By Rev. Michael Mwangi
Senior Pastor, Fedha Church KAG
18. After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city.
19. For a hundred pieces of silver, he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of ground where he pitched his tent.
20. There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel.
Genesis 34
1. Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the Daughters of the land.
2. When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and raped her.
Jacob brought his family to a region in the Promised Land that God didn’t want them to be in. It seems God directed him to return to Bethel, a safe and high place.
Genesis 31
13. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.
But instead of Jacob going up to Bethel, he stopped and settled in this lower place called Shechem near these wicked Canaanites.
It was the wrong place to be. It brought him to his lowest moment and exposed his family to the Canaanites' influence.
The time he spent in the city of Shechem did much harm to his family. It was low ground yet
God called him to go up to Bethel. Jacob’s poor choice of a place to live left his family open to ungodly Canaanite influence.
Dinah was exposed to the daughters of Shechem and went to visit them unaccompanied and unguided. Jacob did not ensure she was properly supervised and protected. To allow the unsupervised socialisation of Dinah in an immoral community was a failure of responsibility on the part of Jacob and Leah.
In those Canaanite societies, sexual immorality was not only common but, in fact, a part of the very religious system itself. That's why raping her was not a big deal to them. In fact, the guy would follow it up with a marriage request as if nothing had happened. Hiyo ilikuwa ni salamu (that was as normal as greetings) for canaanites. You don't even hear anyone in that town condemning it.
Dinah was raped to the heartbreak of the family. Her life was defiled and shattered bringing her future prospects to a premature end. Never to hear about marriage or family. Dinah was very young, 15 years of age. Just a teenager and his star was dimmed forever never to shine again.
Anger boiled in Jacob’s sons and they brutally committed murder in retaliation just like the culture of Canaan. They had been exposed to wickedness and bloodshed. later it was no big deal getting rid of Joseph their brother out of hatred and lying to their father
The Bible records Joseph reported their bad behaviour out there in the field. They had learnt wickedness in Shechem.
Judah would later sleep with his father's concubine, something that is taboo even by today's standards but a Canaanite norm. When you go down or remain at lower ground, expect things to go down, be it moral or spiritual.
This festive season don't go down remain on high grounds.
As we head for the Christmas season. We have a personal responsibility to maintain our high place. We should avoid being or going to places that will compromise our faith or that of our children by exposing them to wickedness and ungodliness. Avoid going down no matter how appealing it may be. Let's be vigilant while we guide and supervise our kids.
Jacob chose a place to live for all the wrong reasons. He wanted to be close to the city (Genesis 33:18), though the city had a strong and ungodly influence.
You will have to choose where and how to celebrate this festive season.
Jacob never went up to Bethel; he settled in the lower region of Shechem and suffered the consequences.
Sometimes we want to go to (city) places that have class, glittering or parties with people that seem great and cool. But we forget the influence of the city on us and our children.
We want to go celebrate in this cool place yet there are drinks, sex, drugs and obscene music present.
Some parents snack out in a pub restaurant as kids have fun in that park but you forget the kids are learning about the other world.
Sometimes at home parties are held during the day chakula na (food and) soda but jioni ni wakati wa adult pombe zinatolewa (in the evening beer is provided for the adults) and the devil gives our children lessons and curiosity. Hata watoto saa zingine wanaonjeshwa (sometimes the children are given to taste).
I know it is time to relax and enjoy. But parents we must be alert as believers and we cannot afford to fail to guide, protect and supervise our children in such a season. The devil is not on holiday but is very busy at work. Some parents in the name of looking progressive and cool have provided their kids with paid wi-fi smart TVs, tablets and phones. Without supervision, these kids visit all over the net and like Dinah, they are defiled. Some are already rotten as we speak.
We have some of our good friends and relatives but unfortunately, their kids are ...not the same as parents. As much as we are very okay mingling with them our kids are not safe with their kids. Kuna watoto wajuaji sana kama hao tunasema wameachiliwa (Some kids have been exposed) and very influential. Wakipatana watafundisha watoto wako the Canaanites way ukifikiri wanacheza (When they meet your children, they teach them the Caananite ways while you as parent think the children are playing).
2 Samuel 13:1-5 (Amnon and adviser Jonadab)
Don't just allow your children to go to sleepovers, visit outings and parties na hujui ni watoto wagani wengine wamealikwa (and you do not know which other children have been invited) in the name of Christmas invitations.
Even in upcountry, we know some homestead slaughter to honour the dead by shedding the blood. Don't expose and open your family to spiritual connections with ancestral ceremonies
Shechem was a down place and things just got down.
God had to remind Jacob to go up abarikiwe atoke matopeni (and be blessed out of the mud).
Gen 35
1. Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”
This Christmas season many people do go down. With plenty of time and free offers, it is very easy kuteremuka kiroho msimu huu (to go down spiritually this season). Don't watch or consume chakula ya chini, itakuumisha tumbo utakuwa na (lowly foods, they will affect your stomach and cause) spiritual food poisoning. Remain high like an Eagle flying high. Don't be on the ground like a chicken. Maisha ya kuku ni ya chini. Ni mafupi na ya mashida mingi (The life of a chicken is on the ground. That kind of life is short but full of problems).
Spiritual stay awake, let not your prayers and devotion go down.
When you go down expect things to go down and this is why many people find January very hard. Watu wengi huteremuka December nayo January inkuwa maisha ni mlima (Many people go down in December ant then January becomes a mountain).
Purpose to stay high up, that is where we belong. Don't go down. We are God's people and we ought to be where God is
Isaiah 57
15. For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
This is our place but not down there in the mud of the world. Don't go down.
People who went down fell down:
Luke 10
30. In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.
Judges 14
1. Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman.
2. When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.”
Every time you choose to go down expect the worst, it is very easy and enjoyable going down but where you land is very painful.
Financially be wise don't go down in the name of unnecessary travel and expenditure out of excitement. Usikae maisha mteremko then January maisha iwe ni mlima unalia mfuko ikiwa chini (Don't live a life of going down and then January becomes a mountain when you are complaining your pockets are empty).
John 15:4
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
Remain in Christ this season
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