All along the way, Jacob’s story has been one of blessing mixed with difficulty, hardship, and sorrow. God’s meeting with Jacob in Paddan-aram was an instance of great blessing.
God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and he blessed him.
God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall you be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” So he was called Israel.
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 spring from you.
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” (Genesis 35:9-12).
Possibly you remember the time when God drew you into a personal relationship with Him.
I still remember the day, even though it was well over 50 years ago. That personal meeting didn’t change my name, but it changed my relationship with God and the future of my life. As I look back on that, I can only say, “Thank you, Lord, for your grace in my life.”
I expect as you think about your experience with God, it’s the same. Not only did God come to Jacob, but He’s come to people like us to give us a new life and a new destiny.
Touchstones
Jacob memorialized his encounter with God by erecting and anointing a pillar.
Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it (Genesis 35:14).
While we probably don’t have physical pillars, we do have significant moments that serve as reminders of God’s presence.
Consider today a time to reflect on your own life and identify those instances where you experienced God’s grace and His active intervention.
A Son of Sorrow
Rachel gave birth to two sons. One was Joseph, whom we will read about in future lessons, and the other was Benjamin. As she was giving birth to Benjamin, she experienced the deep pain of childbirth, with the result being her death.
Rachel was in childbirth, and she had hard labor. When she was in her hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for now you have another son”
As her soul was departing, for she was dying, she named him Ben-oni, but his father called him Benjamin. (Genesis 35:16-18).
Rachel named her son Ben-oni, “son of my sorrow.” Jacob renamed him Benjamin, “son of the right hand.”
In today’s YouTube video, Rudy Ross observes that Jesus on the cross was God’s “Son of sorrow.” After the resurrection, He became the Father’s “Son of the right hand.” What a profound picture of how God turns sorrow into joy!
Ephrath
Rachel’s burial place was a town near Bethlehem.
And Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem, and Jacob set up a pillar at her grave; it is the pillar of Rachel’s tomb, which is there to this day (Genesis 35:19-20).
This insignificant town was prophesied to be the home of a great ruler of Israel.
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days (Micah 5:2).
When King Herod wanted to know about a newly born ruler, the religious authorities quoted Micah’s prophecy.
They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:
‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” (Matthew 2:5-6)
If you listen to the YouTube videos that Bruce Kirby, Rudy Ross, and I produce, you’ll know that I often have trouble pronouncing biblical names. The town Ephrath next to Bethlehem is one that I’ve not been able to pronounce for my 50 plus years in the ministry.
Like me, you probably aren’t able to locate it on a map of Israel.
However, God glories in using insignificant and humble places and people to bring His purposes to bear in the world. Let’s keep this in mind the next time we sense God calling us to serve His purposes.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 