Genesis 35-36 Returning To God

My commentary noted that God’s name was never mentioned in the previous chapter.  Jacob was living in Shechem, settling 30 miles from Bethel, the house of God.  Now, God tells him to move to Bethel and make an altar there.  It would become a sacred place for centuries to come.

Jacob had to prepare his family for the move.  His instructions were to:  1) put away foreign idols (Rebekah had stolen them from her father); 2) make themselves ritually clean; and 3) change their clothes.  All of this indicated a change of heart.  Once they did this, God caused all the neighboring people to fear them.  They had been limiting themselves by their lack of holiness.  In approaching God, He gave them strength.  He is our blessing.

My sidebar said, “God made us to enjoy him … God is our Father, and we are to enjoy him forever.”  Adam and Eve knew this instinctively at first; then sin clouded that vision, just as Jacob’s sinning against his father and brother clouded his own life for a time.  But now Israel has come back to the house of God – Bethel – and he is learning to love God and to be loved by Him.

Father, I can remember a time when I wouldn’t allow myself to be loved by You.  Thank You for bringing me back as You did Israel.  Thank You for never stopping that love despite my sin.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford