Incest
None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him,
to uncover their nakedness.
Leviticus 18:6
Read Leviticus 18:1-17
Incest—suppose you have to deal with it. Your father forces you to engage
in a sexual act. Or, your brother demands that you perform all kinds of immoral
acts. This causes you so much anxiety and fear! As you lay in bed, you
fear that they may come to your room, and you will be powerless to resist
them because they are much stronger than you are. You will be totally under
their control. The question may come up in your mind: Where is God in all
this? You can feel so alone. Why does no one notice? Why do they not want
to see it? Why do they not take action? And why does God not intervene?
It is most terrible when one family member sexually abuses another family
member. Sometimes it may be under the guise of needing to be submissive.
Sometimes excuses are made: You must be submissive to your parents, you
know. Or, a threat may be made: Don’t you dare say anything to anyone
because then your mom and I will separate. In this way, you are being manipulated.
The offender goes free, while the victim is made to feel guilty.
Whoever commits a sexual assault against another person commits a grievous
sin. This is especially true when it occurs within a family. Lives are
devastated. Trust is broken. The victims often do not know where to turn.
They are scarred for life.It is therefore so important that we make ourselves available to those who
are abused.
Thought: Turning a blind eye towards incest is a grievous sin.
Psalter 31: 2,3 (based on Psalm 17)
With steadfast courage I design No wrong to speak or do;
Thy path of life I choose for mine And walk with purpose true.
For help, O God, I cry to Thee, Assured that Thou wilt answer me.
O Thou that ever savest those Whose trust on Thee is stayed,
Preserving them from all their foes By Thy almighty aid.
Let me Thy loving-kindness see, Thy wondrous mercy, full and free.
