Genesis 36:1

Genesis 36:1 says, Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.  We already have a record of Jacob's children, and we are now getting a record of Esau's children.  These were also Isaac's grandchildren, but they were not to be a part of God's promise to Abraham to make him the father of a great nation.  Our physical relationship to a Christian today likewise does not make us a Christian.  Verse two states, Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;  Then verse three adds, And Bashemath Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth. Esau had three wives including the daughter of Ishmaei.  With the exception of the daughter of Ishmael, Esau's wives were in no way associated with God.  We today should seek a wife among our fellow believers, and of course we should only seek one wife.  Verse four says, And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;  Two of Esau's wives each had one son.  Then verse five adds, And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.  Aholibamah, Ishmael's daughter, had three sons, so Esau had a total of five sons in the land of Canaan.  Once more, even if it had been obtained illegally, God's promise to Isaac passed with the birthright.  This does not mean that we can cheat someone else out of their place in God's kingdom, but that God is not limited to man made laws to accomplish His will.  Rebekah had been told before the birth of Esau and Jacob that the older son would serve the younger.  We could see what she did as simply bringing about God's will, but again I do not believe that God ever needs us to use deceit to accomplish His will.  Verse six says, And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.  Though they were not listed, Esau also had daughters, which implies more than one daughter.  Now that Esau had reconciled with Jacob, he took all that he had a moved away from Jacob.  Sometimes, as followers of Christ, we can reconcile with someone physically and still be separated spiritually.  Verse seven states, For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.  Both Esau and Jacob had a lot of cattle, and the land could not support them both.  Materially, they were both well blessed.  Material wealth should never be used to determine spiritual wealth, or obedience.  Verse eight states, Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.  Just as Jacob became known as Israel, Esau became known as Edom.  Verse nine adds, And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:  Then verse ten concludes, These are the names of Esau’s sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau.  We are once again given the names of two of Esau's sons and told that he lived in mount Seir, and was the father of the Edomites. 

Genesis 35:21

Genesis 35:21 says, And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.  Jacob is now identified as Israel.  He had been told of the name change twice, but until now, he had still been identified as Jacob.  Even though we become a new person when we become a follower of Christ, even though we don't get a new name, it may take some time for other people to recognize the change in us.  That does not mean that the change should not be immediate, but only that others may not immediately recognize it.  Verse twenty-two states, And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:  Israel stopped moving.  When he did, one of his sons, Reuben, had sexual relations with Bilhah, Israel's concubine, or mistress as we would say today.  Bilhah once again likely had little choice in the matter.  Israel had twelve sons, and we see that they were far from perfect.  Even though we are to lead them to a personal relationship with God, we cannot make our children follow Him.  Verse twenty-three states, The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:  As we know, Leah had six sons, of which Reuben was the oldest, and he was also Jacob's oldest son.  Dinah was not mentioned.  Though Rueben was the first born son, he was not the son preferred by Jacob.  This fact in itself may have led to some problems.  We cannot allow ourselves to show preference between our children.  Verse twenty-four adds, The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:  Though they were not the next in the birth order, Rachel two sons are listed next.  We know that Joseph, Rachel's first born, though the tenth child born, was the favorite of his father.  Verse twenty-five continues, And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:  Bilhah was the person that Rueben slept with, the mother of two of his half-brothers.  Verse twenty-six concludes, And the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.  These were the twelve sons of Jacob.  Verse twenty-seven declares, And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.  Jacob now returned to his father, whom when he had last seen him, Jacob had cheated him into blessing him.  I believe that the reason that Jacob is still referred to as Jacob instead of Israel is because Isaac would have still seen him the same way.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.  Isaac had been old when Jacob left, and he died soon after Jacob's return, at the age of one hundred and eighty.  Even though he lived a long life, we are not told of anything that he did for most of his life.  When we reach the end of our lives as followers of Christ hopefully people will be able to speak of the things that we have done for God.  We do not need a stopping point where we do nothing else.  Verse twenty-nine concludes, And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.  As just discussed, Isaac died, being old and full of days.  Esau and Jacob buried him, having now made peace with each other.

