Dinah
“One day Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, went to visit some of the young women who lived in the area. 2 But when the local prince, Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, saw Dinah, he seized her and raped her. 3 But then he fell in love with her, and he tried to win her affection with tender words. 4 He said to his father, Hamor, “Get me this young girl. I want to marry her.” Genesis 31:1-4
The teachings of God’s Word highlight that sexual intimacy is intended to represent a beautiful concept of “Unity in Diversity.” This concept reflects the nature and complexity of God’s design, demonstrating how various expressions can bring oneness, allowing us to grasp His true essence.
Rape fundamentally contradicts God’s intention, as it fails to reflect the mutual love and respect that He envisions in relationships. God would never exploit you for His gain and then cast you aside; such behavior is contrary to His character!
Dinah’s treatment was marked by both recklessness and cruelty. Shechem’s professed love for her cannot justify the horrific violation she endured. His actions and words demonstrate a significant disconnect from the moral values that align with God’s purpose for sexual intimacy. In Jewish tradition, any sexual misconduct that contravened God’s Law humiliated the victim and brought consequences for the perpetrator. Leviticus 18 in the Mosaic Law outlined penalties aimed at safeguarding individuals by categorizing sexual offenses as both sinful and criminal.
What should encourage us and give us hope is: that disgrace and shame were among the many things Jesus bore on the cross in our place. This signifies our sole responsibility is to forgive, entrust, and allow the healing process to begin. When we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior over our lives, all our defilements were nailed to the cross and buried with him.
We have the opportunity to embrace the cleansing power of Christ, which eliminates all impurities from our lives and makes us whole again. Although this may not instantly remove the pain or trauma associated with our experiences, it paves the way for healing to begin in every area of our lives, starting through our act of first forgiveness.
My story: For a long time, I never thought this level of healing was possible. Throughout my life, I’ve faced numerous defilements and traumas: from enduring medical trauma, navigating affairs, barrenness, PTSD, female medical issues, dealing with miscarriage, exploring my sexuality, nonconsensual sex, and identity issues, to list a few.
The most challenging aspect of my journey wasn’t the events I faced, but the journey of recognizing, accepting, and embracing them to find genuine healing through forgiveness. Over time, I identified with my brokenness, as it began to define me. This familiar crutch became something I relied on, and the more I depended on it, the tougher it became to let it go. I had to consciously choose to take the initial step of allowing the Holy Spirit to free me from the burdens of trauma, shame, and self-blame for each defilement one step at a time. Confronting each issue left me feeling perpetually shattered and worthless. Some of my wounds were deeply embedded, while others were visible. I struggled with anger, as the toughest person to forgive was ultimately myself.
I’ve been saved since I was around fourteen, but it wasn’t until I turned twenty-five that I truly encountered God and made Him the Lord and Savior over my life. That moment marked a significant turning point for me. It was then that I caught a glimpse of hope illuminating the darkness, all thanks to the incredible power of the Holy Spirit! Gradually, the burdens I carried began to transform into opportunities for forgiveness and healing.
I chose not to embark on this journey alone or attempt to manage everything by myself. Instead, I reached out for support from those who had already found their way to freedom. I discovered a close-knit group of individuals I could rely on, who were willing to guide me along the right path. Although I didn’t always see eye to eye with their advice or fully grasp their perspectives. I trusted that they were genuinely committed to my journey of liberation and were attuned to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in my life. This trust enabled me to submit to their leadership, even when it was very challenging. I actively sought support from my church, engaging in marriage classes, Celebrate Recovery, inner healing classes, and women’s encounters. I also connected with my spiritual leader, who became my accountability partner and joined a life group. I felt secure in my church community, knowing that no matter how many times I stumbled, they would be there to lift me, dust me off, and walk alongside me without judgment.
Trying to resolve matters on our own, in pursuit of justice or revenge, will never heal a wounded heart, mind, body, or spirit – only Christ possesses the power to bring about true healing! Will you allow Him to heal you, His way? This is the path to experiencing freedom from defilement-FORGIVENESS! You shouldn’t respond to others based on how they treat you. Instead, you should treat them as Jesus treats you!
“Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.” (2 Cor. 7:1)
I pray and encourage you to seek the Holy Spirit for supernatural strength to let go of our hurts inflicted upon you and to find the grace to forgive yourself. Embrace reverence and trust in God; rush to the cross, cling tightly, and allow our Heavenly Father to unveil His amazing power in our lives!
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