinah and felt like you too were pushed aside and did not have your wishes or feelings considered. When we feel as though no one seems to care, we must always remember that that our father in heaven cares. When we feel as though we are all alone remember that we are not because our God lives within us and is always there. Isaiah 41:10; Joshua 1:9; Hebrews 13:5. Jesus Himself promised us that He would be with us always, Matthew 28:20. 

As a Christian one of the first lessons we learn is to rely on God, to depend on Him for everything and go to Him first and ask Him to help us. Then the next huge lesson God shows us is that there are people in this world that do care and are eager to be there for other people. Finding our family of Christian brothers and sisters is one of the best gifts we can ever receive. They are not perfect, neither are we but so many care and will be there for us and are willing to help even if only to pray for us and pray with us. When we have been victimized it can make us feel so lost but there is healing. 

Through Jesus Christ all things are possible Philippians 4:13. Don’t ever be afraid to take your inner most feelings, the deep rooted emotional pain of your past to God. Reach out to others, your pastor, a Christian friend. We never have to go through anything alone once we have our Lord God living within our heart. If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior please don’t hesitate to call out to Jesus and ask Him to come into your heart and save you. If you need to talk to someone you can

contact us leaving information for how we can reach out to you and we will be so honored to have the opportunity to show you in God’s Holy Scripture how you too can be saved.