Wednesday, October 25th – Genesis 35: 6
This verse informs us of Jacob’s safe arrival in Bethel. We learn also that all of his family members, servants, livestock, and possessions arrived with him. That which we entrust to the Lord is in the security of almighty hands that hold, direct, protect, and provide with holy, unchangeable love and infallible wisdom. The good ways in which the Lord wisely directs His people are traveled by those trustingly obeying Him and are completed by the arm of the Lord’s power. Jacob and his family did well so to trust and obey the voice of the Lord. We do well likewise to trust and obey the Word of our redeeming Lord.
Thursday, October 26th - Genesis 35: 7
When Jacob arrived at Bethel with his family, he built an altar for his worship of God before he built a house for his family. Thus, he seeks first the Lord and His kingdom and His glory, rightly knowing that thereafter all necessary things would be added to him (Mt. 6:33). He does not place his family above his heavenly Father, neglecting His worship for their welfare, as centuries later the prophet Haggai charged the children of Israel with doing (Hag. 1:2-11). Nor did Jacob allow his work to take priority over his worship. It was after he had built the altar to God that he exercised his authority and dominion over his living and working situation by his naming the altar after the God of Bethel. When we devote ourselves to worship first, all of our work, whether religious or civil, follows a right and fruitful course.
Friday, October 27th - Genesis 35: 7
Jacob surely built the altar to offer sacrifices upon it. Very likely it was at this time and on this altar that he fulfilled his vow to render to his God a tenth of all he had, if the Lord would bring him safely home (Gen. 28:22). There would have been accordingly a great many animals slain on that altar. Jacob would not have considered their sacrifice a waste. Rather, he would gratefully have seen them as rich and tangible tokens of and pointers to the sacrifice of the coming Savior, who would pour out His life to bring His people not into the shadowy suburbs, but into the substantial heart of the glorious and eternal house of God.
Saturday, October 28th - Genesis 35: 7
That Jacob had the eyes of faith fixed on the Lord, to whom he devoted these sacrifices in gratitude for the Lord’s preserving power and redeeming sacrifice to come, is evident from the name that he gave to the altar: the God of Bethel. By that name, Jacob acknowledged his concern more with the God of the heavenly abode than with the heavenly abode of God. For it had not been the place that had promised Jacob salvation, but rather the God who had graciously revealed Himself to Jacob when all earthly family and fortunes had turned against him. We do well to love the gatherings of the living stones of the house of God, not because they save us, but because there the Lord reveals Himself to us as our Savior.
Sunday, October 29th - Genesis 35: 8
Although Jacob was precisely where the Lord wanted him to be, and was worshipping the Lord there, the fact that the patriarch was still a pilgrim in the Church militant was soon made evident by the death of an honorable, faithful, and, no doubt, beloved servant. Scripture itself honors this servant, by recording for us her name, Deborah. Her beloved status is evident not only by her reverent burial, but also due to the fact that she was likely one of the last living ties to Jacob’s deceased and beloved mother. Hence, Jacob gave her burial place a name that means oak ofweeping. Her death was a painful thorn in his flesh, but was also another prod to remind him that although he was settling in Bethel, he had there no continuing city, but rather had his citizenship and source of lasting joy in heaven.
Monday, October 30th - Genesis 35: 9
When the Lord afflicts His people with one hand, He embraces, comforts, and reassures them with the other hand. Therefore, amidst the grief Jacob was experiencing over Deborah’s death, the Lord appeared to him as He had done more than 20 years before this time at this same place. The God of salvation and eternal life came to Jacob, when the curse of death was prominent in his life, in order to bless him with the promise of glory that would outshine and overwhelmingly compensate him for all of his sorrows and sufferings. Even in the valley of the shadow of death, we need fear no evil, because our divine Shepherd is ever with us.
Tuesday, October 31st - Genesis 35: 9
The fact that Scripture notes the appearance of God to Jacob when he came from Paddan-aram, indicates an important causal connection to us. It was when Jacob was away from where the Lord had called him and settling into the place to which He had directed him that divine blessing came to him. As we have seen, even Bethel was not without its thorns of affliction. However, when we in trusting obedience turn away from lesser things to be where the Lord calls us to be, we can with humble and yet sure expectation look for great blessing from the Lord.
Wednesday, November 1st - Genesis 35: 10-12
These verses contain an articulation of the blessing with which the Lord blessed Jacob upon his settling into Bethel. It is a full, expansive, majestic, and glorious blessing. The Lord may at times minister to us His blessing in crumbs that appear to fall from His heavenly table, while at other times He solemnly bestows upon us blessings of greatest magnitude and most glorious character. The wondrous truth is that if we are His people in Christ, we have in Christ every spiritual blessing—the greatest as well as the smallest—reserved in heaven for our fullest enjoyment.
Thursday, November 2nd - Genesis 35: 10
The Lord commences His blessing of Jacob by changing his name to Israel. That which had been done earlier by the angel of the Lord, after a dark night of Jacob’s wrestling at the ford of the Jabbock (Gen. 32:22-28), is here ratified at Bethel by the Lord appearing to Jacob in majestic glory. By this second witness of divine visitation and blessing, the name change was confirmed by the graciously transforming power of the Lord. Jacob was a new man, with a new status, new powers, and new hope. No longer was he the scheming supplanter, cunningly seeking to better himself. As Israel, he was a prince of God, who, by his relation to the heavenly King, was exalted to triumphant heights here and glorious heights hereafter. We, too, have been so exalted by the loving redemption and consequent adoption we have received from our heavenly Father (Jn. 1:12; 1 Jn. 3:1-3).
Friday, November 3rd - Genesis 35: 11
In this verse, the Lord reveals to Jacob something about the source of the divine blessing he was receiving and the fruit that would issue from it. The source was nothing less or other than the God of all power. Earlier, at the Jabbok’s ford, Jacob had asked the name of the angel of the Lord who had blessed him and fortified him for his meeting with Esau, of whom Jacob had been afraid (Gen. 32:11). The angel told him then no more than that he had prevailed with God. Now that Jacob had left Shechem, being in fear of the Canaanites, and had settled at Bethel in the land of Canaan, the Lord reveals to him that his blessing was conferred upon him by nothing less than His almighty hand. If this God was for His Israel, who or what could stand against him? If this same almighty God is for us in Christ, who can stand prevailingly against us, and what can we expect but to reign as more than conquerors over all people and powers that rise up against us?
Saturday, November 4th - Genesis 35: 11
In this verse, the Lord reiterates His covenant promise to bless Jacob with numerous descendants. Not only would their quantity be great, including nations of the earth, but their quality would be majestic, as denoted by the promise of kings that would descend from Jacob. This blessing, originally given by the Lord to Abraham (Gen. 17:1-6), is now confirmed to Jacob, who recently had departed from Shechem in disgraceful fear and shame. That the Lord promises that Jacob would be blessed in his children, is a remarkable promise, since the wounds from Dinah’s suffering and the worse wounds of the murderous vengeance of Simeon and Levi would have indicated to Jacob that he was cursed, rather than blessed, in his children. Yet, with these comforting divine words, Jacob is reminded that salvation is of God’s grace and power, not of man’s natural endeavors or merits.
Sunday, November 5th - Genesis 35: 12
The final component of this divine blessing upon Jacob is the Lord’s promise to confer the land of Canaan upon him and his descendants. The gracious divine gift that Jacob and all of his spiritual descendants would inherit was more than Bethel, more than Shechem, more than all of Canaan. Their inheritance and ours will be eternal life in the glory of a new heaven and earth in which we shall reign with Christ forever (Rev. 22:5). Canaan merely typified this great and glorious gift.
