Through the Bible in 2012

(I forgot to post this here on Tuesday.)

Readings:

Genesis 34
Genesis 35
Genesis 36
Psalm 21

Comments:

Again, the Bible does not present to us a perfect world. It’s a world where not only is there beauty and goodness, but it’s a world that also contains sin, pain, depravity, and evil. Dinah, Jacob and Leah’s daughter, is raped. Her brothers, understandably upset, take matters into their own hands. This leaves Jacob in the position of being retaliated against. That is human nature, isn’t it? We want to get someone back, then they want to get us back, and the cycle repeats itself. Of course, those who harmed Dinah needed to be punished.

Jacob returns to Bethel and builds an altar there. The promise of God is repeated: God will make Jacob the father of many. It’s the promise that was given to Abraham and Sarah, to Isaac, and now to Jacob. Despite all the faults and misgivings and even sinful behavior, God works through people like Jacob! We are reminded that God has changed Jacob’s name to Israel, the one who struggles with God.

We also see Benjamin born to Jacob and Rachel. Jacob’s family is complete. Watch these children closely - they will play an important role in the rest of Genesis and for much of the nation of Israel’s history.

We also see that Esau and Jacob bury their father. Despite their tumultuous relationship when they were younger, we know that Esau and Jacob were able to get along in their older years. However, their descendants will not get along. The list of Esau’s descendants in chapter 36 may bore us and appear to be meaningless to us, but Esau’s descendants will be a thorn in the side of Israel. Watch for them in the rest of the Bible.