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Song: As The Deer
Scripture: Genesis 35:1-29
Jacob summed up his life to Pharaoh: “Few and unpleasant have been the years of my life.” The journey here described is proof of his statement.
Shechem had been a nightmare. A defiled daughter, murderous sons, and a ruined reputation were Jacob’s memories of that city.
Bethel witnessed the death of Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse. Oddly, Rebekah’s death is not recorded, nor how Deborah ended up with Jacob’s company. But the event added to his sorrows. They named Deborah’s burial plot, “Oak of Weeping.”
On the way to Ephrath, or Bethlehem, Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. The least sister and the wife whom Jacob loved most died first.
At the Tower of the Flock, Reuben, Jacob’s eldest, slept with Bilhah, the handmaiden of his recently departed wife. Woe unto Israel.
Finally, at Hebron, Jacob came to his blind father Isaac, who’d been without sight for over 40 years, just in time to bury him.
Few and unpleasant indeed were Jacob’s years! But after the tragedy at Shechem Jacob made a choice that Joshua would also urge his generation to make at Shechem. He buried the gods of his fathers beyond the river, and committed he and his house to serving the Lord. Sorrow makes some men bitter. It made Jacob better.
Jason Moore
