The Judge of all the earth looked down and stated firmly to His servant, Moses, “But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:
“But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:” (Deuteronomy 22:25-26 KJV).
The verdict was indisputable: the act of rape attracted the death penalty as far as God was concerned.
God hates and judges sin of any kind. However, among the sins for which He prescribed instant judgment in the days of old, rape and sexual impurity were singled out.
How Was Rape Handled in the Bible?
The problem of sexual assault against women was never brushed under the carpet or hushed up in Bible days.
In fact, three accounts of such sexual assaults precipitated civil war.
▪️Dinah
Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, was violated by Prince Shechem. This incited her brothers to murder him, his father and all the men in his city in revenge (Genesis 34).
▪️The Concubine of Bethlehem-judah
After an unnamed concubine was gang-raped to death by idolatrous Benjamites. The other eleven tribes of Israel got wind of their heinous act and went to war against them (Judges 19-21).
▪️Tamar
Tamar was raped by Amnon, her half-brother. This incited her own brother, Absalom, to kill him in vengeance (2 Samuel 13).
Thus, rape was neither covered up nor ignored. Rather, it triggered a response of wrath and vengeance.
God’s Frown at Sexual Injustice Against Women
The punishment for adultery was the death of both parties involved, but God made a distinction for rape. The punishment for rape was DEATH FOR THE RAPIST ONLY — as seen in the previously stated passage of Deuteronomy 22:25,26.
The Root Cause of Rape
Incidences in the Bible allude to the sin of lust as the root cause of this sexual injustice. The known perpetrators of rape in the Bible — Shechem, Amnon and the idolatrous Benjamites — had traits of lust in them which aggravated their evil desire to commit these acts.
Do you derive pleasure in any form of sexual impurity: Lust? Adultery? Fornication? Immorality? Paedophilia? Pornography? Masturbation? Emotional affairs? Wife battery? Forced marriage? et cetera? Please note: you may be a potential rapist!
Lust is a feeling of strong desire driven by sexual arousal. It starts by merely looking at someone with immoral intentions. “And when Shechem… saw (Dinah), he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her” (Genesis 34:2). Job, knowing the consequences of lust, said, “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” (Job 31:1).
Lust Leads to Sin
Ever wondered why Jesus warned against this when He said, “…whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28)? He knew that staring at a woman in a lustful way would often lead to sexual immorality, including rape.
No sinner is justified from this act because lust can be found at the root of sin. Invariably, every sinner is a potential rapist. This is because lust is deeply embedded in the heart of man and has a demonic force which propels the sinner to commit this evil. A man who has not received the grace of salvation from sin is at a high risk of being used by the devil to rape another. Why? Because he has no power to say no to sin and its forces. He is a slave to sin.
Do you derive pleasure in any form of sexual impurity: Lust? Adultery? Fornication? Immorality? Paedophilia? Pornography? Masturbation? Emotional affairs? Wife battery? Forced marriage? et cetera? Please note: you may be a potential rapist!
The Penalty vs The Remedy for Rapists
Many people have advocated the death penalty for rapists. Have you also considered that the consequences (wages) of sin generally, is death? (Romans 6:23).
God is merciful and not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9).
No sin is greater than the other before God. Rapists, murderers, robbers, gossips, fornicators, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars are the same in His sight and shall all “have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.” (Revelation 21:8).
Are you a sinner who is yet to heed the call of salvation? No sinner can stop himself from sinning, for “…whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” (John 8:34). The only way to avoid eternal punishment for your sins is to seek repentance from them, and abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
God is Merciful
God is merciful and not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9). Why not make this decision today and avoid an eternity in the lake of hell fire?
Remember, it’s not just rapists who deserve the death penalty, but all who reject the price that Jesus paid on Calvary’s cross for the sins of mankind. Freedom is assured for all who will come to God in repentance through Jesus Christ. For “if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36).
