Beyond The Basics

Transcript:

Welcome to the Beyond the Basics Bible study podcast. My name is Dan Snyder and I’m your host. Thank you so much for joining me for this episode of Beyond the Basics, where we are exploring the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, one chapter at a time.

Before we get started. If you enjoy the show and want to help keep it on the air, you can go to my website at Beyond the Basics blog. Click the donate button at the top and that will bring you to the website for passion for Life Ministries, where you can make a tax deductible donation. Passion for life is a ministry that I’ve partnered with that is dedicated to spreading the gospel and feeding the elderly in Central and South America. Please make sure you designate your gift for Beyond the Basics. You can also click the subscribe button, which will bring you to my Patreon page. And for only $4 a month, you can receive access to the full uncut episode, which will include between 10 and 30 minutes of additional audio. You will also receive access to all past episodes starting with Genesis chapter 24. Now onto the show.

Well, today we’re going to get into Genesis chapter 35, and we’re going to find that something changed in Jacob after the events of the last chapter. So in verse one it says that God said to Jacob, now this is the fourth time that God has appeared to Jacob so far. And he says, arise.

Now Jacob had a permanent residence and land in Shechem, so he would have to leave his home just like Abraham did. That’s what God is asking him to do here. He’s saying, arise and leave your home, just like Abraham had to arise and leave his home in the city of earth.

And God says, go up to Bethel. This is where Jacob originally encountered God. This is where he originally had the dream of the ladder touching earth and touching heaven with God standing at the top. Angels ascending and descending. This is where Jacob had that dream. That was his first encounter with God.

Now, If you remember, Jacob had made several vows to the Lord when he was at Bethel, and some of those vows at this point he still had not fulfilled. That’s what Jacob is being called to do here. He’s being called to fulfill those vows that he had made to God before they die. So God tells Jacob, go up to Bethel and dwell there. So God says, make an altar there.

So God is calling Jacob here to a new life of worship. He’s been playing around the edges of obedience and worship for so long. He’s been giving lip service to God. At times. He’s been sometimes obeying, sometimes trying to do his own thing, sometimes recognizing God’s provision on his life, sometimes trying to manipulate situations for his own benefit. He’s been living half in half out. Now God is saying, Jacob, I want you to go to Bethel and I want you to make an altar. I want you to commit. I want you to commit like your father did, like Abraham and Isaac did.

Verse two and says, so Jacob said to his household, so he goes to his household immediately. He’s obeying God immediately. We’re seeing a maturity of faith in Jacob, and he’s going to ask his family to purify themselves and their garments. He’s going to ask them to put away their gods. He realizes he can’t expect his family to purify themselves if he doesn’t do so first. And so that’s that’s what he’s going to do.

So Jacob tells us household put away the foreign gods. Now, if you remember that Rachel had her father’s idols. Jacob’s sons had taken the women of Shechem after they had murdered all the men. And those women likely had idols. But now Jacob is committing his household to worship Yahweh and Yahweh alone. So it’s very significant that Jacob makes this commitment with his family to put away their idols.

So he says, put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves. Purifying or washing the body symbolizes cleansing the heart or a new beginning. In Second Corinthians seven one says, since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God, so that purifying or washing ourselves symbolizes. It’s not just outward, it’s a cleansing of the heart. And in the Old Testament, when there was much more outward symbolic acts to reflect inward realities, that’s what purifying yourselves was supposed to accomplish. Now we can just purify our hearts. We have the Holy Spirit that that will purify us. And he says, change your garments.

So in verse three, Jacob says, then let us arise and go up to Bethel. So that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress. Which is funny, because Jacob has had a lot of these. He’s had a lot of days of distress.

He says, and has been with me wherever I have gone. So Jacob is confessing God’s faithfulness to his promise. God had promised Jacob that he would be with him wherever he went. And now Jacob is recognizing and confessing that God was faithful to his promise.

In verse four, So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears. And it says that Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree. As in a burial.

So in verse five says, as they journeyed a terror from God. So now they’re on their way to Bethel. And a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them.

So in verse six, Jacob arrives in Bethel, and he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel. And in verse eight, after he arrived and built the altar, we find out Deborah, Rebecca’s nurse, died. Now this indicates that Rebecca had already died before this, and in fact, Jacob may have never seen his mother again after fleeing from Esau so many years earlier. And the reason we know that Rebecca has already dead is because we know at the end of this chapter that Isaac is still alive. And if Isaac was still alive, Rebecca wouldn’t have been with Joseph away from Isaac. The fact that Deborah is not with Isaac and with Jacob instead indicates, after Rebecca died, Deborah probably went to find Jacob because she would have been the one that brought Jacob up when he was a child.

