Genesis 35
Pastor Mark Hudson
The last time Jacob was running away from trouble was when he left his father’s house in Gen. 27:42ff. Now Jacob is leaving Shechem because his sons murdered the men of Shechem. Jacob appears rather passive in these stories. Now he is told to go to Bethel and dwell there. He is returning to the place “when you fled from your brother Esau” v. 1. Notice the first thing Jacob does is to ask his family to “put away all the foreign gods, purify yourselves and change your garments.” There is something important here. We are often called to put off and put on (Eph 4:22, 24; Col. 2:11; 3:9-10;). We put off the old nature and put on the new. We are reminded that approaching God requires us to prepare and repent. There is a holy obligation to change not our garments but our lives so we reflect His holiness and also live obedient lives.
Jacob knows God has been faithful to him. “(God) has been with me wherever I have gone” v. 3. Jacob, like any believer, has his ups and downs with his walk with God. But Jacob knew God had always been faithful to him. Jacob is quite concerned about is his enemies. His family is a small and young group. Jacob’s enemies could overpower him yet God protected him. “A terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.
Now Jacob has to fulfill the vow we read about in 28:20-22. He builds and altar and called the place ‘God of the house of God’. Jacob has seen the faithfulness of God when he, Jacob, was not faithful. So much could have gone wrong and Jacob would have deserved any punishment. But now he is safe. Then tucked in v. 8, is recorded the death of Rebekah’s servant. She might be close to 180 years spanning the lives of the 3 patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. She may have been almost a mother to Jacob. She is a loss in his life . Jacob is a man who experienced a variety of losses. Kathleen Dalton wrote a book titled: Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life. We could title Jacob’s life that way. Than man walked long distances, worked hard, fathered children, and experienced God’s blessing, as well as deep loss.
Then God appears to Jacob again and blesses Jacob. His name is Israel but no etymology is given. Is this to remove the phrase ‘struggle with God’? God keeps blessing Jacob. Jacob is ordered, commanded, to be fruitful and multiply. Jacob seems to do that in a short period of time. Kings and a nation shall come from you (17:6) and the land is to be given to Jacob. God insists on blessing Jacob. Not due to Jacob’s obedience but the unceasing grace of God.
Notice that Jacob responds to God in worship. He makes a vow as we mentioned in 28:20-22. He is told to make an altar in v. 1. He commands his family to follow only Yahweh and put away all their foreign gods. Jacob builds an altar in v. 7. He makes a pillar of stone in vs. 14-15. The longer Jacob lives the less he is Jacob and the more he is Israel. God is using the grit of Jacob’s life to smooth out his rough edges which is what God does with us. We give him nothing but grief and He turns that into material to smooth us out, to polish us to become more like His Son.
This chapter is filled with quick snippets of life that are mentioned but not explained. In v. 22, this is another place where we see the disfunction of Jacob’s family. We might see Reuben’s sin as lust or adultery. But, this also may be a power play. Reuben is Leah’s son. Rachel, the favorite wife has passed away, and as soon as Rachel’s death is narrated, Reuben attempts to upset the family and take over leadership from his father. This is probably less about sex and more about power. There is animosity between the sons of Leah and Joseph as we shall read about in chapters 37ff. What Reuben did was a serious breach of civility and family love. Jacob never forgot what Reuben did (Gen 49:4) which foreshadows what Absalom did in II Sam. 16:21-22. Both of these acts are sin against a holy God and terrible abuse of women.
Finally we read of Isaac who at 180 years, dies and both Esau and Jacob bury their father. While they do not seem to be close, it is no small thing that they are together when Isaac dies and seem to exhibit some measure of reconciliation or at least have reached a point where they can be together for a time. We would have never thought that possible in chapter 27 when Esau says, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob” (27:41). He was wrong on both counts.
Dr John Sailhammer writes, “. . . this section represents a major turning point and thematic focus. Two lines which have thus far run parallel are about to converge, and out of them both, will emerge a single theme. Jacob has two wives, each representing a possible line through which the promise would be carried on: the line of Rachel, namely, the house of Joseph, and the line of Leah, the house of Judah” (Sailhammer, The Pentateuch as Narrative, p. 203. 1992).
Joseph could contend for the blessing but in the end, it is Judah son of Leah, the wife loved less, who gains the blessing. Clearly, Joseph is much better person than Judah. Jacob would certainly favor Joseph over Judah. The last part of Genesis portrays Joseph as the more righteous. But, once again as we see time and time again, God chooses. And His choice stands.
Dear heavenly Father, build us up through Your Holy Spirit. Help us to see the mystery and mercy of the gospel and to be content with Your calling. How you love to bless us. You bless those that don’t deserve it so please bless us. Bless us so we then will be prompted to share the good news of Christ with others. In Christ’s majestic name, Amen.