Daily Devotions
Genesis
"I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word." Psalm 119:107
Text: Genesis 35:1-29
PART OF THE ROOT PROBLEM
Jacob had to exercise all the authority he had in his family! As God spoke to him, he realized that he needed to have a fresh start! Why had his sons turned out so wickedly? How had this happened? Even as these questions came to his mind, he already knew part of the answer.
“And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him,
‘Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves,
and change your garments. Then let us arise and go up to Bethel;
and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in
the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which
I have gone.'”
GENESIS 35:2-3“Foreign gods”
Jacob suspected that his sons must have been influenced by foreign ideas, perhaps even foreign religions and foreign gods! His knowledge of God had taught him to walk in integrity and meekness. The idea of vengeance, murder and mayhem, were all so foreign. There were other religions who advocated violence and vengeance, but that was not what he had taught his children!
Even before the journey to Bethel could be taken, Jacob insisted that foreign gods must not be allowed in his household. That would apply to Rachel and the foreign gods that she had stolen from her father Laban! The order would also apply to his servants. It was likely that his sons had been badly influenced along the way!
“Purify yourselves and change your garments”
The simplest form of ritual or ceremonial cleansing must be in the form of taking a bath and then having a change of garments! This would symbolize the following:-
1. Admission of guilt and sin.
2. Desire to be cleansed of sin.
3. Changes must take place after cleansing!
“Let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God”
This was Jacob’s attempt to establish religious roots for the family! They will worship only ONE God! They will reject all foreign gods! Enough of evil influences from foreign gods! They were now in grave danger of being wiped out if other groups in the land grouped together and attacked them!
In this day of distress, they would have to pray and trust that the Lord would somehow especially protect them! If they were to desire Him to protect them, they must not anger or grieve Him by having foreign gods in their midst! If ever there was a need to exercise authority in the household, this was the moment. These were powerful words of instruction! They were not mere suggestions!