Genesis 35

Present Reality and Future Hope

Illus: Athletes sacrificing for their future prize. Sacrifice family, relationships, and their bodies. For what?

Michael Phelps—calories.

1. In times of uncertainty we must repent and seek the Lord 1-7

In response to Jacob’s failures in : God intervenes and reminds Jacob in his mercy that He has made promises to Jacob and will not go back on his word. Now it is Jacob’s turn to be true to his word.

In Jacob was fleeing from his brother Esau and at Bethel God spoke to him in a dream, revealed his presence on the earth, and Jacob made a vow to worship the Lord.

Jacob is commanded to “Build an Altar”—first time anyone has been commanded but similar to Abraham’s call in

Genesis 22:2 CSB

“Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

The Lord is calling on Jacob to repent from his comfort and fear and to obey the Lord. He truly is a God who is slow to anger.

Jacob calls for the removal of false gods and a cleansing of his family in order to prepare to worship the living God.

Psalm 24:3–4 CSB

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not appealed to what is false, and who has not sworn deceitfully.

Psalm 24:3 CSB

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?

God demands inward and outward purity. They must not act like they have in previous chapters.

Jacob acknowledges that God has been with him in the past. Therefore, his fear of the Canaanites is now gone.

Earrings may have been from the bounty collected in .

At last, Jacob steps out and God steps up. A TERROR from God keeps Jacob and his family safe as they travel to Bethel. —> As Israel would go from the wilderness to the Promise Land God promises to do the same thing but the fear of the Giants becomes too much for them and so they wonder for 40 years in the wilderness.

Will we be like Jacob or Israel? Will we live, crippled by fear, or in faith knowing that God is in control.

El-bethel (God of Bethel).

Deborah—Rebekah’s nurse…it is ironic that the death of Jacob’s mother is not mentioned but her nurses is. It seems to imply that Rebekah passed away while Jacob was with Laban for 20 years.

---While we can be forgiven and redeemed from sin: IT LEAVES SCARS---

2. In times of uncertainty we must trust God’s Word. 8-15

Similar to Abraham and Isaac’s story in God re-affirms His promises to Jacob after he obeys.

It will be to this word of affirmation form the Lord that Jacob will look back to at the end of his life in

Genesis 48:3–4 CSB

Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. He said to me, ‘I will make you fruitful and numerous; I will make many nations come from you, and I will give this land as a permanent possession to your future descendants.’

It is not explained why God would have changed Jacob’s name, it is implied that the reader has read that story already.

---we must know the story of God in order to see how the Bible works and is put together---

Rebekah was told two nations were in her womb. Jacob’s family will turn into a nation.

Kings will come from Jacob

Genesis 17:6 CSB

I will make you extremely fruitful and will make nations and kings come from you.

Genesis 17:3 CSB

Then Abram fell facedown and God spoke with him:

Thus is a few statements the long range promises are summed up and Jacob should have complete faith because the short term promises have been fulfilled by the Lord.

In light of God’s word…Jacob respond in faith and worships him.

---How do you respond to God’s word?---

3. In times of uncertainty we must be driven by our future hope. 16-29

While we all desire for life to be filled with joy and happiness we are constantly reminded of the weight of sin and need for complete rescue.

Christianity isn’t about an altar call…a feeling....a moment…Jesus is very clear when he tells his disciples to take up their crosses and follow him.

Genesis 30:24 CSB

She named him Joseph and said, “May the Lord add another son to me.”

Death at childbirth was more common in the ANE than it is for us today, though it still happens today.

Genesis 30:1 CSB

When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she envied her sister. “Give me sons, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.

It was ultimately the gift of children that killed her.

She aptly names him my son of sorrow. While she had made children her idol she finally understands that children cannot replace the Lord. No idol can.

Jacob however renames him Benjamin—son of my right hand.

Rachel is not buried in the cave with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebekah.

______

Reuben resented that Rachel was his father’s favorite wife and wanted to assure that her slave would not replace Rachel as Jacob’s favorite. This is also a claim of authority over his father.

Jacob’s sins have been forgiven, but that does not mean that the reality of his short comings will not haunt him.

Those who attend church weekly will pass their faith along to their kids 59% of the time compared to 31% of those who attend monthly or 26% for those who attend once a year. Church matters.

Leviticus 18:8 CSB

You are not to have sex with your father’s wife; she is your father’s family.

—clarifying remark about sexual misconduct—

Does Jacob not care? Does he not have control over his children? Or any authority over them? This is an important question left unanswered right before the Jospeh story.

Jacob is still struggling with his passivity and it has taken a toll on his sons. His family is still divided.

Jacob’s son’s list is again preparing us for the Jospeh story.

As Ishmael and Isaac came together for their father Abraham’s burial so here Esau and Jacob appear together for their father’s burial.

Hebrews 11:13 CSB

These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.

Hebrews 11:13

Hebrews 11:39–40 CSB

All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.

Hebt