Review of Genesis 35

— by Victor Fawole

After his “japa” from home, Jacob spent 20 years with Laban, left there only to settle in Shechem for another 10 years. Those 30 years culminated with the sexual assault of his daughter Dinah, and his son’s resulting vengeful acts of mass murder, theft, and kidnapping.

Gen. 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

Jacob knew that he and his family were already in danger of extermination from the neighbouring nations. But God showed mercy and grace. He called Jacob “home” to Bethel. Let us review together:

1. BACK TO BETHEL

Gen. 35:1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

The “silence” from God in chapter 34 was broken here with a call to worship. This was God’s gracious way of reminding him that he was not at the right place and wasn’t doing the right thing. This call has four key action points:

• The Calling: “arise…”
• The Climbing: “go up to Bethel…”
• The Camping: “dwell there…”
• The Cleansing: “make an altar…”

Jacob’s actions were clearly directed. You will notice:

• His Proclamation: “I will make there an altar unto God…”
• God’s Preservation: “who answered me in the day of my distress…”
• God’s Presence: “was with me in the way which I went…”

Jacob remembered God’s goodness towards him – the goodness that leads to repentance (Rom. 2:4). When we devote ourselves – in our minds and mouths – to recounting the memories of God’s goodness to us, we will be more motivated to live as thanksgivers, and not complainers. Permit me to recommend Pastor Dammy’s sermon titled: “Developing a Thanksgiving Spirit”

2. BLESSED BY BEWILDERMENT

Gen. 35:5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

“…the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them…” Oh wow! This grasped my attention. It was like God cast a canopy of protection on Jacob and his family. This is an act of grace! Where their sins abounded (deception, theft, vengeance, murder, name it!), grace did much more abound!

These neighbouring cities had the ability to destroy Jacob and his family, but they were restrained from pursuing or destroying them. These cities were bewildered by a divine terror that fell upon them – a bewilderment that was a blessing to Jacob. They felt like hurting Jacob and his family but they were terribly scared to attempt it. Considering the number, size, power, and anger of their enemies, it was only by divine security that Jacob’s family could be spared. The Bible is replete with examples of divine restraint in order to protect God’s people:

• Abimelech (Gen. 20:6)
• The People of Jericho (Jos. 2:9)
• The Enemies of Israel (Exo. 23:27, Deut. 11:25))
• The Enemies of Judah (2Chro. 17:10)

Again and again, God used his divine terror for the protection of His people. There are many times that God has used His terror on men’s minds to shield us from their pre-planned evils that we are not aware of – just as we are not told in this chapter if Jacob was aware of the divine protection that he and his family enjoyed.

2Thess. 3:2-3 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

God’s protection is available for us every day of our lives. And I pray that His divine terror will frustrate the plans that wicked and unreasonable men have against us in Jesus’ name.

Amen!

3. BIRTH OF BENJAMIN

Gen. 35:16-20 16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.

I can only imagine how emotional Rachel’s death must have been for Jacob. She was the love of his life. She was practically the only woman he loved all his life. His beloved was gone forever. Oh, thank You Abba for giving Your Beloved Son for my salvation! (John 3:16) Jesus is God’s Beloved – who died in order to make me one of God’s beloveds.

However, I will love to focus on Benjamin. We can draw a lot of parallels from His birth. We have a lot of things to be grateful for when we consider certain details about his birth. Let us consider some:

• Benjamin was born on the way to Bethlehem (Gen. 35:19). Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:1).
• Rachel suffered hard labor and died (Gen. 35: 16–18). Jesus faced excruciating pain and suffering, and then paid for our sins on the cross, after which He died physically.
• Rachel died, that her son might live (Gen. 35:18). Jesus died, that we might live (Rom. 5:6)
• Rachel named him “Benoni”, meaning “a son of my sorrow” (Gen. 35:18). For our sakes, Jesus became “a man of sorrows” (Isa. 53:3, Matt. 26:38)
• Jacob named him “Benjamin”, meaning “the son of my right hand” (Gen. 35:18). Jesus Christ is the “Son on God’s right hand” (Luke 22:69)

Although Benjamin was born on the way to Bethlehem, our Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Although Rachel died forever, our Lord Jesus died and rose again. Although we are not always on point, Jesus is our main point. Although we are not perfect on our own, Jesus is our perfection and righteousness. For every “althoughs” in our lives, Jesus is the answer!

Hallelujah!

Grace to you, Church!