How Many Times? Gen 33-35

May the mumbling commence!

How many times?  Reading Genesis 33-35 makes me think of the time that Simon Peter asks Jesus, “How many times should I forgive someone who sins against me.  Seven times?”  And Jesus responds to Peter, “Not seven by seventy-seven times.” 

It seems the wrestling that Jacob did yesterday is far from over.  Sometimes, I find it a little discouraging when I note that the Scriptures following the wrestling episode, where Jacob receives his new name, mostly refer to him as Jacob rather than Israel.  The process of change for humanity is so slow and filled with unneeded detours back to places we have already been.

I marvel over the reception that Esau gives his brother Jacob.  In many ways, it calls to mind the reception that the faithful father of Jesus’ parable receives his prodigal son.  Esau ran to hug and kiss his long lost brother – like he was eagerly anticipating the day of his return.  And Jacob even tells Esau that, because of the favorable reception, Jacob sees the face of God in Esau.  After a night of wrestling with the mysterious man, Jacob should know the face of God.

But, then, the deception of old Jacob rises to the forefront once again.  After he pesters Esau to receive his gift, he refuses the gift of relationship and protection from Esau.  Jacob would not even allow some of Esau’s men stay behind for protection. Though Jacob tells Esau that he will join him later at Esau’s home, Jacob already had plans to settle in another place.  And he wanted to hide the information from Esau – Jacob the deceiver.

Jacob’s children had seen the deceptions of their father enough.  Now, the deception moves to the next generation in Genesis 34.  When Jacob’s sons learn that a Hittite man had defiled their sister Dinah, they approach in anger.  The man and his father ask for Dinah to become the wife of Shechem, the man who raped her. 

And Jacob’s sons replied deceitfully.  They asked the men of Shechem to agree to the covenant of circumcision, the covenant they had with God.  They used a directive of God for deception.  Talk about using the Lord’s name in vain!  The men of Shechem agreed; and while they were still hurting, Simeon and Levi attacked and massacred the whole city.  They and their brothers took all kinds of booty from the town, including the women and children.  Yes, including the women that they would not agree to marry unless the men of Shechem were circumcised.  Like father like sons.  This was the fall of Simeon and Levi (who by the way had the same mother as Dinah, Leah) from grace – the grace of their birth order, as the second and third born of Israel.

Fearing for his life, Jacob flees the scene of the crime again.  He flees back to Bethel, the same place he rested as he was fleeing from the wrath of Esau.  There the Lord gives Jacob a reminder.  Here is a paraphrase:  “Though your name is Jacob, you will be called Israel for now on.  Leave your deceitful ways behind and struggle to become the man God made you to be.  My promise of blessing to you and your ancestors and descendants still stands.

Then, Rachel, the beloved of Israel, dies in childbirth.  Israel buries Rachel along the road to Abraham and Isaac’s home.  This burial in this place has significance.  Though Rachel was first in his heart, Israel did not bury her in the cave his Grandfather Abraham and Grandmother Sarah were buried.  Rachel was not buried with the other people of the promise.

And the firstborn of Israel, Reuben, has his fall from grace in Genesis 35:22.  Reuben sleeps with his father’s concubine, Bilhah.  So the fourth born, Judah, takes the place of the firstborn.  As I have already touched upon, Judah is the tribe that Jesus was born into.

I return to my initial question.  How many times should I forgive someone who sins against me?  I should be willing to forgive someone as many times as my Lord has forgiven me.  I am like Jacob.  I am in a wrestling match of prayer to become the man of God that He has made me to be.  I give thanks this day for the patient and loving forgiveness of my Father in heaven.

Enough rambling for now…

Peace Out