Monday, November 6th - Genesis 35: 13, 14
The vision Jacob had received from the Lord concluded with an appearance of divine departure. Jacob saw the Lord ascending from Bethel to His high and glorious heavenly throne. The divine departure did not leave Jacob despondent, but prompted him, instead, to acts of worship and devotion. For Jacob, being a man of faith, rightly focused upon the Word of the Lord he had just received, which contained great and precious promises. He also rightly viewed the Lord’s ascension not as a divine parting from him, but rather as a token of his own sure exaltation one day by the Lord to be with the Lord in His glory forever. Similarly should we view and consider the ascension of our Redeemer.
Tuesday, November 7th - Genesis 35: 15
When Jacob named the place of this divine vision and visitation Bethel, he did so as an act of authority under God and for the glory of God, as well as for his own edification and that of his descendants. It was also a recognition on Jacob’s part of the Lord’s grace, as the glorious God of heaven had condescended not only to come down from His high heaven in a vision, but also to dwell by His Spirit amongst His people, who could apprehend Him through faith. Furthermore, this God had made His dwelling among His people in order to lead them through their earthly pilgrimage and finally exalt them to His heavenly glory.
Wednesday, November 8th - Genesis 35: 16-18
The painful thorn in Jacob’s flesh of the death of Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse (v.8) is now followed by an excruciating spear thrust into his side by the death of his beloved wife, Rachel. We might expect the blessing of God, pronounced upon Jacob in vv.10-12, to have vanquished all suffering in Jacob’s life. In reality, that blessing was graciously planted by the Lord amidst what would have been without it a course of continual misery and death as the wages of sin. The promise of God would progressively overcome the power of sin and death for Jacob and for all of his spiritual descendants.
Thursday, November 9th - Genesis 35: 16-18
Jacob and his family were journeying south from Bethel to Hebron, where his father, Isaac, was living (v.27). It was when they were in the midst of that journey of approximately 30 miles, that Rachel went into a difficult labor that produced the birth of Benjamin and resulted in her own death. The city nearest to them at the time of Rachel’s birth-pangs was Ephrath, or Bethlehem. Yet, they were not near enough to it to receive help from any of its people or facilities. Centuries later, another pregnant mother actually made it into Bethlehem, but there received no consideration or provision from its citizens as she gave birth to the Savior of God’s people, including Jacob and Rachel and all of their children.
Friday, November 10th - Genesis 35: 16-18
Rachel had demanded of Jacob children, saying that without them she would die (Gen. 30:1). The Lord graciously gave her one son—the best of all of Jacob’s children—but she was not content with one child, whom she named Joseph, a name meaning add to me, implying that she desired at least another child despite the cost. Now Rachel has her desired second son, and his life proves to be her death. The attending midwife underestimated the cost that discontented Rachel was in process of bearing in this birth. The words of the midwife, and even the birth of her second son were no consolation to Rachel as she perceived her own life coming to its end. We gather this by the name she gave to this son, Ben-oni, meaning, son of my sorrow. Rachel was too much focused upon her children and not focused enough upon her heavenly Father. Let all Christian parents note well this warning, as well as the strong words of Jesus, that tell all who would be His disciples, that they must hate their natural relations in comparison with their love for Him (Lk. 14:26).
Saturday, November 11th - Genesis 35: 18
Rachel died, not as she peevishly had said she would without children, but rather with children, and, instrumentally, by the birth of her second son. Yet, hers was a fruitful death. Although it was mortally painful for her and mightily painful for Jacob, the blessing of God would triumph over the curse of death and sorrow. Jacob’s faith rightly perceived a living memorial to the Lord’s grace and power in this second son born of Rachel. Therefore, he changes the boy’s name from Ben-oni (son of my sorrow) to Benjamin (son of my right hand). The afflictions and sorrows of the faithful always serve fruitfully for their strengthening.
