Dr. Michael D. Halsey

 

 

"THE END OF AN ERA"

GENESIS 35

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The focus of Genesis is about to shift.  The old order is shutting down and passing from the scene. 

God reminds Jacob that he should fulfill his vow to return to Bethel where God had first appeared to him in the stairway dream when he left the land on the run.  He returns to Bethel (vs. 1-4) and he’s going to worship there with his family.  This will involve making a public declaration of his faith. 

 

When Jacob instructs his family about preparing to worship, what he says will be instructive to the nation later on:

 

1. The Lord permits no rivals.

2. The Lord permits no charms (the use of earrings).

3. Change clothes.

  The last one sounds odd to us because we live in a day of easy informality.  Last year, I was taking Brent to school and we were walking out of the house, and I wasn’t paying much attention as he walked behind me.  As we were walking toward the car, I turned around and saw that he was wearing his pajamas.  I asked him what in the world was going on and he said, “Today’s pajama day.”  Upon further enquiry, I learned that the “teachers don’t care,” and that the day was official pajama day.  I told him that I cared and had him go back and change clothes. 

 

The easy informality started in the churches in the 60’s and blossomed in the 70’s and seems to be a way of life now.  Some churches ripped out the pews, set up folding chairs and bean bags (remember them) in the auditorium so people could lounge around while the service was in progress.  The emphasis continued when I read of one church that invited people to come to church and have a cup of Joe while “worshipping” that Sunday.  Maybe one day, we’ll get to the point where the pastor won’t begin praying with “our Father,” but “Hey, You.” 

 

But let’s keep a balance here.  The issue for the non-Christian isn’t clothes or what he wears to church.  He could wear a barrel for all I care.  We have to remember that in the days of the early church, the church was made up of many of the slave class.  The early church usually met on Sunday nights, so the slaves came in what they wore to work.  So a person who reports to work right after church would today, have to come in his work clothes unless he wants to change in the church. 

 

But before we run the other direction and say, “God doesn’t care what you wear to church; I think we have to take into consideration what we’re seeing here and elsewhere in the Bible.  The Bible puts an emphasis on the heart attitude.  If a person wears what he/she wears because they just don’t care, then that’s a different matter.  If that’s the case, then he needs to reevaluate. 

 

A pastor I know was invited, during the Jimmy Carter days, to the White House to have lunch with the President and many other ministers.  (I know this because he worked it into every sermon thereafter.)    What do you think was the first thing he did before he left his home town?  Right.  He bought a new suit.  He wanted to look just right when he met President Carter.  Why?  Because he cared.  It was an important occasion for him.  How would it have looked if he’d showed up in dirty jeans and lounged around on a bean bag during the President’s speech?  He wouldn’t think of doing such a thing.  It wasn’t that there was a rule telling him what not to wear, but it was his attitude toward the meeting with the President.

 

There are some things that are proper in their place.  It’s very proper for me to brush my teeth every day.  But it’s not proper to brush my teeth in the pulpit.  It’s out of place.  There’s no rule that tells me not to do that some Sunday, but my heart tells me it’s not proper.  In fact, it’s disrespectful.

 

As the family travels to Bethel , the villages they pass by are scared of them.  Why?  Remember the previous chapter?  Remember what some members of this family did to that one town? 

 

It’s here that an era begins close.  Deborah, the family nurse, who’d been with them since Isaac, dies.  She’s been an important person to the family; we see this because they set up a memorial to her. 

 

It’s in vss. 9-15 that God appears to Jacob and reaffirms the Abrahamic Cov.  Here in Bethel , Jacob worships God. 

 

But the old order continues to pass: Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin who’s the answer to her prayer for more children.  Now the number of the tribes is complete.  Before she dies, she names him “Son of my affliction,” but Jacob changes it to something more positive, “Son of honor.” 

 

In vss. 22-29, sin enters again as Reuben takes one of his father’s concubines.  This could have been a power play to replace the father as the leader of the family.  Jacob takes note of it and remembers it in Gen. 49 and for this act Reuben will suffer.

 

Moses reports the changing of the guard when he records the death of Isaac.  From now on the focus of the book will shift to the sons of Jacob.  The focus won’t be on Jacob, but on the fourth generation, especially Joseph.  Things are changing, as things have a way of doing. 

 

The important thing is that, although there’s death, the Abrahamic Cov. goes on.  Even though there’s sin, God still watches over and blesses this family. 

 

We see that Jacob could have become complacent.  He was back in the land and rich.  But God moved him to Bethel so he would keep his vow and reaffirm his faith.  God moved him out of complacency to keep the vow, to remove idolatry, to worship, and be purified.  Stay committed in spite of changes even big ones, such as death and sin.