Genesis Chapter 36 - Mountain Tops and Barren Deserts

If you are searching for just the right name for a baby-to-be, something unusual, out of the ordinary, check out the family tree that extends from Esau. This twin brother of Jacob, the son of Isaac and Rebecca, had married Canaanite women back before Jacob ever left home. It brought much grief to his parents, and evidently Esau himself was not totally satisfied, for he took yet another woman to be his wife, a daughter of Ishmael.

Remember Ishmael? He was Abraham’s first born son by Sarah’s maid, Hagar. Tough to keep it all straight? Maybe that is why God intended that there be one man and one woman, and the two would become one unit. Not only is life simpler that way, it is purer. It was never God’s idea to have mixed or multiple marriages.

Anyway, Esau became the head of the clan known as Edom, or the Edomites. He took all of his family and his possessions and moved away from Jacob to the hill country of Seir. He did this because both he and Jacob were so wealthy, there was not enough land for all of their cattle to graze on in Hebron, where they were both raised. The land he chose to move to was located southeast of the Dead Sea, and the terrain was marked by rugged mountains and desolate deserts.

Mountain tops and barren deserts. Have you ever been to either? As we walk with God, it seems that He takes us through both of those territories. We are blessed by wonderful mountain top experiences where we are saturated with God’s goodness and blessings. We bask in His sunlight and we feel like life could never get better this side of heaven. Enjoy those retreats when they occur. Soak up all the blessings and sunshine and happiness you can. For no doubt about it, your path will at some time lead you into the dry barren desert where you will need to have some of those resources in reserve. If all you have is an empty flask, you won’t make it very far on the dry stretch.

Deserts can produce their own kind of fruit. It is when you are totally alone with no one to lean on and nothing to grab onto that you find God is still there for you. And the lessons He will teach you in the desert will be life-changing. You will not come out of the desert the same person you walked in as. You will realize that if you depend on your own strength or wisdom, you are doomed. It is not enough. It takes a Supernatural Force to bring you to an oasis where you can absorb God’s love and His strength to see you through to the other side of this unbearable time in your life.



As He begins to fill you with who He is and what He wants in your life, you start gaining momentum. You can feel your body repositioning itself from crawling, to walking, to running. And you move on out of the desert to a victorious future, one where God is now in charge and you are free to be all that He intended you to be.

It has been said that no man or woman ever became great in God’s kingdom without first going through the desert. So do not be afraid of the desert, just don’t go there alone. Reach out and grasp the hand of God, and you will have all that you ever need to make it through this journey. He’s not only our Creator, He is also our Provider. Praise His name!!

Genesis Chapter 35 - On A Journey With God

It was time for Jacob and his family to move on. God instructed Jacob to go to Bethel to settle down. This was the same place where Jacob had his first encounter with God when fleeing from his brother Esau.

Have you ever noticed how God makes a full circle? He will sometimes take us on a journey into new territories for He has much to show us and to teach us. Then, after we have had opportunities to grow and learn, He brings us back to our "land". This land could be geographical, denominational, or perhaps even relational. The exciting thing about this journey we are on with God is that we never know what is around the next bend. It is good just to trust Him and keep walking in His steps one day at a time. We need to grasp this moment in time, enjoy all the benefits this day offers us, learn all the new things we can learn---for tomorrow it may all change. "Only one life, ‘twill soon be past....Only what’s done for Christ will last."

God once again reminded Jacob of his new name, Israel, and how a nation would come from him. The land of Abraham and Jacob was now his. It doesn’t matter how many mistakes Jacob had made, he was still chosen for God’s purpose. Every now and then God would faithfully remind Jacob of this.

When is the last time God reminded you that you are His and that He is at work through you, fulfilling His purpose in you? If it has been a while since you have felt His personal touch, a reminder of how much He loves you, why don’t you make an altar today and pour out your love offering to Him on it. See if He doesn’t come in His own gentle way.

"He is here, hallelujah; He is here, amen!
He is here, Holy, Holy, I will bless His name again.
He is here, listen closely; hear Him calling out your name.
He is here - you can touch Him -
You will never be the same!"
(Kirk Talley, Copyright 1990 Kirk Talley Music/BMI)

This chapter concludes with the death of Jacob’s beloved wife, Rachel, and his father, Isaac. The tomb of Rachel is a tourist attraction in Bethlehem today. This woman made her mark in history, giving Jacob his two favorite sons, Joseph and Benjamin. It was Leah, however, that gave Jacob his son Judah…the line through which came King David, and eventually King Jesus. Rachel has a tomb in her honor; Leah has a King in her honor. This King is the only way of salvation and eternal life. King Jesus…do you know Him?

Chapter 34 - Vengeance Is Not Ours

Jacob had only one daughter, and her name was Dinah. She had eleven older brothers to look after her, but on one occasion she was by herself. In one of those moments when she was alone she was raped by Shechem, a young man from the local village. Even though Shechem loved Dinah, and wanted to marry her, what he had done to her was unforgivable by Dinah’s brothers. Shechem would pay a mighty price for his uncontrolled passion. And, as usual, sexual sin has such far reaching consequences that not only would Shechem have to pay, but he was the cause of every male in his village being deceived, circumcised, and then murdered by the sons of Jacob.


