Study From the Book of Genesis,35

Study From the Book of Genesis,35

As I studied chapter 35 of the Book of Genesis, I chose two biblical principles and their lessons which are useful in Biblical Counselling.

God, for the fifth time, visited Jacob. After the debacle at Shechem, God told Jacob to continue travelling to Bethel, the place where God had first appeared to him. Again, Jacob retracted his grandfather Abraham’s route. God commanded an alter to be made for Him. Abraham constructed an altar, but no divine command was recorded.

Jacob commanded his household to purify themselves and to remove the idols to include the household idols that Rachel had stolen as well as any idols among his servants. These foreign gods were gods of other people, not of Jacob. Indeed, the only true and living God is Jacob’s God.  The Family then prepared for an encounter with the living God.

Jacob intension to obey God’s command who answered him and had been with him. He recalled God’s protection and His fulfilment of His promises. God protected Jacob’s family as they travelled and renewed His everlasting covenant with Jacob. This is the eighth passage dealing with the Abrahamic covenant. God validated Jacob’s name as Israel. Note that Genesis uses the names Jacob and Israel interchangeably. God used His great name El Shadai or God Almighty to attest His strong relationship with Jacob.

On arrival to Bathel, Jacob built a pillar. This is the second pillar that Jacob set up to commemorate God’s revelation at Bethel. Jacob consecrated the pillar by pouring wine and oil over it in Bethlehem, Ephrath where Benjamin was borne. One day the king of Glory would be born near to this place.

Rachel in her labour with Benjamin, she died.  Before she died called the son “Ben -Oni” literally the “Son of Sorrow”. However, Jacob changed the name to Benjamin indicates his youngest son had special place in the family. The name means” Jacob’s right hand.” Benjamin would commemorate his beloved wife. Rachel was buried at the Cave of Machpelah.

Reuben Jacob’s first borne son (may have been asserting his right to be the principal heir) felt slighted by Jacob’s implication that the youngest son Benjamin was the son of his father’s right hand. By sleeping with his father’s concubine, Reuben wanted to be  asserted  that he would succeed his father. Ironically, this very action caused him to lose the blessing he desired.

After twenty years of absence, Jacob finally visited his father. Sadly, his mother Rebekah was probably dead since she is not mentioned. Isaac then died. The expression “gathered to his people” may also suggest a belief in the afterlife. Esau and Jacab joined together to burry Isaac in the cave of Machpelah. Leah and Jacob later would be buried there also.

Structure

Verses: 1- 15: Jacob’s return to Bethel.

Verses 16-22: death of Rachel.

Verses 23-26: Jacob’s twelve sons.

Verses 27-29: the death of Isaac.

Principle 59: verse 35:2:  ---“And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, ‘Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments’.”

Lesson 59:  God calls for our exclusive allegiance, not allegiances to God and something or someone else, but allegiance to God alone. He will accept no other kind of loyalty.

Principle 60, verse 35: 5: --"And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.”

Lesson 59: God knows how to use even a feeling of terror to protect His people. (10/5/2026).