Genesis 44 Series

Also, when you read of God giving the covenant promises to Jacob, changing his name to Israel, and Jacob responding with worship there in Bethel, we need to remember that this has all been done before. God already gave the covenant to Jacob the first time he passed through Bethel – and Jacob responded in worship. And God had already renamed Jacob to Israel after their wrestling match.

I don’t think this was a matter of Jacob having a bad memory. I think it was simply a formal affirmation that God’s will was being done. Jacob was almost home, he would inherit the promised land, the land that would be called Israel after him. God is doing as He said He would.

But the journey wasn’t over. Time to keep moving south towards His homeland.

II. Jacob journey’s to Hebron

The first thing we see in this journey is that Jacob’s beloved wife Rachel dies.

1. Transition – Rachel dies

[Read Genesis 35:16-20.]

Sadly, Jacob’s favorite wife dies. On her deathbed she names her son Benoni which means “son of sorrow”. But after she passes Jacob renames him Benjamin which means “son of honor or good fortune.” And the memorial to Rachel’s grave was still in existence when Moses wrote this book.

Since she died the power structure in the family had changed. Rachel seemed to be the one who pulled the strings in the family, but not any more. So that’s the transition in this part of the journey. But now comes some needed:

2. Correction – Reuben’s sin

[Read Genesis 35:21-22.]

Terrible! Jacob’s firstborn son has an affair with one of Jacob’s wives. But it would be a sin that would not go unpunished.

[Read Genesis 49:3-4, I Chronicles 5:1.]

But even with Reuben tainting the family, God’s will would still be accomplished.

3. Completion – twelve tribes of Israel

[Read Genesis 35:23-26.]

Through these many hard years the twelve sons of Jacob, who would be the original leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel, were in place. God is coming through on His promise to build mighty nations through Jacob.

With his twelve sons Jacob continues to journey to his father’s home which was now in Hebron. A place where more transition would take place.

4. Transition – Isaac dies

[Read Genesis 35:27-29.]

The change in family leadership was now complete. Isaac, Rebekah and Rachel were now gone. Jacob was singularly in charge of the family now. Not even Esau posed a threat at this time because we see him move away after him and Jacob bury their father. And that’s the first thing we‘re going to notice about Esau’s journey is Jacob ensconced as the family leader.

III. Esau journey’s to Seir

1. Completion – Jacob as head of family

[Read Genesis 36:1-8.]

Esau was the only one who could have posed a legitimate threat to Jacob’s headship of the family. Even though Jacob had secured the family blessing and Esau’s birthright, both parents were now dead. Who would stop Esau from attempting to overthrow Jacob?

But Esau willingly left to make room for Jacob’s household and coming nations. Israel was in place and right where God had said they’d be all along.