Since I asked each of you to find five facts that touched your heart in this week’s reading assignment, I have followed suit.  So here goes (by the way, Cindy, thanks so much for your lovely comments);

1.      God speaks personally to Jacob.  Remember in closing last week that I mentioned God was silent throughout the previous chapter for a Holy God cannot be in the presence of evil.  The physical abusive act of rape against Dinah and her brothers’ revenge were acts of evil.  But once the “dust had settled”, God spoke again to Jacob, the chosen heir of the promise, and gave him further instructions. 

2.    God sent Jacob back to Bethel.  This was the very place Jacob wrestled with God.  Sometimes God takes us back to a previous place or experience where His presence was truly felt to get us going in the direction of His will for our lives.  Ironically the “great tree” mentioned in verse 8 is a landmark that aided individuals living in this area with directions.  How cool is the fact that the tree directed persons physically and spiritually? 

3.    Rebekah’s nurse, Deborah, passes away and is buried under this landmark tree.  Although I couldn’t remember the mention of Rebekah’s nurse in previous readings, she is mentioned in Chapter 24, verse 59.  Here is a faithful servant that did her job weand is being given a lovely burial place and recognition in scripture.  Reminds us that we are all important to God regardless of our place in society.

4.    Jacob’s name is changed to Israel.  What a beautiful blessing God bestows on Israel, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number.  A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body.  The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”  Wow!  Then I love this next sentence, “Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him.”  Sounds like the ascension of Jesus, doesn’t it?

5.    Rachel dies in childbirth and is buried on the way to Ephrath, near Bethlehem.  Jacob not only loses his beloved Rachel, but a while after returning to his homeland and being reunited with his father, Isaac also passes away.  I am touched by the latter part of verse 29, “And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.”  Just as Ishmael and Isaac buried their father, Abraham after many personality struggles, so these two sons of Isaac come together at their father’s death and put aside all previous selfish encounters.

God is good all the time….and all the time God is good!

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for loving us enough to bring us back to those times and places where we had genuine encounters with you.  Times when we laid ourselves and all we are on the altar so that you might work in and through us to bring about your will in our lives.  Remind us to continually stop and make a list of even five situations when you have been faithful and taught us lessons.  I’m sure the list will grow as we meditate on your goodness and mercy.  We love you, Lord.  Amen.

Next week’s assignment:  Please read Chapter 36.  This will be a catch up week for us.  If you need to read and answer questions, please use this week to do so.  This chapter deals will all the descendants of Esau.  My question for you to consider, why do you think it is important to devote an entire chapter to naming the descendants of Esau?