Sunday, November 12th - Genesis 35: 19, 20
Rachel died and Jacob not only buried her, but also he erected a memorial pillar over her grave, just as he had before erected a pillar at the place in Bethel where the Lord had appeared to him and spoken words of blessing to him (v.14). The former pillar commemorated his comfort, this latter, his grief. Yet, both contained an element of gratitude to the Lord who is blessed whether He gives or takes away. Jacob was grateful to God for the years he had with his beloved Rachel, and was even more grateful to the Lord for his covenant promise of blessing that would result in life from the dead and a triumphal and eternal reign in glory for all who, like Jacob and his departed Rachel, possess faith in the Lord.
Monday, November 13th - Genesis 35: 21
After Rachel’s death, burial, and the erection of a memorial pillar for her, Jacob pressed on with his journey to Hebron. Rachel had run her race and finished her earthly course. Jacob was still on his pilgrimage, being led by the Lord. Therefore, Jacob presses on to what lies ahead of him, and Scripture commends him for this by using his new, God-given name, Israel. Those who continue to walk with God after His dark, afflicting providence has removed from them a beloved one are truly royal sons of the living and eternal God.
Tuesday, November 14th - Genesis 35: 21, 22
It was soon after Jacob left Rachel’s grave that another affliction came upon him. The tower of Eder, where he went one day, was near Bethlehem, and so Jacob had not traveled far before his living son added pain and grief to the man who was still sore over the death of his wife. Jacob’s first-born son, Reuben, sinned against his father in a way worse than pagans tend to do. Reuben’s sin was precisely like the one that the Apostle Paul so strongly condemns in 1 Corinthians 5:1ff. The first naturally-born child is not always the best. It was Jesse’s last-born son, David, that proved to be his best son (1 Sam. 16:11-13). Reuben, no doubt, sought to indulge his unholy passion in secret, but Jacob heard of it. Our sins will always find us out. Furthermore, Reuben must have thought that he had committed this sin without having to face punishment for it, as we are told his father heard of it, but did nothing about it. However, years later, the silence of Jacob was broken, and he cursed his eldest son and removed from him his birthright (Gen. 49:3,4). There is a day of reckoning for all sin, even that which was committed secretly and seemed for years to be indulged by God and man.
Wednesday, November 15th - Genesis 35: 21, 22
Jacob was blessed by God, yet he seems from all of the painful afflictions that come upon him to be cursed. Although he is disgraced and dishonored by his son, still he is honored by the Lord, for through all of his troubles and trials the Word of God designates him by his new name, Israel. We must not judge a man by the rude treatment he receives from others, but rather by the royal treatment he receives from God. If we desire to live a godly life, we will be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12), but our heavenly Father will use all such afflictions only to promote our highest good (Rom. 8:28).
Thursday, November 16th - Genesis 35: 22b-26
These verses give a tabulation of the 12 sons of Israel from whom the 12 tribes of Israel would issue. The mothers of these sons are listed, too. Though some in the list are notorious sinners—such as Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Bilhah—their names are not erased from this place of honor. All of the 12 sons of Israel were sinners, but by God’s graciously redeeming them they were made vital, lasting, and significant members of the Church for all ages (Rev. 21:12).
Friday, November 17th - Genesis 35: 27
The terminus of Jacob’s journey was Hebron. That city was the goal and chosen domicile of this man because it was in Hebron that his father, Isaac, lived and died. The aim and end of our pilgrimage is heaven, where our divine Father dwells, and where our divine Redeemer has ascended to prepare a place for us (Jn. 14:3; 17:24-26; Col. 3:1-4). We should determine to settle for nothing other and less than such eternal, glorious communion with our heavenly Father.
