GENESIS
CHAPTER
35
1. God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau".
(Genesis chapter 35 verse 1)
Although for Jacob life may had settled in the sense of having established a daily routine, save for the every day trivial squabbles, amongst themselves as a family or litigation's at times with the inhabitants, God at times decides to break the established pattern by asking us to move on in life. I used to work at many work places, however when, the time came to move on, God created a situation, where the option was to either quit my work or be terminated. At the time I rebelled against God but later on in life on reflecting, I thank Him for permitting such events to have taken place, because if such events did not take place I could not have moved on in my life. Moreover I would not be praying on line by means of the Word of God and sharing my prayers and experience with whoever God permits to access this blog.
2. So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your clothes; 3 then come, let us go up to Bethel, that I may make an altar there to the God who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone." 4 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had and the rings that were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak that was near Shechem.
(Genesis chapter 35 verses 2 to 4)
It seems that even good people can become contaminated. Due to the murder that the sons of Jacob had committed on Hamor, shechem and his people, the sons of Jacob had greatly sinned. Therefore this great sin created a great barricade between God and humanity that, only God could remove by means of his forgiveness. On the other hand the sons of Jacob were to prove by means of an external act that they were sorry for what they had done. Therefore they gave Jacob all the foreign pagan gods that they had had in their possession so that Jacob could dispose of them so that they would be no more. Our God is a jealous God who wants to be the one and only God in our lives. Therefore other gods have no place in our life, if we decide to follow God the father.
5. As they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities all around them, so that no one pursued them.
(Genesis chapter 33 verse 5)
God proved to Jacob and his offspring that He was indeed with Jacob along the way to Bethel, which was a holy place because God had blessed the place with his presence. God made his power felt as much as his love. This is proved by the fact, that terror fell on the surrounding cities, however Jacob and his offspring did not experience such a negative feeling. On the way to Bethel Jacob ventured through neighbouring cities. His presence as a foreigner was bound to stimulate social unrest, especially when people would see the great number of family, offspring and herds. However God protected Jacob from the possibility of aggressive action.
6. Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, 7 and there he built an altar and called the place El-betel, because it was there that God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother.
(Genesis chapter 35 verses 6 to 7)
El-betel had become a very important place for Jacob. This was the place where Jacob had made his peak experience of God. On reflecting we may all remember, places, people or moments during which we made a peak experience of God that has been of a positive influence for all our lives.
8. And Deborah, Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. So it was called Allon-bacuth.
(Genesis chapter 35 verse 8)
There comes a time in our life, whether we experience a time of death. This may either come at an untimely moment when a person is still young, as in the case of a sudden illness or accident, or it may come as a result of an advanced age amongst other reasons. However during such cases, there is always a death and a birth. On reflecting it can be said that the physical body dies, however the soul is 'born' in the sense that it is now free from the physical and sinful limitations of the body and is free to appear before God and make an actual experience of Him.
9. God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and he blessed him. 10 God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; no longer shall you be called Jacob but Israel shall be your name." So he was called Israel. 11 God said to him, "I am God Almighty, be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall spring from you. 12 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you."
(Genesis chapter 35 verses 9 to 12)
On having made the experience of death Jacob who I imagine is now advanced in age, may have felt that his time had come. Moreover Jacob may have felt put down by the same event. During such moments of desolation, God is prompt to intervene in our lives in order to brighten up our demoralised spirits and revive us again. God did so with Jacob. He fulfilled to Jacob the same promise that God had originally made to his forefathers, meaning Abraham and Isaac.
13. Then God went up from him at the place where he had spoken with him. 14 Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it. 15 So Jacob called the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.