So Jacob buried Deborah under an oak below Bethel, just like the idols earlier in the chapter. See, Deborah was like a surrogate mother for Jacob. Jacob had been Rebecca’s favorite son, and he would have greatly missed his mother. And when Deborah joined up with Jacob, he would have realized that Rebecca had died and that he never would have been able to see her again, and so he would have latched on to Deborah as if she was his mother. And so, since Jacob’s family had to get rid of their idols, now Jacob has to get rid of his idol, which would have been Deborah. A surrogate for his mother, Rebecca. And that’s indicated by this language telling us that he buried her under the oak, just like he buried the idols under an oak earlier in the chapter.

Even people can be idols for us. We think of idols as inanimate objects. Sometimes, even now, we think of idols as money or things that we like to do fishing, or maybe our work. But even though we have the language TV shows like American Idol in our culture, I don’t think we often think of people as idols, but sometimes we can look to other humans as idols, especially when it comes to family members. We can look to our parents sometimes to fulfill that role that God is supposed to fulfill in our lives. That’s an idol.

So in verse nine, God appeared to Jacob again. Now Jacob’s relationship with God has been restored due to his repentance. Notice that Jacob has left and returned to the place where God had originally told him to go. When he left Laban, he is now gone. There he’s obeyed God and built an altar, and he has removed the idols from his life. So now God appears because his relationship has been restored. And it says that God blessed him. And when you read through the blessing in the next several verses, we find that there’s nothing new in this blessing.

Many times if you’ve been following along with this study, I always highlight the new elements in each blessing. And almost always, there is a new element in each blessing. Each time the Lord appears to one of the patriarchs and gives a blessing. But there’s nothing new here, and I believe that’s by design, because sometimes we need a reminder that God remembers his promise, and that’s all we need. Jacob, in his repentance, is now fully seeking the Lord, and he just needed a reminder that God hadn’t forgotten.

Verse 14, Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with God, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink offering on it. And poured oil on it. This drink offering. It’s an interesting phrase. It’s the first time we’ve encountered it. I believe what this drink offering is, is it’s a supplement to the burnt offerings in the law. It represents a life joyfully dedicated to God’s service and to worship.

In Philippians two verse 17, Paul says, even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. That’s what Jacob is doing here. It’s a very symbolic act. It’s a very prophetic act. It’s looking forward. He is finally looking forward instead of looking down at his own situation, at his own problems. He’s looking forward to what God had promised him by pouring out this drink, offering the very, very symbolic act here.

So in verse 16, then they journeyed from Bethel. And the reason he did this is because when he had just spoken to God, God had told Jacob in verse 12 that he would give him the land that he gave to his father Isaac. So Jacob left Bethel to go to where his father was. That’s where he’s going to go.

So on the way, we’re told that Rachel went into labor. And this is interesting because we’re just told that she went into labor. There’s no drama surrounding it. And in verse 17 we’re told midwife said to her, do not fear, for you have another son. She calls his name Ben-oni, which means son of my sorrow or son of my strength. One of the two, maybe both. Maybe it’s a play on words. I don’t know, that’s just what’s in the footnotes of my Bible and is probably in the footnotes of your Bible as well.

But it’s significant if it means son of my sorrow, because Rachel seems to know that she wouldn’t survive his birth, and in fact, she would die after he was born. And his life is going to be marked by sorrow at the loss of his mother. He’s never going to know his mother, which is a terrible thing. And at the end of her days, she’s filled with sorrow because she will never be able to truly know her son. Rachel’s life is a warning to us. We are not promised tomorrow at any point. The Lord could decide that it’s time.

So in verse 19, as I mentioned, Rachel died. So Rachel died and she was buried on the way to Ephrathah, which is Bethlehem, and where she died. And this is going to be important later where she died. She had the son that she named Ben-oni, but his father Jacob called him Benjamin, which means son of the right hand. The right hand was associated with strength or honor. And so what Jacob was saying by naming him Benjamin is that the son would be honored.

And then in verse 21, it says that Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Peter. And then we’re given a quick rundown of Jacob’s sons in verse 22. We’re reminded that Jacob had 12 sons, which is the number of God’s government. So now God’s governmental structure for the nation of Israel is in place now that Benjamin has been born. And then we’re told all the names of Jacob’s sons in case we needed a reminding. Right? Why would this be right here? It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

Well, it does make sense. There’s purpose here because we’re given a list of sons, which would be the order of succession for who would receive the covenant blessing. So it’s like the author is reminding us, hey, you remember what happened last chapter with Levi and Simeon. You remember what just happened in the previous verse with Reuben? We’ll keep that in mind, because here’s a list of the sons who would be qualified to receive the promise. And what we find out is that Judah would be the next oldest that could receive the blessing.

