An Honourable Man Raped Her

Genesis 34:19 "The young man, who was the most honored of all his father’s family, lost no time in doing what they said, because he was delighted with Jacob’s daughter".
The Bible recorded that Shechem was more honourable than all the house of his father. Honourable means; worthy of respect, respectable. That means that Shechem must have been a decent, honest young man. As a Prince, he ruled justly and he could have been the only one that stands for justice even when his brothers try to pervert justice or try to rule wickedly. He was respected among all the house of his father because he was worthy to be respected. I can imagine how Shechem rebukes his brother when they do wrong. Yet, this honourable man was the one that raped Jacob's only daughter; Dinah. Genesis 34:1-4 "Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land. 2 When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and raped her. 3 His heart was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob; he loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. 4 And Shechem said to his father Hamor, “Get me this girl as my wife."

Now! Why would an honourable man do that? Why would he act so dishonorable?

Could it be that Dinah dressed indecently to seduce this honourable man into such act? What triggered the rape? The Bible is infallible and if it says that Shechem was more honourable then he was truly more honourable yet he did something shameful, an abominable act he committed. After committing the act, he asked to marry the lady, that is very strange, only few men can actually do that after raping a lady. People who rape others are heartless, they only want to satisfy thier sexual urge and inflict pain on their victims, they don't bother about what happens to their victim after then but this man admitted his wrong and was willing to marry the lady he defiled. Am not saying it's a good thing but he proved to be an honourable man still because he took responsibility for his actions. It is one thing to carry out an abominable act, it is another thing to stand up to the reproach and take responsibility for your actions. Why some persons have remained in perpetual sin is because they are ashamed to admit their evil deeds and seek forgiveness.

After considering all these, I can boldly say that raping Dinah was beyond his human ability and control. It was not an intentional act from someone like Shechem. Oh wretched man he was! You can learn from here that nobody can faithfully live a moral and honourable life outside God, no matter how good a moralist you are, you will still fumble outside God.

Apostle Paul took time to explain the struggle against sin in Romans 7:7-25. Shechem did that which he allowed not (rape), for what he would (ask for her hand in marriage first), that he did not, but what he hates, that he did. See verse 15 of Romans 7. Shechem was helpless and miserable because sin dwells in him. Though honourable, yet he was a sinner, he had no control over his sinful nature which is the flesh because in the flesh dwells no good thing: for to will was present with him but how to perform that which was good he found not.

Also Read: How to Identify People Like Laban

Every sinner out there is like Shechem, some of them are honourable people but they don't have control over their sinful nature. They don't intend to do evil but evil is in them right from the womb because sin dwells in them.

What then is the solution or what is the way out?

John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Jesus is the only way out.

Romans 7:24 I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?

:25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

Jesus is the solution for every sinner out there. He cares and He is concerned.

Don't forget that Shechem's act destroyed all the men of Hivite. You don't have to wait till so many lives have been destroyed for your sin, repent now and accept JESUS.

If you want to make that decision now; kindly say this prayer: "Lord Jesus, I choose to accept your work of freedom today, I come to you with my heart, accept me as your child, cleanse me from all my sins, which has kept me in the bondage of Satan, deliver me today and become my Lord and personal Saviour".

If you said that prayer, I can say to you, sir/ma that you are now born again, your relationship with God is restored. You will need to quickly start studying the Bible in a new and fresh way.