Saturday, November 18th - Genesis 35: 28, 29
Scripture records immediately after Jacob’s return to his father’s home the death of Isaac, through which Jacob’s father was promoted to his true home in the presence of the Lord. Isaac lived for 180 years—longer than his father, Abraham (175 years), and longer than his son, Jacob (147 years). His quiet and peaceful living may have contributed to his longevity. Isaac was 60 years old when Jacob was born (Gen. 25:26), and, as Jacob died when he was 147 years old, having spent his last seventeen years in Egypt (Gen. 47:28), Isaac, in fact, died many years after Jacob returned to live in Hebron. Isaac lived long enough after Jacob’s return to learn of Joseph’s supposed death, when his brothers fabricated the story of his demise to cover the sin of their having sold him into slavery. Isaac never learned the truth about Joseph before his death, but surely knows that truth now in their reunion in the light of God’s presence. Many blessed surprises await us after we cross the Jordan from this land of shadows and sorrows, mysteries and miseries.
Sunday, November 19th - Genesis 35: 28, 29
We know that death was no more the end of Isaac than it had been for Abraham, for of both patriarchs it is recorded in Scripture that each was gathered to his people. It is also recorded that a sweet reconciliation between the once estranged twin sons of Isaac was in effect at his death and burial. When God receives a dying saint into heaven, it often is the case that heavenly peace, graciousness, and love are poured upon the surviving loved ones of that saint, making them to be, at least for a time, better in their attitude toward one another in the valley of the shadow of death than ever they were while their departed loved one lived. This sweetness of common grace should quicken men’s hunger for God’s special, saving grace.
Monday, November 20th - Genesis 36: 1
While righteous Jacob is shown by the record of Scripture to be a man suffering many afflictions, his unrighteous brother, Esau, is shown to be a man enjoying affluence and growth into a nation named Edom. The term, Edom, is translated red, and was a nickname for Esau after he had traded his birthright for a bowl of red stew (Gen. 25:30). That trade seemed to pay off for Esau better in this world than did Jacob’s choice of the Lord. Yet, what does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?
Tuesday, November 21st - Genesis 36: 2-5
From these verses we learn that Esau had three wives who bore him five sons. Jacob’s wives and concubines bore him 12 sons. Thus, we observe that the pious son of Isaac was more fruitful in matters of familial and lasting significance than was the profane son. In addition, Esau’s wives were Canaanites, whereas all of Jacob’s wives at least came from those related to the covenant people, if not personally to the covenant God of those people. Thus, the man of faith, for all of the evident faults and failings of the women in his life, had helpmeets who acknowledged and sought to obey the Lord. This was a great blessing that Jacob possessed and that Esau lacked, as Esau’s wives were godless and troublesome (Gen. 26:34,35).
Wednesday, November 22nd - Genesis 36: 2-5
When we compare the names of Esau’s wives as given in these verses with other passages of Scripture that name them (Gen. 26:34,35; 28:9), we discover variations. These variant names likely result from the fact that people in the ancient, as well as in the modern world, are known by several names (e.g., William, Will, and Bill). The significant thing to note is that there is no reference to the Lord in any of the names of these Canaanite women, nor was there godliness in their natures. Thanks be to God that we who believe in Jesus are called by the name that is above every other name in heaven or on earth.
Thursday, November 23rd - Genesis 36: 6-9
These verses tell us of Esau’s move from Canaan. He departed from the land he wanted, but could not have, as the Lord had promised it to Jacob and his descendants. Esau moved from Canaan, not because he respected the Lord’s promise of the land to his brother, but because he valued his growing material fortune over all things and moved to allow its continued and unimpeded growth. All who choose cold cash over the warm love and blessed fellowship of a living relative are most to be pitied.
Friday, November 24th - Genesis 36: 6-9
Esau not only moved from the promised land, he also departed from his pious brother. By this move, Esau distanced himself from the place of God’s blessing, as well as from the living person whose life was a testimony to the blessing of the Lord that makes rich with no sorrow being added to it. While it is true that Jacob and Esau were together at their father’s funeral, it is also true that soon thereafter they parted for time and eternity. Esau’s choice was ever for the things of this world. He demonstrated that profane choice when he gave up his birthright for a bowl of red stew, and the name of his nation, Edom (i.e., red), ever memorialized the folly of his choice and of his misguiding priorities.