But there’s an issue. Because Rachel was Jacob’s favorite wife. So Joseph, being the firstborn of Rachel, could also be considered the next one to receive the blessing. And it’s going to seem that way because the story is going to start following Joseph. But this list, as if a reminder before we get into the next several stories, before we get into the rest of the book, this list places Joseph after Judah, so that’s an indication that Judah is still considered to be the first born.

So in verse 27, Jacob came to his father Isaac. And this fulfills two words, fulfills two things, and fulfills God’s Word to Jacob in Genesis 28:15 And God said, behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go. We’ll bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I’ve done what I have promised you. And then it fulfills Jacob’s vow to God in Genesis 28, verses 20-21. Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me and will keep me in this way, that I go and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace. Then the Lord shall be my God.

So in verse 29, Isaac died. So Jacob is now the patriarch of the family. Isaac’s inheritance is now Jacob’s. And Reuben tried to take his authority too early because Jacob didn’t even have the inheritance yet because Isaac was still alive. We’re told that he was full of days. Isaac was full of days, just like Abraham was. Who doesn’t want to be full of days? I want to be full of days.

So in this chapter, we see a theme. We see a theme that Jacob’s faithfulness is tested through the entire chapter. Remember what I said at the beginning of the episode, that Jacob responds so much differently to God’s Word than he would have in the past? Old Jacob, previous Jacob would have tried to manipulate and tried to take what he can get before he left to go to Bethel. He may have obeyed God, he may have done God’s will, but sometimes he would do it in. Inadvertently. He would try to see what he can gain out of it first. But this time Jacob simply obeys, and he does it immediately. And now his new found faithfulness is going to be tested in this chapter.

So after making this commitment to the Lord, he’s immediately faced with three deaths in his family. He’s faced with the death of Deborah, Rebecca’s nurse. He’s faced with the death of Rachel, his wife, and he’s faced with the death of Isaac, his father. Now, remember, three is the number of testing. So this is an indication that Jacob is being tested. But his faithfulness is being tested. Will he remain faithful when the three most important people to him in his life die? And beyond that, his son Reuben tests his standing as patriarch in the family by laying with his concubine.

So this is very similar to how Abraham and Isaac were tested after receiving the promise. Abraham, after he received the promise and left his homeland, was tested with a famine. Isaac was tested with the Philistines topping up his wells. Jacob is tested with the deaths of the three people most important to him. See, a dedicated life to the Lord does not mean an easy life. And in fact, if we learn anything from these patriarchs, we learn that a dedicated life means a more difficult life. It was never easy for these three men. Life was hard. They faced constant trials, often trials brought on by God. This is not something that they could scream, Not today, Satan! At.

Life dedicated to God means a difficult life. That’s not something that they tell you when you’re in a church service and they say, everybody close your eyes and bow your heads. And if you want to receive the Lord, raise your hand. I mean, maybe that’s only done in youth groups. I don’t really know. I remember being in church services where that’s been done. And if we can’t even face the hardship of confessing the name of Jesus Christ in front of a church full of believers, how are we going to confess the name of Christ when life gets difficult? And it will. Because God tests those who commit to him because not to show them that they fail, but to reveal their level of faithfulness so that they can grow. That’s what God does for us.

All three of these men passed some tests and failed some tests. But it’s not about a pass or fail. It’s about them growing. And they all three grew in faith. So yes, it’s a difficult life to follow Jesus. It’s a difficult life to pick up and leave your home and leave that which is comfortable, that which is easy, leave that which you would prefer and follow Jesus. It’s difficult, but it’s fruitful, which means it’s worth it.

So how does this chapter point to Jesus? Well, a couple different ways. First, Rachel’s labour unto death would actually become a picture of Israel waiting for the Messiah. There’s a couple examples of this in Jeremiah 31 verse 15. It says, thus says the Lord. A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted for her children because they are no more. The context of that verse in Jeremiah chapter 31, verses one through 14, is a prophecy about the future glory of Israel under the reign of Messiah. So Jeremiah in those verses, talking about how Israel will be glorified when the Messiah comes and reigns from Jerusalem. And then he says, the verse that I just read, a voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted for her children because they are no more.