Genesis 35:9

Genesis 35:9 says, And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.  Jacob was following God's guidance and God once again appeared to Jacob and blessed him.  As followers of Christ, we don't really have to wait for God to appear to us, since the Holy Spirit indwells us, but we must still follow God's guidance to be blessed by Him in everyday life.  Verse ten states, And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.  When Jacob wrestled with the angel, his name was changed to Israel, but he had still been called Jacob by everyone.  God once again told Jacob that his name would be Israel.  Verse eleven declares, And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;  God left no doubt as to Who He was, just as He will leave no doubt with us today.  God reaffirmed His promise made to Abraham, then Isaac, and now Jacob, now Israel, to make them into a great nation.  God does not forget His promises, no matter how long it takes for them to be fulfilled.  Verse twelve adds, And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.  God's promise was an on going promise, just as His promise of everlasting life is today.  It is our responsibility as Christians to share the gospel with others so that they may claim that promise as well.  This is how we are to be fruitful and multiply.  Verse thirteen states, And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.   God did not stay with Jacob continually as the Holy Spirit does with us today.  Verse fourteen says, And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.  Jacob still identifies himself as Jacob, though I don't think this was in disobedience to God.  He dedicated the place where God talked with him.  Wherever we are today as followers of Christ should be dedicated to God, since He is with us continually.  Verse fifteen adds, And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel. Jacob named the place Bethel.  Verse sixteen states, And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.  They did not stay at Bethel, just as we cannot stay at the particular place where we first meet Christ as our Savior and Lord.  We as his followers have a commission to go into all the world to share the gospel.  Verse seventeen declares, And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.  When they got to Ephrath,  Rachel was in hard labor.  She was now having her second child.  Verse eighteen adds, And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.  Rachel died giving birth to her second son, who was named Benjamin.  What should have been a day of celebration for Jacob also became a day of mourning, but God was still with Jacob just as He had been since entering into a personal relationship with Jacob.  God is with us today in all the highs and lows, if we have that personal relationship with Him.  Verse nineteen states, And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.  As already stated, Rachel died and was buried at Bethlehem.  Verse twenty adds, And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave unto this day.  Jacob marked her grave with a pillar.  Rachel was the one that Jacob loved the most and worked the hardest for, and now she was gone, but Jacob still had things to do.  We cannot allow grief at the loss of someone we love to allow us to stop doing what God has called us to do.

Genesis 35:1

Genesis 35:1 says,  And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.  God now gave Jacob directions.  Jacob was to go to Bethel, dwell there, and build an altar to God.  God was specific about Who He was.  He was the God Who appeared to Jacob when he fled from Esau.  As followers of Christ, we should always be listening for God's instructions, but once we accept Christ as our Savior, God should not have to remind us Who He is.  Verse two states, Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:  Jacob told those of his household to put away any strange gods they had and to be clean before God.  We likewise must put away any strange gods that we may have.  I believe that this means more than just putting them out of sight to be called on later, but means putting them out of our life altogether.  Verse three adds, And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.  Jacob said they were going to Bethel, and there he would make an altar to the God Who answered him in the day of his distress.  We must always remember that God will be with us in our times of distress, if we have accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse four declares, And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.  His family gave Jacob all their strange gods and anything associated with them, and he buried them.  Jacob did not try to sell them or profit from them.  We must remove all false gods, and they do not have to be statues, from our lives, without concern for what it might cost us materially.  Verse five says, And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.  Jacob and his family journeyed under God's protection, and no one harmed them.  Spiritually today, we as followers of Christ journey under God's protection, and even if we were to be physically destroyed, no one can harm us spiritually, as long as we remain faithful to God.  Verse six states, So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.  Then verse seven adds, And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.  Jacob got to where God told him to go and built an altar, because he remembered that was where God had appeared to him.  As Christians, there should be a place that we can remember where we first met God and entered into a personal relationship with Him.  Verse eight declares, But Deborah Rebekah’s nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.  Jacob was back in touch with his family, and was most likely taking care of his mother's old nurse until she died.  She was not a blood relative, but she was still treated as a part of the family.  As followers of Christ, we certainly are not all kin to each other in earthly terms, nor are we all of the same status in life.  Still, we are to treat each other as a part of the same family, because we are brothers and sisters through the blood of Christ.