The brothers of Dinah wanted revenge for their sister being violated. They took the matter into their own hands rather than leaving it in God’s hands. Even though Shechem’s act was evil, Simeon and Levi allowed their uncontrolled anger to lash out and murder even the innocent men. The first mistake they made goes back to the same pattern of their father Jacob…that of being deceitful. "Oh the games people play....never meaning what they say...."


We can be sure if any of our plans start with, or include, deceit, we are plotting our own destruction. One day we will pay. And the price will be far greater than we ever imagined.


When we have been wronged, it is best for us to take the wrong to Jesus and leave it with Him. He can give us peace in our turmoil; love in place of hate; and grace to overcome evil with good. That is what Jesus is all about. What would we do without Him?

"Without Him I could do nothing,
Without Him I’d surely fail;
Without Him I would be drifting
Like a ship without a sail.
Without Him I would be dying,
Without Him I’d be enslaved;
Without Him life would be hopeless
But with Jesus, thank God, I’m saved.
Jesus, Oh Jesus, do you know Him today?
You can’t turn Him away,
Oh Jesus, Oh Jesus
Without Him, how lost I would be."
(Mylon LeFevre, Copyright 1963 The LeFevres)

Genesis Chapter 33 - God Goes Before

After the passing of twenty years, Jacob and Esau meet once again. Jacob had left his home twenty years ago in fear of losing his life, for Esau had planned to kill him after their father died. It was also with fear that Jacob returned to the homeland of his childhood. He had prepared for this reunion with Esau by sending gifts ahead. He had laid a plan in place for his family to escape, if need be, and he had prayed about this time of meeting his brother again. His fate was now in the hands of God.

Jacob must have chosen to momentarily forget God’s promise to bless him and give him the land and many descendants. If he had placed his trust and hope in God completely, he would not have needed to face Esau with fear, but could have met him with confidence. As it turned out Esau was very glad to see Jacob after all the years that had separated them. He had become a wealthy man himself, and he had no need of the herds that Jacob had given him as gifts.

Esau must have had a change of heart in Jacob’s absence, for he displayed no bitterness or anger. Instead he was anxious to have Jacob back home as soon as possible. Jacob declined to immediately travel back with Esau, explaining that his herds and his children needed to move at a slower pace. The necessary forgiveness and healing had taken place between these brothers, and both could go on with their lives in peace with one another. While Esau returned home, Jacob purchased some ground in Shechem in Canaan and pitched his tent there. He had much to be thankful for, and he wasted no time in building an altar to offer the Lord his sacrifice of praise.

In this episode of Jacob’s life we are once again reminded that what God promises, He will do. We need not be afraid of the unseen or the unknown if our trust and hope are in God. He goes before us and prepares the way. He is so deserving of our worship and praise.

"We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord.
We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord.
And we offer unto him our sacrifices of thanksgiving;
And we offer unto him our sacrifices of joy."
(Kirk Dearman, Copyright 1984 John T. Benson Publishing Co.)

Genesis Chapter 32 - Resolving the Past

As Jacob follows God’s leading to go back home, he is very aware he is going back to a situation from which he had left in haste. He was going back to face his brother Esau, whom he had deceived and from whom he had taken the inheritance. Jacob devises a plan to divide his family and flocks into two camps. If one camp was captured or destroyed, perhaps the other camp would be able to escape and survive. He also sent gifts ahead to his brother Esau with the message that he was coming behind. In doing this he was hoping to win favor with Esau and be forgiven of his past wrongs.


If there is something in our past that remains unresolved, we will not be able to go forward, no matter how hard we try. The past will always be there to haunt us until we face it head on and clear it up to the best of our ability. Perhaps we need to ask forgiveness and make our wrongs right. Or perhaps we need to offer forgiveness to someone who has done wrong to us. God wants us to face life with clean slates. We must seek His forgiveness first, then He gives us the strength and wisdom to do our part in clearing up the past. Only then can we go forward. The past can be left behind, buried in forgiveness, and we can face the future knowing our hearts are free and clear, and God is in control.



Jacob’s struggle with God, alone in the night, is somewhat mystifying. There are no doubt many spiritual implications in this wrestling match that took place, but we know that scripture says Jacob struggled with God and men and overcame. Because of that he was both touched and blessed. He was touched and left with physical evidence of his struggle, but he was also blessed with a new name. He would now be called Israel. Both his limp and his new name would be continual reminders in his life of the night he met God face to face. It was a life transforming moment for him, and he would never be the same.

Jabbok River near Penuel where Jacob wrestled with God, Image courtesy of www.BiblePlaces.com

When we have an encounter with God, it changes our life. We have a new name written down in the Book of Life. We begin to walk a different walk. People observe our walk and know that we, too, have been touched by God in the inner most part of our being. Because of God’s touch we can become overcomers in this life. Praise the Lord!!!