Genesis 35

Scripture:  Genesis chapter 35

Observation:  God calls Jacob to return to Bethel.  This is the place where God met with Jacob and wrestled with him.  Jacob leaves with his whole family, and God protects them on their journey.  Once there, God appears again to Jacob and changes his name to Israel, for his descendants will be a great nation for God.  As they leave Bethel, Rachel goes into labor and gives birth to a son, but the delivery is very difficult and she dies.  Before her death she names the son Ben-oni, which means Son of my sorrow.  Jacob changes the baby's name to Benjamin, Son of my right hand.  Reuben also brings trouble to the household by sleeping with Bilhah, Rachel's maid and his father's concubine.  Jacob arrives to the land where his father Isaac is, and shortly thereafter Isaac dies.  Esau and Jacob bury their father.

Application:  The Lord appeared to Jacob and made him a promise, to make of him a great nation and to give him the land that He'd promised to Abraham and Isaac.  Yet no sooner does Jacob leave the presence of God in Bethel than he loses his wife Rachel, his son Reuben commits a grave sin, and his father Isaac dies.  It's a reminder that God promises to bring good, but that doesn't mean there will be no suffering.  Jesus even told us that "in this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33).  The suffering does not cancel out God's promises, though.  Those are secure, and we can trust in Him to bring them about.  What we cannot do, is lose faith because of tribulations.  Even godly men of old suffered hard times, but they saw the hand of God in their lives because they remained faithful.

Prayer:  Lord, there are some painful circumstances in my life right now, You know about them better than anyone, and at times it's hard to see what good can come from so much suffering.  Your Word has shown me time and time again that if I trust in You, You will bring about good from evil.  I trust in You, Lord.  I believe in You.  Give me the strength to stand firm in times of trouble, so that I may see Your Hand of mercy in my life.  I love You.  In Jesus' precious name I pray, Amen.