Genesis 34:25

Genesis 34:25 says, And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.  Diana's brothers had never planned to accept Shechem as her husband.  Their plan had been to kill him Shechem and all the males of his city when they were basically incapacitated from being circumcised.  We cannot use the gospel, or anything that identifies us as God's people, as a method to harm or destroy others, and we especially cannot use it to destroy whole groups of people.  Shechem was the one who was guilty, and maybe Hamor was guilty of not punishing him, but all the men were destroyed.  We are not told that these brothers asked God's guidance in there actions.  I don't believe that we can ever have a "just kill them all and let God sort it out" attitude.  We are to reach out to even our enemies with God's love.  Verse twenty-six states, And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out.  The brothers killed Hamor and Shechem and took Dinah home.  Shechem should have been held accountable for his actions, and Hamor held accountable for not doing so.  Still, the question is were the brothers justified in using an act that identified people as God's people to enable them to be judge, jury, and executioner of so many people.  Even though it seems that Hamor and Shechem were intending to use this identification with God's people to their advantage, we have to ask if this justified the action of Dinah's brothers.  We cannot allow the possible actions of others to dictate our actions as followers of Christ, but must always act under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-seven declares, The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.  Then verse twenty-eight adds, They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,  Then verse twenty-nine concludes, And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.   Not only did the brothers kill all the males of the city, but they took all of their possessions as well.  Basically, they profited by what had happened to Dinah.  We cannot allow something bad happening to another follower of Christ to be an excuse for us to profit materially from the action.  Verse thirty declares, And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.  Jacob told Simeon and Levi that they had brought trouble to him, since the people around him outnumbered his group.  Jacob was still not relying on God's promise as he should have.  As followers of Christ, we do not have to live in fear of those around us, but we also must not use our relationship to God as a means to mistreat them.  Verse thirty-one asks, And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?  Though the brothers had a reason to make sure that Shechem was held accountable for his actions, what they did was much more than that.  We cannot justify destroying groups of people simply because of the actions of a few or because of what they might do in the future, and we should never profit materially from such actions.  They also took the women and children, but I don't believe that they took the to become a real part of their family. 

Genesis 34:13

Genesis 34:13 says, And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:  Diana's brothers answered Shechem and Hamor, but they hadn't forgotten what Shechem did to her.  Sometimes our answers may be influenced by the auctions of others.  Verse fourteen states, And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:  The brothers said that they could not give Dinah to someone who wasn't circumcised, since that would be a reproach to them.  Circumcision was a sign that someone was a one of God's people.  As Christians, we today might say that we didn't want our sister to marry a non Christian, but it takes more than some physical act to make someone a Christian.  Verse fifteen declares, But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;  This could have been seen as a good thing, since it would show Sechem's and Hamor's willingness to be identified with God's people.  Still, the motivation of everyone involved was wrong.  We cannot attempt to get someone to identify as a follower of Christ for our own purposes, nor can someone claim to be a follower of Christ simply for their own benefit and make it true.  Verse sixteen adds, Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.  The brothers of Dinah told Sechem and Hamor if they would be circumcised, then they would give Dinah to Senechem as a wife.  Once more, we cannot use becoming a follower of Christ as a means to attain an earthly goal.  Verse seventeen continues,  But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.  The brothers of Dinah, even though they identified her as their sister, said do this or we will take her and be gone.  We can never use becoming a follower of Christ as a means to an earthly end, though it was never the intention of the brothers that Sechem and Hamor become a part of God's family.  Verse eighteen states, And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor’s son.  This sounded good to Sechem and Hamor, but the act had no spiritual meaning to them.  Some people today are willing to claim to be followers of Christ simply to achieve an earthly goal.  Verse nineteen declares, And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father.  Shechem was willing to go along with this demand.  Verse twenty adds, And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,  Then verse twenty-one continues, These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.  Sechem and Hamor basically told their people that they would benefit from this agreement as well.  Verse twenty-two states,  Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.  Sechem and Hamor said that only by being circumcised could they become one people.  Even if we demanded that everyone today be baptized, that would not make us all a part of God's family just as being circumcised without faith would not make these people a part of God's family.  Verse twenty-three asks, Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.   Sechem and Hamor told the people that they would all benefit from this.  They said what was Jacob's would become theirs.  Verse twenty-four declares, And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.  All the males agreed to this demand and were circumcised.  No one involved was really seeking God's will in this.  We cannot use Christianity as a means to physically or materially take advantage of others if we are followers of Christ.

