Jan 13 (Genesis 34-36)

Genesis 34

This is one of those chapters that we parents have to tread lightly with, since Dinah was raped and violated (if you know what I mean). Not only was this a terrible thing, but it also leaves Dinah to be ineligible to get married...she is ruined by one cruel act. This is what motivated Simeon and Levi, and the fact that they were full brothers to Dinah.

Since my kids are still quite young, I tell them that Shechem treated Dinah very badly, and her brothers acted out of vengeance...as they get older, we'll discuss more of the details to complete the picture.

Genesis 35

Jacob and his family returned to the land of promise, with wealth and prosperity, but they had to get rid of all pagan remnants and trinkets to complete the journey.

I mention to my girls that like his fathers, Abraham and Isaac, Jacob shows his biggest acts of obedience and worship in Bethel. Pastor Chuck Smith points out that there is always a "place" where we feel closest to God. For these patriarchs, it was Bethel. For you and me, it may be the mountains, the beach, or in your home or church where you accepted the Lord into your life.

It's important to remember this, when we hit hard times, to go to that safe place to feel closer to God...it gives us strength.

(v.18) This is interesting, and shows us how we can act on emotion, and God still corrects us:

Benoni = "The son of my sorrow" named by Rachel in her grief of childbirth

Benjamin = "The son of my right hand" named by Jacob

Rachel, the mother of the twelve tribes of Israel was buried in Bethlehem, where the Son would be born centuries later, who is the King of all.

Genesis 36

The descendants of Esau are not as important to us Christians as the fact that they all are sons of Abraham. Between Hagar and Keturah, all these descendants are who we call "Arabs" today, but they are also a part of the promise to Abraham. They are our brothers in the sense we come from Abraham, whether by blood, or by faith.

During our readings through the Bible, I try to give general information to my kids about the Muslim faith, and its ties to the struggle between Isaac/Ishmael and Jacob/Esau. Muslims have the wrong view of the facts and history, and it's important for us to pray for them...they are lost. We pray that they see who Jesus really is...the fulfillment of the Promise to Abraham, and God in the flesh.