An Irish daughter had not been home for over five years. Upon her return, her father cursed her saying, “Where have ye been all this time? Why did ye not write to us at all? Why didn’t ye call? Can ye not understand what ye put yer old mum thru?” The girl, crying, replied, “Dad…I became a prostitute.” “Ye what!!? Get out, ye shameless harlot! Sinner! You’re a disgrace!” “Ok, Dad...as you wish. I just came back to give Mum this luxurious fur coat, title deed to a 10 bedroom mansion plus a saving certificate for $5 million. For me brother, this gold Rolex, and for ye Daddy, this brand-new Mercedes convertible that’s parked outside, a country club membership, an invitation to spend New Year’s Eve on my new yacht in the Riviera…” “Now what was it ye said ye had become?” The girl, crying again says, “A prostitute!” “Oh! Ye scared me to death, girl! I thought ye said a Protestant!”
One of the problems with preaching through a book as long as
Genesis is not having time to get to every verse and every vignette. And
nowhere is that truer than in the life and times of Jacob. We finished last
week’s text in Genesis 33:11. This week we’ll start anew in Genesis 35:1. What you
have in between is a story more toe curling than the one about that Irish man
and his daughter. Jacob again lies. This time it’s to his brother, the one in
whom he said he had seen the face of God! It’s after giving him a gift of
gratitude for his gracious greeting in verse 4. He tells him that he will meet
up with him in Seir (south of the Dead Sea). He has no intention of meeting up
with him. He intends to go due west to Shechem and build a home there. And the
consequences are disastrous! It makes the story of the Irish girl tame. Has God
led Jacob to Shechem? No. Has He told him to build an alter there? No. Has He
instructed Jacob to engage with the people of Shechem? No. Did He prompt him to
stay in silence in the face of his daughter’s rape? No. Did He call him to sanction
the marriage of Dinah and Hamor’s son Shechem? No. Nothing happens from the
exit of Esau to his relocation in Bethel that’s sanctioned by God or pleasing
to Him. In fact, it is a graphic, universal portrait of our base, sinful
nature.
Against the backdrop of lies, self-reliance, sexual
violence, horrific vengeance, widespread bloodshed, and shame, the Lord again
comes to Jacob and displays His incalculable grace. He says to him, “Arise, go
up to Bethel and dwell there.” Now the location of Bethel is actually due south
of Shechem but nowhere near Seir. Its elevation is higher, thus the “go up.”
It’s an amazing command that reveals so much about God and us, especially when
we mess up royally!
I’m so thankful for Jacob. While he’s as messed up as you and
me, our God never changes. His mercies are new every morning. In fact, what we
have here in chapter 35 is a picture of how He intends for us to repent and be
restored. It’s a calling He gives to Jacob and shows us in Jesus. We’ll look at
all of this on Sunday, in a message entitled, “A Remarkable Resemblance,”
Genesis 35:1-15. In preparation for Sunday, you may wish to consider the
following:
1. Why do you think Jacob lied to Esau right after he saw the
face of God in him?
2. Why do you think
Jacob sought to settle in Shechem?
3. What appeal is there to harbor little statues of foreign
gods? (see Genesis 31:30 & 35:2)
4. What’s the purpose of building an altar?
5. What’s the significance of building an altar at Bethel?
6. What do you think of Jacob’s perspective as expressed in
verse 3? Is he right?
7. What does verse 5 mean?
8. What’s the significance of Jacob naming the place where he
built the altar?
9. Why does God rename him Israel again in verse 10?
10. What does El Shaddai mean or what kings will come from
Jacob/Israel?
See you Sunday!
