Recap: (For Genesis chapters 1-18 see Genesis 18 recap).
So far in the second section of Genesis, we have looked at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham’s move to the area between Gerar and Beersheba, the birth of Isaac and the driving out of Ishmael, the offering of Isaac, Esau’s attitude to his birthright and Isaac’s deceit in taking the blessing intended for Esau, and Isaac’s swift departure to Paddan Aram. We have seen Isaac’s marriage to Leah and Rachel, the birth of his children and his growth in prosperity. We also witnessed his escape from Laban, his journey where he wrestled with God and received the name Israel, and meeting with Esau. Last time we saw the rape of Dinah and the destruction of Shechem.
Read Genesis 35:1-15
At the end of the last chapter Jacob was again fearful that he would be attacked and ‘I and my household will be destroyed’.
I like to think that the despair he felt actually led Jacob to pray!
1 Then God said to Jacob, ‘Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.’
What is God reminding Jacob of? What happened at Bethel when Jacob was fleeing for his life? (Recap from Genesis 28:10-22)
I think that God was particularly reminding Jacob of Genesis 28:20-22
20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God 22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.’
Jacob was reminded; and he acknowledged that God had kept his side of the bargain v3: ‘he has been with me wherever I have gone.’
More than that, Jacob had asked only for ‘food to eat, clothes to wear, and safe return’ – yet he was now head of a large prosperous tribe, and at last takes responsibility for its spiritual direction.
2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, ‘Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. 3 Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.’
Let’s look at this passage in detail:
- Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you. What were these?
We saw earlier that when they left Laban’s house Rachel had stolen the Teraphim (household gods). It is likely that she still had these (or this). Also the people they brought with them as part of their entourage may well have had their own idols. Also, amongst the spoil taken from Shechem there may well have been idols of silver or gold.
And the women from Shechem would probably at least have been able to keep their earrings. It seems that these may have been used in the same way that today people wear ‘charm’ bracelets, and were made of shell, bone, wood, or even silver or gold. ‘Charms’ were worn as a form of amulet or talisman to not only ward off evil spirits and bad luck, but to positively encourage good luck.
What’s wrong with that?
All such charms, amulets, and talismans directly pointed to a power that was not of God. Some would be carved to represent a particular god, some would be animistic in form, some would be ‘imbued with power’ – but anything that claims to have power that is not from God is satanic at its root. To even own one, knowing its purpose, is an affront to Almighty God.
- Purify yourselves. What would that involve?
This would probably involve washing, but more than outward cleansing; it required a change of heart
- Change your clothes. Why? Because they had been in constant contact with the old life, and the new life they were now commencing needed to be untainted by recent events. And it was a visible outward sign that the whole community was making a fresh start. Those who might find it difficult would be encouraged that they were all together in this.
- Then come, let us go up to Bethel. Why Bethel?
Because God had told him to go there (v1)! Bethel, meaning ‘house of God’, was the new name given to Luz by Jacob when he previously encountered God and made his vow to him (Genesis 28:10-22).
- I will build an altar to God. Why? Again, because God had told him to (v1)! But also because Jacob now really wanted to give thanks and praise to God ‘who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.’
Let’s move on:
4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem.
Why?
Items of Stone or metal couldn’t be destroyed by fire. So I assume they were not put in the ground to be found later, but buried deep enough that an individual would not attempt to recover anything.
Also burial is an act of finality.
They are now ready to enter a new phase in their lives, moving forward with God.
5 Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.
Could someone describe ‘the terror of God’?
How did it fall ‘on the towns all around them’?
6 Jacob and all the people with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan. 7 There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.
‘El Bethel’ means ‘God of the house of God’. This was to Jacob a truly holy place and as he arrived I’m sure that the memories of the ‘staircase to heaven’ and his meeting with God would have flooded back.
8 Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under the oak outside Bethel. So it was named Allon Bakuth.
As names can be confusing, who was Rebekah?
Sister of Laban by her father Bethuel (Genesis 24:24,29), wife of Isaac, mother of Jacob and Esau.
Where had Isaac and Rebekah been living?
When we last heard of them they had settled in Beersheba, fifty miles to the south of Bethel.
This suggests that perhaps Isaac and Rebekah had travelled to Bethel to visit the son they had not seen for about twenty five years, and as always, Deborah would have gone too.
Deborah had been chosen as nurse for Rebekah – probably from birth, and had obviously been a constant companion and trusted friend all her life. Her death was a sad time for the whole family – Allon Bakuth means ‘place of weeping’. What might have been a record of a joyful family reunion was eclipsed by this sad event.
They did not stay at Bethel, but before moving on God again appeared to Jacob, perhaps in response to his desire to reconsecrate himself and his entire household.
9 After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. 10 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.
11 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. 12 The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.’ 13 Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him.
Again, God repeats his covenant promise, but now expanding it to mention (v11) that ‘kings will be among your descendants’. Jacob couldn’t have known all that the name Israel would mean to us today, but God hints at it here.
Following this latest meeting I believe that Jacob really understood how the Lord had been leading in his and his ancestor’s lives, and was now ready to respond in true worship – and move forward with God
14 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. 15 Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.
