- Scripture: Genesis 35:1–22
- The Anchor: “God said to him, ‘Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.’ So he called his name Israel.” – Genesis 35:10 (ESV)
Jacob finally goes to Bethel after many chapters of sinning in the land of Shechem. God calls Jacob to go to Bethel and to cleanse his whole family of any false idols and sin that they had. The family had to give up their foreign gods and they purified themselves. When they came to Bethel, Jacob made an altar called El-Bethel to honor God. Then, Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under an oak tree. God appeared to Jacob again and reminded him of how his name changed from Jacob to Israel and God also promised to continue the Abrahamic covenant. Jacob set up a pillar and poured out an offering to God.
Next, Rachel had another child named Ben-Oni, but Jacob renamed him to Benjamin. Rachel died after she gave birth to Benjamin, and she was also buried in the land. Finally, Reuben slept with Jacob’s concubine, Bilhah.
One of the core ideas in today’s passage is that Jacob’s name is changed to Israel. We know that he got that name a few chapters ago, but I think the Bible doesn’t address him as Israel because he was living as Jacob was living. As Jacob, he struggled with sin and deception and self-importance like we saw in the last few days. But now, Jacob finally comes back to God’s path. He purifies his family and then he makes altars and gives offerings to God. God’s way is truly better. Maybe it wasn’t Jacob’s desirable path, but he realized that God’s way is superior to his own.
Benjamin’s original name was Ben-Oni, which means “son of my sorrows,” but Jacob changed it to Benjamin, which means “son of my right hand.” At the end of her life, Rachel was in sorrow. If we think back a few chapters, Jacob curses Rachel to die because she stole Laban’s teraphim. I don’t know the full extent or reason for Rachel’s sorrow, but I’m guessing it has something to do with her competition against Leah for Jacob’s love, and realizing how bad that was. However, Jacob still shows favoritism to Rachel by naming the son Benjamin, which indicates that Benjamin is extremely precious to him, and so is Rachel.
To address the elephant in the room, Reuben’s actions were sinful, but it makes more sense in the context of this family. Jacob was a deceiver and a big sinner. A commentary brings up an interesting point that Reuben, Simeon, and Levi’s sins disqualified them from carrying on the Abrahamic covenant. That’s why Judah, the fourth born son, was the line that Jesus came from.
Reflection
- You made a great point that the Bible kept calling him Jacob because he was still living like his old self—struggling with sin, deception, and self-importance. Are there old ways of acting or hidden things you need to clean out so you can walk in the true identity God has given you?
- Even through a busy week of productive studying, cramming, and water polo, Jacob’s story reminds us that God’s way is superior to our own. When you face choices between a comfortable shortcut and full obedience, do you actively choose God’s better path?
Prayer
Lord, thank You that Your way is truly superior to my own, even when it isn’t my most desired path. Help me to drop any old habits of deception or self-importance, to purify my thoughts, and to return to Your path today. Thank You for Your faithfulness to my family and to me. Amen.