Daily Devotionals

Let us keep paying attention to one another, in order to spur each other on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).

Two of Jacob's offspring became involved in rather sordid episodes, recorded in the Book of Genesis. Dinah, "went out to visit the local girls" (Genesis 34:1) and was raped by Shechem, prince of the country. Shechem was eventually killed, along with all his men, by Dinah's vengeful brothers—Simeon and Levi. The Midrash (traditional commentary) faults Dinah for contributing to this tragedy by going out from the shelter of her family (Genesis Rabbah 80:1-5).

Similarly, Judah "went off from his brothers" (Genesis 38:1) and married a Canaanite woman. Before the story ended, Judah had lost his two oldest sons as well as his wife, and he had fathered an heir by his own daughter-in-law, Tamar, who had disguised herself as a harlot. Like his sister Dinah, Judah inherited trouble when he left the circle of his family.

In our day of extreme individualism, it is easy to forget that God calls us into community. We may enter his Kingdom one-by-one, but once there, we need to understand how dependent we are upon one another. By God's design we can receive strength through the brothers and sisters who stand with us. Let us not lightly leave the shelter of our spiritual family.

...stay in close touch with my brothers and sisters, to give and receive encouragement in our walks with the Lord.

RR