When we depend totally on God, he will take care of us. We may face difficulties but he will see us through.
The reason God save us is not just for our salvation but to give us life abundance to dedicate ourselves to serve God. He doesn't force us to serve him. He wants us to serve him willingly and voluntarily to fulfill his will. In our life, we will face many difficulties. But from the trying times we can learn to receive God's grace to renew our dedication to serve God.
Gen 34 recorded the crisis faced by the family of Jacob. Sechem raped Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. When Hamor, the father of Sechem found out, he asked Jacob to let Sechem marry Dinah. Simeon and Levi, the sons of Jacob were angry and planned revenge. They plotted to kill the family of Hamor and took their possessions. They asked them to get circumcised and attacked them while they were recovering.
Jacob saw the severe attack to the house of Hamor and realized he and his family must renew their commitment to God.
In Gen 35, Jacob led his family to Bethel to rededicate themselves to God. He reminded that his name is no longer Jacob but Israel. We saw the birth of Benjamin and the death of Rachel. Isaac died and was buried by his two sons, Esau and Israel.
Gen 36 recorded the descendants of Esae, who became Edom. The association of the names Esau and Edom provides the link between the descendants of Esau and the geographical territory they occupied. They took Canaannite women as wives. The descendants of Israel and Edom were always enemies.
Evaluate Your Actions
Gen 34:30-31 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household." (31) But they said, "Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?"
Jacob were sad with the vengeful acts of Simeon and Levi. Jacob felt that it would bring calamity to his household. He thought killing the whole family of Sechem to revenge their sister's humiliation was too much. Jacob chided his two sons for possibly causing the Canaanites to unite to destroy them. But they were not repentant.
Jacob worried for his two sons. We may not experience what Jacob is facing here. But when we face unfavourable circumstances, how do we respond? Do we fight back? Admit defeat and take it as it is? We need to evaluate our actions. We need to ensure our actions bring glory to God. Evaluating our actions is the first step in renewing our commitment to God.
We need to learn how to respond to those who hurt us and our enemies.
Mat 5:38-48
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
(39)
But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
(40)
And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
(41)
And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
(42)
Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
(43)
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
(44)
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
(45)
so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
(46)
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
(47)
And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
(48)
You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Jesus taught us to convert a cursed situation into a blessed one.
There was a farmer in China. He stayed up the hill while another one stayed at the bottom of the hill. This farmer up the hill could get water to water his plants. The 2nd one could not get water so he dug a canal to get water. The land uphill dried up for the water did not flow over it anymore. Instead of cutting off the water supply or fighting with the 2nd farmer, he dug a reservoir to water his place while the water still flew downhill. He created a win-win situation.
Purify Yourself
Gen 35:1-4 God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau." (2) So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. (3) 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 and has been with me wherever I have gone." (4) So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem.
God told Abram to leave his comfort zone and go in Gen 12. In verses 6-8, we see Abram (who was 75 then) built an altar in Bethel. God told Jacob to arise and go. Bethel represents the presence of God.
Jacob experienced 20 years of suffering. In Gen 35:2-3, we see Jacob's faith has grown. Jacob recognized that God was always with him through thick and thin. Jacob asked his family to remove all idols. He cleansed his family so they could serve God faithfully. God has a purpose when he allows us to go through trials.
Jas 1:2-8 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, (3) for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (4) And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (5) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (6) But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. (7) For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (8) he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
We must show Jesus in our life.
To serve God today, Christians may be distracted by many temptations. It could be a vice or incorrect priorities. We should learn from Jacob who purified himself.
2Co 7:1 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.
Jas 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Renew Your Devotion
Gen 35:5-7 And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. (6) And Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, (7) and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother.
Jacob is terrified of the Canaanites. He is worried they would retaliate for his sons' revenge. But God protected them. Jacob built an alter and called it El-Bethel which means God of Bethel. In his 20 years of suffering, Jacob experienced the presence of God.
We too much return to our own Bethel to worship God, to remember his presence, his faithfulness to recommit ourselves to God.
Remember God's Promises
Gen 35:9-12 God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. (10) And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name." So he called his name Israel. (11) And God said to him, "I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. (12) The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you."
Gen 35:14-15 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. (15) So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.
God always fulfills his promises. God appeared to Jacob time and again to encourage him.
When we receive blessings from God, we should remember it with an altar, for example give a special offering.
God appeared once again to Jacob. Not only God blessed him but God also changed his name from Jacob to Israel. God said he would be fruitful and multiply, kings would emerge. This is a confirmation of God's promise to Abram in Gen 12:1-4.
Today, Christians are also blessed by God. We also received promises from God. He gave us the Holy Spirit. When we serve God, we need to always remember God's promises.
We can serve God not because of our talents but because God's promises are being fulfilled in our life.
Conclusion
We need to always evaluate our actions especially to those who hurt us. We need to stay away from sin for we need to serve God with a pure heart. (cf 1 John 1:9). We must remember and experience God's presence, his faithfulness and then recommit our life to God. We need to always remember the promises of God so we can love him more, to have our faith increased to commit ourselves to serve God.
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