Friday, February 27, 2009

Today's Passage: Genesis 34-35

Chapter 34 is one of those "did I just read that?" chapters in scripture. I used to think that this kind of story shouldn't be in the Bible...it's too graphic and disturbing in some ways. Sometimes we think that the people of Bible times weren't exactly like we are, but the same things that happen today were happening then. I would imagine that if these people saw our 6:00 p.m. newscast, they would be pretty shocked as well. As we learn in this chapter, Jacob the deceiver's sons didn't fall too far from the tree, as they deceive their enemies and destroy them.

It's this deceitful nature, especially as it pertains to the beginning of chapter 35, that I want to discuss today. If you remember from about a week ago, Jacob first heard from God at Bethel, which means "house of God." This is where God promised to watch over him and all his potential offspring..it is here where a covenant is made. Jacob makes this promise in 28:20-22: "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."

As we know, God did protect Jacob and his family...he has prospered and flourised. Now that he has a large family, he's settled with Esau, and is ready to settle down, Jacob decides to return to this place. When he makes this decision, however, he realizes he has a problem. As he looks around at his household, he sees that they have compromised their relationship with God. His entire household is full of foreign gods, foreign clothing, and foreign jewlery. Even though God has protected them, they have not protected their relationship back with Him. Jacob realizes that they can't go to the "house of God" looking like they don't really want to be with Him only, so they bury all the stuff that shouldn't be there.

You can't be a little bit deceitful...you are or you are not, but there's no middle ground. Their deceitful nature allowed them to accept other gods and their trinkets instead of remaining true to the God of provision. Likewise, you can't be a little bit committed...you either keep the covenant or you don't, but there is always a choice to be made.

How many times has God provided for me, and then I turn to the gods of this world? How many promises have I made to Him, only to look like everyone else? How many times have I had to have a time just like this one, where I once again bury the things that weigh me down? I hope each of us has our eyes open to the things that are not of the One True God in our lives!