SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 35
BIBLE VERSES:
“God said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.” So he named him Israel. And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants. The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.” Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him. Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.” (Genesis 35:10-14)
JACOB RETURNS TO BETHEL (vs. 1-15)
God told Jacob to go to Bethel. So Jacob told his household to get rid of all the foreign gods to purity themselves and to go with him to Bethel. They burned all the foreign gods under the oak at Shechem to set out to the land of Canaan. There, he build an altar.
The Lord appeared to Jacob again and blessed him saying: “Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob but Israel”, I am God almighty, be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you and kings will come from your body. The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I also give to you and your descendants” (vs. 11-12). Then God went up. Jacob set up a stone pillar and poured out drink offering and oil. He called the place Bethel.
THE DEATHS OF RACHEL AND ISAAC (vs. 16-29)
Rachel died while giving birth to her son Ben-oni. The father named him Benjamin. Rachel was buried in Bethlehem. Later, Reuben slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah with his father’s knowledge.
THE TWELVE SONS OF JACOB:
Sons of Leah: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Isachar, Zebulun
Sons of Rachel – Joseph, Benjamin
Sons of Rachel’s maidservant, Bilhah – Dan, Nephtali
Sons of Leah’s maid-servant, Zilpah – Gad, Asher
Isaac lived 180 years and died. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
THOUGHTS:
Jacob ordered his household to get rid of their idols. We should also remove the idols in our lives. An idol is anything we put before God. It does not have to be physical objects. They can be wealth, fame, desires, or prestige.
God gave Jacob a new name “Israel” which means “one who struggles with God”. His new name was a tribute to his desire for staying close to God despite his life’s disappointments. Christians are never free of struggles and problems. But we should see them as an opportunities for growth.
Reuben was the oldest entitled to receive a double portion of family’s inheritance. But he slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah. As a consequence, Jaco on his death bed took away Reuben’s double portion and gave it to someone else. Sin’s consequence can plague us long after the sin is committed. We may think that we can escape unnoticed, but remember your sins will find you out.. Sin is quietly bleeding serious consequences.