(Genesis chapter 35 verses 13 to 15)
During this era the anointing of a column had the mentioned significance. However on reflecting we can do the same thing but in a different way. By means of mother technology, that God backs up when it is used to enhance human well being and not to destroy it, God permitted the creation of video cameras or digital cameras. These devices have the ability to capture precious moments in our lives when God intervened in our life, such as our birth, Holy Communion, time of confirmation, ordination, wedding day and many other significant moments. These are golden moments when God manifested Himself to us, and we decided to say yes to Him in order to accept Him as our one and only God in our lives. These are indeed sacred moments that are to be treasured and even commemorated. As a family we have framed our baptismal, Holy Communion and even marriage certificates in order to always remember these important moments in our life.
16. Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel was in childbirth, and she had hard labor. 17 When she was in her hard labour, the midwife said to her; "Do not be afraid; for now you will have another son." 18 As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is Bethlehem), 20 and Jacob set up a pillar at her grave; it is the pillar of Rachel's tomb, which is there to this day. 21 Israel journeyed on, and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
(Genesis chapter 35 verses 16 to 21)
At times like Rachel it is very hard to give birth, even on a spiritual level. As in the case of physical labour as in childbirth the baby faces physical limitations as according to our human nature. On a spiritual level our humans nature which is lazy and egoistic imposes boundaries on our spiritual self, thus making the birth of God in our lives more difficult than ever. The devil attempts to abort the birth of God's presence in us. It may be that only on the point of death, do we acknowledge God as our own personal God and not before. The process of development would have lasted a life time, which would have, reached its apex during that critical moment, as in labour when the baby is born but still in the process of being ejected out of the womb to start its life. During such moment maybe at our death, there are some who keep on denying God and there are some who experience the love of God and change their lives.
22. While Israel lived in that land Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23 The sons of Leah; Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maid: Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah's maid: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
(Genesis chapter 35 verses 22 to 26)
On reflecting it seems that even after the murder of Hamor, Shechem and their descendants sin remained much alive in Jacob's family. His son Reuben slept with his father's concubine which is in itself is a sinful act. However even through such illicit acts, God's plan for our salvation continues to unfold. Through Abraham and his offspring that included Jacob a nation was to be born. From a couple of two people meaning Leah and Jacob and Rachel, the number of offspring continued to increase to a total of twelve sons as in the breakdown referred to in verses 22 to 26 of chapter 35 of the book of Genesis.
27. Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had resided as aliens. 28 Now the days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years. 29 And Isaac breathed his last; he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
(Genesis chapter 35 verses 27 to 29)
When referring to Genesis chapter 25, Isaac can be found in the following category in the post flood-generation chart on the criteria of time lived on earth
(Genesis chapter 35 verse 8)
There comes a time in our life, whether we experience a time of death. This may either come at an untimely moment when a person is still young, as in the case of a sudden illness or accident, or it may come as a result of an advanced age amongst other reasons. However during such cases, there is always a death and a birth. On reflecting it can be said that the physical body dies, however the soul is 'born' in the sense that it is now free from the physical and sinful limitations of the body and is free to appear before God and make an actual experience of Him.
9. God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and he blessed him. 10 God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; no longer shall you be called Jacob but Israel shall be your name." So he was called Israel. 11 God said to him, "I am God Almighty, be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall spring from you. 12 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you."
(Genesis chapter 35 verses 9 to 12)
On having made the experience of death Jacob who I imagine is now advanced in age, may have felt that his time had come. Moreover Jacob may have felt put down by the same event. During such moments of desolation, God is prompt to intervene in our lives in order to brighten up our demoralised spirits and revive us again. God did so with Jacob. He fulfilled to Jacob the same promise that God had originally made to his forefathers, meaning Abraham and Isaac.
13. Then God went up from him at the place where he had spoken with him. 14 Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it. 15 So Jacob called the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.
(Genesis chapter 35 verses 13 to 15)
During this era the anointing of a column had the mentioned significance. However on reflecting we can do the same thing but in a different way. By means of mother technology, that God backs up when it is used to enhance human well being and not to destroy it, God permitted the creation of video cameras or digital cameras. These devices have the ability to capture precious moments in our lives when God intervened in our life, such as our birth, Holy Communion, time of confirmation, ordination, wedding day and many other significant moments. These are golden moments when God manifested Himself to us, and we decided to say yes to Him in order to accept Him as our one and only God in our lives. These are indeed sacred moments that are to be treasured and even commemorated. As a family we have framed our baptismal, Holy Communion and even marriage certificates in order to always remember these important moments in our life.
16. Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel was in childbirth, and she had hard labor. 17 When she was in her hard labour, the midwife said to her; "Do not be afraid; for now you will have another son." 18 As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is Bethlehem), 20 and Jacob set up a pillar at her grave; it is the pillar of Rachel's tomb, which is there to this day. 21 Israel journeyed on, and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
(Genesis chapter 35 verses 16 to 21)
At times like Rachel it is very hard to give birth, even on a spiritual level. As in the case of physical labour as in childbirth the baby faces physical limitations as according to our human nature. On a spiritual level our humans nature which is lazy and egoistic imposes boundaries on our spiritual self, thus making the birth of God in our lives more difficult than ever. The devil attempts to abort the birth of God's presence in us. It may be that only on the point of death, do we acknowledge God as our own personal God and not before. The process of development would have lasted a life time, which would have, reached its apex during that critical moment, as in labour when the baby is born but still in the process of being ejected out of the womb to start its life. During such moment maybe at our death, there are some who keep on denying God and there are some who experience the love of God and change their lives.
22. While Israel lived in that land Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23 The sons of Leah; Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maid: Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah's maid: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
(Genesis chapter 35 verses 22 to 26)
On reflecting it seems that even after the murder of Hamor, Shechem and their descendants sin remained much alive in Jacob's family. His son Reuben slept with his father's concubine which is in itself is a sinful act. However even through such illicit acts, God's plan for our salvation continues to unfold. Through Abraham and his offspring that included Jacob a nation was to be born. From a couple of two people meaning Leah and Jacob and Rachel, the number of offspring continued to increase to a total of twelve sons as in the breakdown referred to in verses 22 to 26 of chapter 35 of the book of Genesis.
27. Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had resided as aliens. 28 Now the days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years. 29 And Isaac breathed his last; he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
(Genesis chapter 35 verses 27 to 29)
When referring to Genesis chapter 25, Isaac can be found in the following category in the post flood-generation chart on the criteria of time lived on earth
Abram fathered children when he was eighty-six years old (died at 175 years)
Shem when 100 years old fathered children and died at 500 years
Isaac lived 180 years and fathered two sons Esau and Jacob known as Israel
Isaac lived 180 years and fathered two sons Esau and Jacob known as Israel
Arpachshad when 35 years old fathered children and died at 400 years.
Shelah when 30 years old fathered children and died at 403 years.
Eber fathered children when 34 years old and died at 430 years.
Peleg fathered children at 30 years old and died at 209 years.
Reu fathered children at 32 years old and died at 207 years.
Serug fathered children at 30 years old and died at 200 years.
Nahor fathered children at 29 years old.
(Genesis chapter 25)
When we have fulfilled our role in God's plan for our salvation in a way that of the world, God calls us back to our heavenly home in order to spend the remaining time of our existence either in his presence or in eternal hell forever. The choice is totally ours.
In light of the teachings that God gave us on reflecting on chapter 35 of the book of Genesis, I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:
Oh God Almighty my heavenly father, thank you for the peak moments in my life. Thank for that day when you gave me my initial calling, when you told me to leave everything and follow you. Although I was discouraged by some to believe this revelation as being true I can never forget this precious moment that was so strong that it had a strong impact on my whole life. Thank you for speaking personally to me.
I would also like to thank you for you presence in my life. Every day part of me dies, so that one day, you can have full control over me and I will act according to your Holy Will without having the will of interfering with your plans. Oh God although you do not force yourself on me, I freely and willingly give myself to you, so that with each passing day, you can mould me, from the sinful person, that I am into one, who lives and behaves according to your Holy Will.
Thank You God
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