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: And let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; 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(Gen. 35:2-3).
From our readings to date, we know that Jacob served the One True God, as did his father and grandfather before him. We have seen Jacob grow in his faith and learn to trust in the leadership and provision of the Lord. We watched as he wrestled with God’s messenger and came to understand the fullness of his need for God. One might think that from that point on, Jacob would have been bathed in righteousness and therefore immune to the world's temptations, but as we continue in the Book of Genesis, we are forcefully reminded of the fallen nature of the world in which we live.
And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee (Gen. 31:3). Jacob heeded the Lord’s call, packed up his household, and in near-perfect obedience, traveled to the border of Canaan, where he purchased a parcel of land and erected an altar to God (33:19-20). Scripture does not tell us why Jacob chose to settle here. Perhaps he had been taken in by the fertile land that so easily supported his herds and flocks. Maybe he enjoyed the welcome he received from the native Canaanites, who were eager to work with the wealthy stranger to their mutual advantage (34:21). Perhaps he still feared that living in close proximity to his twin would move the other man to anger and believed that settling on the outskirts of the land instead of returning to the home of his father would be the more prudent move. Whatever his reason, Jacob stopped just short of total obedience.
Jacob lived there in prosperity and peace for ten years, no doubt feeling richly blessed. Not until tragedy struck did Jacob begin to understand the consequences of near-perfect obedience. In the aftermath of Dinah’s rape (34:1-2) and her brothers' acts of revenge (34:13-29), Jacob was angry that his relationship with his neighbors had been irreparably damaged. But then God spoke, once again urging him to return to the lands of his birth (35:1), and something fell into place inside Jacob’s heart. He took a long, hard look at his household and realized it had become polluted and spiritually unclean. He had allowed its focus to drift from God and had become encumbered by the trappings of the society in which he had willingly lived. His current situation was not caused because God had looked away; It was he who had looked away from God.
Once Jacob realized what he had done, he wasted no time wallowing in guilt or remorse. He immediately moved to remove the temptations of sin from within his household and return their sole focus to the will of God. The example set here by Jacob is one that we all would do well to follow. Once we realize we have strayed, it is imperative that we humble ourselves and return at once to the path that God has placed before us. Only in true repentance will we be able to seek redemption.
If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land(II Chr. 7:14).
Thought For TodayWe walk with God when we walk the path He has set for us. If we diverge from this path, we walk alone.
Word Studies34:2 defiled = raped; 34:3 his soul clave unto = his heart was set on; (see 34:4,12); 34:7 wrought folly in = brought dishonor and shame into; 34:19 deferred not = did not delay; 34:20 gate = place of administration; 34:27 spoiled = plundered; 35:1 Bethel = House of God; 35:2 strange = false.
Christ Revealed:As God Almighty, El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One (Gen. 35:11). Jesus is, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty (Rev. 1:8).
Pray For Staff:Ryan McCrary • Government Official: Rep. Sheila JacksonLee(TX), Rep. Cliff Bentz(OR) • Country: New Zealand (4,401,916) South Pacific Ocean • Major Language: English • Religious Freedom • 44.3% Christian; 2.1% Hindu; 1.4% Buddhist; 1.3% Maori Christian; 1.1% Islam; 1.4% Other; 36.1% No Religion; 8.2% Not Stated/ Unidentified; 4.1% Objected to Answering • Prayer Suggestion: Pray daily to your Father in heaven (Dan. 6:10).
Optional Reading:Matthew 12