The Story of Redemption - Day 12

Genesis 34-36

The One was coming who would heal brokenness and break the power of sin.

This passage begins with the tragic account of Dinah. People are capable of so much sin. 

Dinah was assaulted and Jacob + the brothers plan revenge. Moses gives a rare editorial comment in 34:7, "which thing ought not to be done."

"The tragic account reminds us that our God is the only one who can bring true comfort to the hurting and the oppressed. Dinah's father and brothers failed to protect her or ease her suffering in any meaningful way. However, we have hope in our suffering, Jesus is the one who has suffered in our place to give us peace with God. Not only does He know what it means to suffer, but He has suffered on earth."

The brothers took justice into their own hands, and Jacob responded in verse 30 - "Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and being few in number they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, | and my house." He was only concerned with how their retribution would affect his reputation. 

God is mentioned 11 times in chapter 35. How differently would Jacob have acted throughout his life if he had realized that God was with him everywhere he went (v. 3) Jacob builds an altar and the Abrahamic covenant is renewed. His name is changed to Israel.

Verse 16 begins a joyful + sad part of Jacob's story, as a son is born, but Rachel dies in childbirth. She named the child Ben-oni: the son of my sorrow, but Jacob changed his name to Benjamin: the son of my right hand. Rachel was buried in Ephrath (Bethlehem), further pointing to Christ. 

Reuben slept with his father's concubine (Bilhah) and Bible scholars believe he was trying to usurp his father's headship of the family.

The death of Isaac is mentioned at the close of chapter 35. 

Esau's descendants are mentioned in chapter 36.  Esau = Edom (Edomites) 

Our sin has disqualified us from God's blessing, but Jesus qualifies us. When we trust in His finished work on the cross, we are given His righteousness. In spite of all of our sin and disobedience, God intervenes, He redirects, He transforms.