The Covenant Promise Renewed

Genesis 35:1-29

In the previous chapter of Genesis we have an occurrence where Simeon and Levi slaughter a city of men after of men are promised to peace. This brought Jacob stress because he was afraid that the surrounding areas would take offense to the slaughter, and attack Jacob and his men. Which they would not be able to withstand.

The scriptures here start with God calling Jacob back to Bethel. Bethel is special to Jacob because this is the place where Jacob saw the vision of the ladder that reach into heaven, and where he saw angels ascending and descending that ladder. This reminded Jacob that God was highly involved in human affairs, and that Jacob should not forget that God made a covenant with him that He intended on keeping. Bethel, or Beth-El, means the “house of God.” When God calls on Jacob to return to Bethel, this memorable location, it jogs Jacobs memory and convicts his life. He immediately rises and tells his family to put away all foreign gods. They must do away with everything that would rival or upset God, and they must turn their focus to Him. Everything that Rachel and his other wives had taken from their homes in Haran, Jacob buried. Burying items were a symbol of separating yourself from a belief. Jacob even went as far as to have them take the clothes off their backs, wash themselves clean, and put on a new set. They are now a family that is 100% stripped of their idols and memorabilia of the past.

As Jacob went about his way to Bethel, God placed fear in the hearts of the natives regarding Jacob. Jacob makes it safely to Bethel where he worships God, and builds Him an altar. God officially changed Jacob’s name to Israel, “One who strives with God.” God reaffirmed the covenant that was made with his forefathers. He promised that Israel would have multiple generations, that multiple nations would come out of him, he should expect kings to rule from those families, and there was the claim to the promised land. For the nations that aligned themselves with Israel they would be blessed as well.

Israel got in the swing of meeting with the Lord, and every time he met with God he would erect an alter and this time he offered an offering to God. He poured out a drink offering. Now you might say “what kind of offering is that? He just poured out a glass of liquid. Go to the store and get some more!” But think about it. It would be 100 years before the first Dollar General was placed out there in the desert (JK). You could not simply walk to the store and get some more oil and wine. Yes they had trade routes. Obviously they were bustling if you read on in the next few chapters regarding Joseph, but it was not something that should be taken lightly when you pour out wine and olive oil on the ground. We have bottled water now. BOTTLED! They didn’t even have tap water then. In the ancient Near East, olive oil and wine were staples of life and a highly valued resource. Pouring it out could highly effect ones life, so it was a symbol that one was trusting in God for the security of their lives. Israel’s symbolism was likely that he was fully trusting God and committing his life and direction into His hands.

SO then we have some deaths. Rachel, Israel’s beloved wife, passes away during childbirth. Israel ends up naming the son Benjamin, “son of my right hand”, to establish a kind of lofty title to the boy. He did not want the child to grow up thinking that he was cursed for killing his mother in birth, so he recieved an elevated name. Isaac dies as well, and both are buried. Rachel is buried outside of modern day Bethlehem, and Isaac was buried underneath the big oak trees where Abraham had settled and established the family.

Israel faced many problems in the establishment of the family who would directly produce the nation of Israel. He was deceived, his life was threatened multiple times, he was on the run for a little bit, his life was not always wine and roses. But God was with him all along the way. God made a promise with Abraham, “Blessings, a strong name, offspring, a nation, and a nation that would last.” Abraham had some lapses in faith. Isaac had a lapse in faith and situations within his family were not always glorious. Things were not always perfect in Israel’s life either, but God always remained faithful to His promises. God is perfect, and when He makes a promise, He keeps it. No matter how badly we run a muck with things.

God has made us hundreds of promises in our lives that He will uphold for you and I as well, but I want to look at 3 real quick.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” You confess and you will be forgiven

Romans 10:13 “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” If you truly cry out to Christ in faith He will rescue you

John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” When Christ set you free, nothing will ever hold a soul damning bind on you again

John 10:28-30 “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”” Once you are saved, you will always be saved. You will never lose it, and Christ will never lose you