In Genesis 35, God tells Jacob to go back to Bethel, where He had appeared to him before. Jacob told his crew to get rid of their foreign gods and get ready for worship (to the one true God). God protected Jacob and his family by "terrifying" the towns they went through, so that no one bothered them. I wonder how God did that. I wonder if people pooped in their pants or curled up like babies in the fetal position. I wonder if God appeard in their dreams. It doesn't really tell us how He terrified them, but it worked.
God reaffirmed His covenant with Abraham to Jacob once they got back to Bethel. He said:
"I am God All-Powerful, and from now on your name will be Israel intead of Jacob. You will have many children. Your descendants will become nations, and some of the men in your family will even be kings. I will give you the land that I promised Abraham and Isaac, and it will belong to your family forever."
The next verse (in the new Seek & Find Bible, the Contemporary English Version) says: "After God had gone, Jacob set up a large rock, so that he would remember what had happened there." It's cool to set up monuments to remember things. It's a pattern that God's people continued time and time again. It really helps the people remember. What's telling in this verse, however, is the opening line: "after God had gone." Can you imagine how empty a room might feel once God leaves the building? I can imagine yearning for Him to linger a while longer, just letting me take in His presence. I might even beg for Him to return. God is all-seeing and all, but when He pays a personal visit -- that's an entirely different (and very special) thing. I can only imagine the dynamics of emotions that would surround that. Some might say it would be a relief when He left, because His very presence might make your body tremble or react to stress. I can see that, because of some of the Old Testament accounts. But He might have brought His peace and calm, too. That verse just really sticks out. I think God leaving would stick out. There would be a vast difference.
I kind of liken it to how we are supposed to live now. Jesus has ascended into Heaven after His resurrection and His followers are to carry on and live. Jacob had to carry on with obeying and receiving what God had promised. Like it or not, he had to get over the fact that God's very presence had left. In a similar way, we are to live for, talk with, and serve a God that's not showing up in our house in all His glory.
Jacob's beloved Rachel died and was buried outside of Bethlehem. She died giving birth to Benjamin, who she wanted named Benoni, but Jacob called him Benjamin. Jacob's oldest son, Reuben slept with one of Jacob's wives (Bilhah). Of course, Jacob found out about it. At the end of chapter 35 Jacob goes to see his father, Isaac. I wonder if he told Isaac about what Reuben had done...? Isaac died at the "ripe old age" of 180.
Posted by Doug Van Pelt at February 19, 2007 07:35 AMThese are intensly deep thoughts. The thought of first being witness to the very presense of God, and then for it to be gone.... I can imagine that there would be a terrifying void.
Jacob experienced many hardships and trials, but in the end he was a blessed man.