So what is going on? Why would there be weeping if Jeremiah is prophesying future glory under the Messiah? And it’s because the weeping, the labor, the labor pains are the waiting for that day to come. It’s symbolic of waiting for that day to come, the pain and waiting for that day to come. And in verses 16 through 40 of Jeremiah chapter 31, the prophet exhorts the people to stop weeping because God will establish a new covenant with Israel.

And then in Matthew chapter two, verses 16 through 18, it says, Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region, who are two years and under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men, this was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah. A voice was heard in Rama, weeping in loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted because they are no more. Jesus and his family had to flee to Egypt in this chapter because Herod was murdering children in Bethlehem.

So again, the future glory of Israel had been born. He was here. Jesus had been born in this chapter. But Jeremiah was prophesying that people would weep anyway. And in this case, it’s because Herod was murdering babies. He was murdering children. And we find out that’s what Jeremiah was actually talking about. That was a fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy that labor pain unto death as Israel waits for their Messiah.

So the second way that this chapter points to Jesus is, I mentioned earlier that Benjamin was born near Bethlehem, which was the birthplace of Jesus. It’s significant because Rachel named him sorrow. Jacob named him honor. And Jesus birth would eventually one day bring both sorrow and honor to Bethlehem. It brings sorrow from the babies killed by Herod like I just mentioned, and honor and being remembered as the birthplace of Jesus. So Benjamin’s two names here, from his father and from his mother, are prophetic as to what would happen in this town 2000 years later when Jesus would be born.

And in fact, Jesus himself was a man of sorrows and also honored at the right hand of God. Isaiah 53 three says, he was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and his one from whom men hide their faces. He was despised, and we esteemed him not. And then in Psalm 110 verse one says, the Lord says to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. So Benjamin’s two names from his father and his mother and his birthplace was actually prophetic regarding the person of Jesus and not just the city.

In addition, the Tower of Eder was where the shepherds were told about Jesus birth. I mentioned that earlier that these shepherds would have been shepherding their flocks near this tower. This area was specifically used to cultivate livestock for temple sacrifices, and the sign that the angels gave would have referred to the process for protecting a lamb after birth. In Luke two verses 12 it says, this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. That would have been the process that shepherds would have used to protect a lamb after being born. So the angels giving the shepherds that sign, the shepherds would have recognized the purpose of Jesus being born to be a lamb, to be sacrificed in the temple. So even this tower of Eder is a prophetic indication of the purpose of why Jesus was born.

And then, of course, Jesus himself is the watchtower of the flock. Jesus is the good Shepherd himself. He is the one who watches over the flock. So he is both the lamb and he is the watchtower.

The question that I would like you to ponder over the next week is this. What are some ways that God has tested your faith? And how has he used this to strengthen your faith? How has he used those tests to strengthen your faith?

And if you don’t have faith in God? If you do not follow Jesus, I would encourage you. Are you satisfied with a life of ease? Or alternatively, are you satisfied with a life of hardship with no purpose? And I would encourage you. If you place your faith in Jesus, if you choose to live a life dedicated to Jesus. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it. And you’re not going to hear a whole lot of evangelists say that. And it’s a good thing I’m not much of an evangelist. I’m a teacher. I’m interested in the one or 2 or 3 who will say, I’m not satisfied with life. As it is and I’m willing to take a harder life, but a more fulfilled life, a more dedicated life. A life laid down in service and adoration. To King Jesus.

If that’s you, encourage you to do that right now, all you have to do is tell somebody. Tell Jesus. Pray to him right now. Say I surrender to him. Go tell somebody. Go get connected to a church and get baptized. Get baptized as quickly as possible. If you have any questions, you can always reach out to me as well. Use the contact page on the website beyondthebasics.blog or leave a comment.

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So let’s pray. Lord, I thank you so much for what you’ve spoken to us in your word through the life of Jacob. Thank you that he lived life poured out and dedication to you so that we can learn how to live a life poured out in dedication to you. I pray right now that you would take us through those hard times, take us through those difficulties, take us through those times of testing so that we can come out on the other side with a deeper level of faithfulness and steadfast love for you. I pray for those that haven’t made that decision yet to follow you, that you would reach their hearts right now. You would create that longing in their hearts to live a fulfilled, poured out life in Jesus name. Amen.

Well, thank you for listening. Have a great week and I will talk to you next week. We’ll go through Genesis chapter 36, which is a long list of names, and I’m actually really excited to do next week’s episode. I think you’re going to be surprised at how interesting a long list of names can be. I’ve got a lot of good stuff for you next week, so don’t miss it. Thanks for listening.

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