Genesis 34:1

Genesis 34:1 says, And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.  Dinah went to visit some of the women that already lived there.  Jacob had been afraid of Esau, but he evidently wasn't too concerned about the other people he met or he would have still been keeping Dinah protected.  When we worry, which God tells us we shouldn't do, often the worry that we do have is misplaced to start with.  Verse two states, And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.  Dinah was defiled by Shechem, the son of the prince of the country.  Shechem had probably gotten pretty much anything he wanted because of his position of power.  There are still people in power today who feel that they should be able to do anything they want to do.  Verse three adds, And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.  We are told that afterwards Shechem felt deeply that he loved Dinah.  He evidently had little respect and concern for her to start with though.  His feelings afterward could not change his actions before, nor can changing our minds about how we feel about someone we have harmed change our actions before if we have harmed them.  Verse four states, And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.  Shechem went to his father and asked him to get Dinah for his wife.  He never asked Jacob, or Dinah for that matter, but simply felt that Hamor could do anything he wanted to do.  There are still people today who feel that their family's wealth and power entitle them to anything they want, but even if we become rich and powerful, as followers of Christ, we must never have that attitude.  Verse five declares, And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.  When Jacob heard what had happened to Dinah, his sons were in the field, so he didn't do anything until they returned.  Jacob could have just stormed off after Dinah, but he waited until he had more help.  We need to act in the best way possible when we encounter injustice in the world.  Verse six says, And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.  Hamor went to Jacob to commune, or talk, with him in an attempt to do what Shechem wanted.  Verse seven states, And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter; which thing ought not to be done.  Jacob's sons were very angry when they heard what had happened to Dinah.  We today should be upset when we hear of injustice in the world, but we should look to God for guidance in how to deal with it.  We cannot just be ruled by our anger.  Verse eight states, And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.  Hamar said that Shechem's soul longed for Dinah and asked that Jacob give her to Shechem as a wife.  Shechem was still only looking for what he wanted , after he had already treated Dinah with no respect.  We cannot justify sinful actions by suddenly attempting to treat those we have mistreated with respect.  Verse nine adds, And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.  Hamar proposed that Jacob give Dinah to them in marriage and then they would give their daughters in marriage to Jacob's sons.  Basically, Hamar was suggesting combining the two families.  This was definitely not God's plan.  Verse ten continues, And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.  Shechem was offering to allow Jacob to live there in peace and use the land.  God had already promised Jacob that he would be the father of a great nation, which was the continuation of His promise to Abraham and Isaac.  Jacob didn't need Hamar to accomplish this.  We today have the promise of everlasting life through Christ, and we must never think that we should compromise with the world to claim it.  Verse eleven states, And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.  Now, Shechem was offering anything that Jacob and his sons wanted for the right to marry Dinah.  We should never feel that money can erase sin.  Shechem evidently felt that money would justify anything.  Verse twelve adds, Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.  Shechem was willing to pay anything to get what he wanted.  Some people today feel that their riches should entitle them to anything they want, but this is not what God says.