THROUGH THE BIBLE COMMENTARY
This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears.
Bruce McGee, Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
GENESIS
CHAPTER 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.
Jacob's family is now in danger, and God gives him a particular call.
Jacob is to move to Bethel, where God had confirmed His covenant
with Jacob before. And Jacob was instructed to pray to God Who
has proven to be both PROTECTOR and PROVIDOR.
God wants to hear our prayers. God doesn't
need to hear our prayers; He already knows what's
happening in our lives. But God does want us to have daily
communication with Him. It is for OUR benefit not His.
2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: 3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. 4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
Jacob knows of the heathen practices his family are using. Yet
he hasn't done anything about it until now.
How many parents today know their children are involved in music,
TV, books, magazines, etc. that promote sin and indecency; but
do nothing about it?
Jacob now calls upon them to "put away" all their trinkets which
they use to call upon vain gods. He declares that they are going
to seek the real Living God Who has proven His protection
and provision.
YES! That's autocratic. That's dogmatic. That's real parental
guidance. Finally, Jacob demands of his family.
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.
Were it not for God putting "fear" upon the people of the land,
Jacob's family would have been destroyed.
Christians should realize that God protects us sometimes
in spite of our sins which could destroy us.
God is determined not to leave Himself without witness.
6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. 7 And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.
When they arrived at Bethel, Jacob earnestly pled with God.
8 But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.
This is an interesting inclusion in the story of Jacob the patriarch.
Deborah was Rebekah's nurse. At this time she is serving in Jacob's
house. From this poing we should realize that Jacob had been visiting
with his father Isaac in Beersheba - or perhaps that Isaac has moved
to Hebron and Jacob is visiting there. Rebekah, Jacob's mother,
had died; and Jacob had brought Deborah to help with his family.
9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. 11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; 12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. 13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.
God appears to Jacob again. (This man gets a lot of visits
from God!). God had appeared to Jacob in this place before.
Notice the name used here: "God Almighty." In the Hebrew it is
EL SHADDAI.
God again promises a great nation and kings as Jacob's descendents.
God also promises the "land" to Jacob's descendents.
In verse 13, the intimation is that Jacob is left with
FAITH. God has made Himself KNOWN in physical
manifestation. Now He withdraws that physical manifestatino, and
Jacob is left to continue in FAITH of God's continued SPIRITUAL
presence.
As Christians, (saved, born-again people) we are never without the
spiritual presence of God. But sometimes God manifests Himself
in special manner in order to strengthen our faith.
How long has it been since you really FELT the
powerful PRESENCE of God?
I believe this story teaches us that if we will draw close to
God, He will draw close to us. ((See James 4:8))
14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.
Jacob now builds an altar here and anoints it with oil. This is a
special place to him. It is the place where God visited
him in a significant way.
How about the place where you got saved, Christian? Is it special
to you?
Do you have OTHER places where God has especially visited you?
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. 17 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. 18 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. 19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. 20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.
While they traveled on, they came to the ancient town "Ephrath," which
is later named "Bethlehem." It is here that Rachel gives birth to her
second son and last child. Then she dies immediately after the birth.
Before she died, she named the son "Benoni," which means "son of sorrow."
Jacob renamed the boy "Benjamin," which means "son of the right hand."
This is very interesting. The town Bethlehem is the birthplace of our
Saviour, Who is known as "man of sorrows." (See Is. 53:3)
21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.
Markers are significant to tell movement in history. The Bible is not a
history book; rather, it is HIS STORY. But when the Bible speaks
concerning history it is ALWAYS perfectly accurate.
The tower of Edar was a shepherd's watchtower between Bethlehem and
Hebron.
The town of Bethlehem and the surrounding area is known as a "shepherd's town."
Isn't it significant that the GOOD SHEPHERD would be born there?
(See Is. 40:11 and John 10:11 comparatively.)
PLEASE TAKE PARTICULAR NOTE HERE!
It is also significant that this "man of sorrows," this "Good Shepherd," could be NO OTHER than Jehovah Himself!!!Be sure to note here, that God is ALREADY moving toward
the revelation that the Jehovah of the Old Testament is the JESUS
of the New Testament!
22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
An awful story in a short statement. Reuben, Jacob's oldest son,
committed adulter with Rachel's handmaid, who is Jacob's third wife!
Jacob never forgot this, and in Gen. 49:4, when Jacob is pronouncing
last blessings on his sons, he acknowledges Reuben's power; but says,
he is "unstable as water." No king, hero, prophet or judge ever came
from Rueben's tribe!
23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: 24 The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: 25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali: 26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padan-aram.
Jacob now has twelve sons. These will become the twelve tribes of
Israel.
27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. 28 And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years. 29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
Isaac, now in Hebron (vs 27), and only about 20 miles from Bethlehem, died.
Jacob and Essau, TOGETHER, buried their father.
It is noteworthy that these men had become content with their
places assigned by God and their own actions. They were at peace
with one another.
Later their descendents will war with one another.
Folks, society is not progressing, it is regressing!
Please continue to follow along with us in Bible study.