Monday, January 12, 2009

Jan 12, 2009 Gen 35-37

Gen 35
God commands Jacob to take his family and go to Bethel. Now, Jacob tells his family to get rid of all the foreign gods they had. It does not say that God told him to get rid of these. Just that God commanded him to go to Bethel and build an alter for the Lord. In ch 34. they had settled near a cannanite city. Jacob's daughter Dinah was defiled by a man who wanted to marry her. The Cannanite's persuaded Jacob to intermarry with them. But, Jacob's sons kill all the males in the city including the one Dinah marries, because he had defiled their sister. Israel is worried that they will be surrounded and attacked by other cannanites. God comes on the scene and tells them to go to Bethel.

Although, Jacob and his family followed the Lord, they also had foreign gods among them. Interesting that Jacob does not rid his household of the foreign gods until he is desparate for God's protection. He had everything dear to him at stake, because of his family's actions. God does not command him to get rid of them. Jacob knows, that he cannot worship God with these foreign gods around.

Ch. 36
Jacob's and Esau's descendents.

Ch. 37
Joseph is the second youngest son of Jacob, born of Rachel. He favors Joseph over his other sons, which causes jealousy and hatred among them towards their brother Joseph. Joseph has more than one dream of objects bowing down to him, which he tells to his brothers and father. This adds further insult to injury. His brothers hate him even more. Did Joseph thrive on the knowledge of his father's favoritism towards him? Did the dreams make him prideful? The text doesn't really say for sure. Joseph's brothers sell him to Egyptians, instead of killing him.

No comments: