THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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Ann and I have moved 38 times in 42 years of marriage!
Probably, we wouldn't have moved so much. But almost every time, I would go first, and find a place to live. Then Ann and the kids would come along a week or two later.
And Ann would always say, "This won't do."
So ... we'd be MOVING AGAIN!
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Gen 33:16-20
16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city.
19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.
20 And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.
KJV
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If you have access to a map of Israel in the times of the Patriarchs you might want to trace these travels. It's a fun exercise, and will give you a better insight into the Bible history of this time.
Beersheba is 40 miles SW of Jerusalem, 70 miles SW of Shechem. Beersheba is where Isaac was when Jacob went to Padanaram (Haran). When Jacob was gone, Essau moved into Mt. Seir - some 50 or 60 miles SE of where Isaac, his father lived.
Now, when Jacob returned from Haran, Essau gathered his army & rode North to meet Jacob. They met somewhere North of the Jabbok and East of the Jordan.
When Essau left Jacob and returned to Mt. Seir, Jacob traveled SW and stopped at the place called "Succoth."
Later, Jacob moved to Shechem, only a journey of about 30 miles. This was Westward, across Jordan. It was here that Jacob built his house. Here he dug a well, called "Jacob's Well." It was at this well Jesus would meet a Samaritan woman some 2000 years later!
Isaac evidently moved some 20 miles Northeast to Hebron. So he and Jacob are now only about 15 miles apart when Jacob moves to Bethlehem. (See Gen. 35:16)
Finally, Jacob moved to Hebron to take over his father's place when Isaac died. (see Gen. 37:14)
But let's go back to where Jacob first settled, just North of the brook Jabbok and just East of the Jordan in a place he called "Succoth." Succoth means "booths," or a temporary dwelling place. Now verse 18 tells us that Jacob later traveled into Canaan land and settled in Shechem. The wording of verse 18 makes better sense if we see what "Shalem" means.
It means safety or peace. Jacob had finally come to that place of safety and peace.
He had left home in fear for his life. He had worked 20 years for his wives and his flock. He had faced death by returning to face his brother. But all he had done, he had done by following God's way.
Now, God has given him rest.
And that's the way it is with Christians today. AFTER we have traveled through the world with fears, anxieties, pressures, problems, turmoil, and even death -- God will give us REST!!
Love ya,
Bruce