Text: 2 Samuel 13:1-14
Memory verse:
“But they said, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭35‬:‭6‬

One in four girls and one in ten boys experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. Sexual abuse can be by contact, where an abuser makes physical contact with a child, like rape, sexual touching, forcing a child to take part in sexual activities etc. Non-contact abuse is where a child is abused without being touched by the abuser. This can be in person or online and includes showing pornography, exposing a child to sexual acts, forcing a child to record nude image of self and to share image or video, coercing a child to online sex discussion etc.
One of the primary ways to guard against sexual abuse is to equip children with knowledge. If Dinah was well informed, she wouldn’t have gone on that careless visitation or gone unaccompanied (Gen 34:1-2). Jacob and Leah were so busy that they exposed their teenage girl. This is parental negligence! Most child abusers or accomplices are close friends or relatives. Jonadab was Amnon’s cousin and close friend, yet Amnon’s mother didn’t discern whom he was. While our children were still growing up, there were times when we had to separate them from negative friends. Likewise, Tamar was so naive that she didn’t suspect anything even with the signs that Amnon presented, nor did she shout out to alert the people around. Years ago, when one of our children was still in his late adolescence, he returned from school one day to confirm what some friends just told him. He asked, “Mum, is it true that once a boy experiences wet dreams, it means he is ripe for sex?” As parents, you need to be knowledgeable, be available and approachable so you can equip your children (Jer 35: 5-6). Teach them about their private and public parts and how to set boundaries; to open up any sexual advances early; to separate from evil friends, to dress decently and to avoid visiting tempting places. As parents and children, what can you learn from the Rechabites?

Prayer points
1. Father, equip our children with knowledge and please protect them from sexual abuses in Jesus name.
2. Father, fill us with wisdom and knowledge we need to make right choices in life in Jesus name.

Today’s declarations
1. A child who knows nothing about chastity and sexual abuse may be the next victim.
2. You can’t teach or avoid what you don’t know, so pay the price to know today.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng