Genesis 31-35…
Today’s reading is Genesis 31-35. Here are my comments…
Chapter 31
“Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”" This chapter helps to show why God entered into a covenant relationship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, when God appeared to them it actually affected their actions. Even if they messed up sometimes, they still seemed to be listening for the most part. Not really the case with Laban here. Not so much the case with the Israelites in many cases later in the Old Testament either, for that matter, I guess. I’m sure there are times when all of us miss stuff though.
“I have the power to harm you; but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’” So….hmmm…he knew that it was God speaking to him. Ok, so what part of don’t talk to Jacob did he not understand? I do wonder why God told him not to say anything good to Jacob though. Hmm…
Chapter 32
“Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”" How exactly did Jacob struggle with God and overcome? I don’t really understand this…what is meant by “struggled with” in this context?
Chapter 33
I always liked this part of the Esau/Jacob story. The story of forgiveness between these two brothers when, under normal circumstances, that would have seemed pretty unlikely.
Chapter 34
“My son Shechem has his heart set on your daughter.” It seems to me that if the guy really loved her, he would have treated a little better before this point. Not saying he didn’t want to marry her (because he obviously did because he did the whole circumcision thing) but just saying you love someone doesn’t excuse his earlier behavior, in my opinion anyways.
But just like Shechem saying he loved Dinah didn’t make his behavior right, her brothers’ actions in this chapter aren’t excused by the fact that they loved their sister either. Neither Shechem nor her brothers come across particularly well in this chapter.
Chapter 35
“Then they set out, and the terror of God fell upon the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.” I wonder if the people in the towns saw something that instilled the terror of God in them or if they just sensed something.
“After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. God said to him, “Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.” So he named him Israel.” Wasn’t Jacob already told this?
That’s it for today…