God’s Call to Return to Bethel

Genesis 35 recounts significant moments of renewal and reaffirmation for Jacob and his family, including divine commands, personal loss, and the reaffirmation of the Abrahamic covenant. This chapter emphasizes themes of purification, commitment, and the enduring promises of God.

Renewal at Bethel

• God’s Command: After the events at Shechem, God instructs Jacob to go to Bethel and build an altar. This command prompts Jacob to lead his household in a ritual of purification, including the removal of foreign gods and purification of garments, symbolizing a rededication to God (Genesis 35:1-4).
• Building the Altar: Upon arriving at Bethel, Jacob builds the altar as instructed, which commemorates the place where God first appeared to him when he fled from his brother Esau. This act reaffirms Jacob’s commitment to God and marks Bethel as a place of divine encounter and covenant renewal (Genesis 35:6-7).

God’s Covenant with Jacob Reaffirmed

• Divine Appearance and Blessing: God appears to Jacob again at Bethel after the altar is built. During this encounter, God reconfirms the name change from Jacob to Israel and reiterates the covenantal promises: a nation and a community of nations will come from him, kings will be among his descendants, and the land promised to Abraham and Isaac will also belong to his descendants (Genesis 35:9-12).

Family Changes and Losses

Births, Deaths, and Burials

• The Birth of Benjamin and Death of Rachel: As the family moves on from Bethel, Rachel goes into labor with her second son. The labor is hard, and she dies giving birth. Before her death, she names her son Ben-Oni, but Jacob calls him Benjamin. Rachel is buried on the way to Ephrath (Bethlehem), and Jacob sets up a pillar over her tomb, which stands as a memorial (Genesis 35:16-20).
• Death of Isaac: The chapter concludes with the death of Isaac, who is buried by his sons Esau and Jacob, marking the end of an era and the fulfillment of the generational transition in the patriarchal narrative (Genesis 35:27-29).

Theological Significance and Connection to Jesus Christ

Christological Echoes and Fulfillment

• Bethel as God’s House: The renaming of Bethel and the divine appearances there point to God’s continued presence with His people, prefiguring the role of Jesus Christ as Emmanuel, “God with us,” who makes the ultimate connection between heaven and earth.
• The Promises Expanded: The reiteration of the covenant to Jacob ties directly to the promise of Jesus Christ, through whom the nations are blessed. Jesus embodies the fulfillment of these promises, bringing the blessing of salvation to all nations.

Divine Love and Its Implications

• Provision and Protection: God’s repeated interventions and guidance in Jacob’s life demonstrate His protective love and faithfulness, ensuring the fulfillment of His promises despite human failures and hardships.
• Response to Faithfulness: The pillar over Rachel’s tomb and the altar at Bethel symbolize human responses to God’s faithfulness, reminding believers today of the importance of remembering and honoring God’s work in their lives.

Contemporary Relevance

Why Genesis 35 Still Matters Today

• Spiritual Renewal: The call to return to Bethel and rid themselves of foreign gods challenges believers to continually examine and renew their commitment to God.
• Handling Loss and Change: The narrative provides insight into handling significant life changes and losses with faith and trust in God’s broader plan.
• Legacy and Covenant: Jacob’s life and the transitions documented in Genesis 35 encourage reflection on the legacies individuals create and the enduring impact of divine promises.

Genesis 35 remains a profound testament to the importance of covenant faithfulness, the power of God’s promises, and the necessity of personal and communal spiritual renewal. It offers timeless lessons on navigating life’s transitions with faith and integrity, anchored in the unchanging love and promises of God.