God of Bethel (Gen 33-34)

The God of Bethel

Gen 33:16-35:15 
Gen 35:2-3

Introduction:  Jacob was coming home from Paddan Aram, his uncles’ house after 20 year. He got four wives and 11 children and herds of more than couple of thousands animals. In all aspect of his life, humanly speaking, he was blessed. But on the way he faced two problems; first one was his uncle and father in law Laban. He thought that whatever Jacob had was his. But at the last minute before his attack on Jacob, God rebuked Laban and protected Jacob from Laban’s attack.  Also he faced his brother Esau, whom he cheated 20 years before and took away his blessing. He felt a life threatening situation because Esau was coming to attack him in revenge for his deceptive take-over of God’s blessing. But God took away the fear as well by subduing him through wresting and blessing.

Now he has everything that he wanted to have and is free to do according to his will. There is nothing that deters him to do what he wanted to do.  When one is free to do at his will, his truthful aspect of his belief is revealed. Jacob set up himself a good place at Shechem. Through this we will come to know what he has in his mind and what his ultimate goal of life is.

At the same time, I want to explore your inner desire by asking this question; what is your ultimate goal of life if you are given all that you wanted to have now? If God has given you riches, families and powers, what would you do next?

1.            (33:16-20)Jacob settles at Sukkoth.

Jacob went to Sukkoth. He said to Esau that he would follow him but he did not. He was told to go to Bethel and he said this to his wives. So he set off with a clear intention to go to Bethel. But now he went to Sukkoth. Why did he go to Sukkoth?

He built a place for himself and a shelter for his live stocks.(17)

Soon after his brother Esau left for Seir, Jacob moved on toward Sukkoth. There he built a place for himself and a shelter for his livestock and he named that place, Sukkoth (shelter). It means a shelter. Probably it was very important for Jacob to give a rest to his people and his cattle and herds in order to preserve, and to protect after such a long journey in such a very short time period. 

Then he moved on and arrived at the city of Shechem. It is located just west side of Jordan River. Though it located on the mountain ridge, it was an important development from the early age. There was a well built city. Also it was a place of many gods and an important cross road running between the east and west, and south and north.   His arrival is read this way:

18 After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in Canaan and camped within sight of the city.

This meant a great thing because he felt that he came back to the land of God’s promise (Shechem is within the boundary of the land of God’s promise)after 20 years in a foreign land with all the blessings that he sought so much. Also it was noted that he camped within the sight of the city of Shechem.  Here Jacob had clear intention to do so. He bought a plot of ground and pitched his tent there. He wanted to stay here quite some time. Even he might have planned to live there for a long time. Having gone through all those difficulties of life, Jacob finally felt easy and comfortable and was at peace with all that had happened with him. So in thankfulness to God, Jacob even set up an altar to the Lord and called it El Elohe Israel. It might mean two things. He wanted to honor God who changed his name from Jacob a cheater to Israel, who survived from God’s judgment and acquired God’s blessing. It is very meaningful in the sense that for the first time, out of his own accord, Jacob honored God.  Quite likely Jacob felt that it was the best time in his life. He had all things in his control and even he sought God in thankfulness and built an altar to the Lord. This was the utmost expression of his gratitude and happiness.  

2.            Dinah was violated (34:1-12)

Vv1-4  Not long after this settlement in near Shechem, Dinah, a daughter of Jacob decided to make a visit to the women of the land, nearby city Shechem.  It might have been a casual stroll to explore a new neighbor. She did not think that there was any danger because her father bought a piece of land from Hamor and they seemed to make good neighbors to his father. Also since her father seemed to plan to live there quite a while, it was good to get to know the neighbor as well.

But such unguarded mind faced an unexpected welcome by the son of Hamor, the most powerful man of the city. Shechem saw her beauty and advanced his sexual desire and raped Dinah. He also fell in love with her and asked his father to get her as his wife.

Vv5-7

When Jacob heard this, it might have been a great shock to him. How could this thing happen to him and to his only daughter? But he did not tell anything about it. Simply he kept silence. He remained calm and pondered what might be the best way. One thing here we can see is that he was very reluctant to move with a drastic action against them because of fear; he remembered a long struggles with Laban and conflict with his brother Esau.  If all possible he might have wanted to escape from any conflict with Hamor.

But the response of the children was totally different. As soon as they heard the news they became so furious and were filled with anger. To them, the rape was moral compromise and humiliation like a prostitute. The reason is because in their mind the dignity as God’s chosen was humiliated. This means that what Shechem did was not acceptable and must be condemned. They did not think anything else except in terms of right and wrong. There is clear difference in understanding of this event between Jacob and his sons. Though Jacob and his sons might share the same idea that such rape was wrong, but response was totally different.  

In between these thoughts in Jacob’s family, Hamor and his son Shechem made a reasonable offer and plea. Its’ good to know what Hamor and Shechem were thinking on this matter. 

Vv8-10 Hamor as the respected leader and authority of the city offered a full invitation for Jacob and his family to assimilate to the people of the city of Shechem.  This includes intermarriage, buying and selling and settlement.  This means an all-out open invitation to them.  If Jacob wanted to settle in this place and if he wanted to prosper with his possessions and families, then this could make the perfect opportunity that he could not pass it up.  In some sense their offer seemed to speak directly to the mind of Jacob, who was eager to find a peaceful solution for the sake of his family and his asset.

V11-12. In addition to his father, Shechem himself made a powerful plea for his case. He was begging for a great favor from Jacob and his sons.  He was humble and honest in his plea. Also he was willing to give whatever it takes to meet the price of their sister and daughter. ‘I will pay whatever you ask me’.  Also he showed his full commitment to his love Dinah. In this we can see that this young man loved Dinah with all his heart. 

These two speeches made compelling reason to find a peaceful solution. It is all the more so since Hamor was the leader and authority of the city of Shechem and Shechem is his son, honored by all of the city people.  Being a family of leaders is a great opportunity to make one successful.

In listening to these two speeches, it is not quite unreasonable to go along with their request. Many of us might agree  and even believe that under such circumstances, it might be the best solution to go along with Hamor and Shechem’s offer. But if they do so, what would be the eventual outcome, particularly in regard to God’s purpose for the family of Jacob?

What did Jacob think? What did his son think? Strangely he kept silence. This meant that Jacob was not happy or excited about this offer at all. But he did not know what to do about it or he was lingering in between his two thought, condemnation on their ungodly act and making a peaceful solution. While Jacob their father was lingering in his indecision, and keeping his silence, his sons proposed a way to resolve this.

Vv14-17.

Jacob’s sons thought that there was an irreconcilable difference between them and Shechemites. Jacob’s families were circumcised and they were uncircumcised.  By saying so there was an implicit suggestion that the people of Shechem were unclean and could not be accepted.  So, they could not give away their sister to the uncircumcised man. It is a disgrace for Jacob and his family. They did not say that Dinah was a disgrace for them but that giving away their sister to Shechemites was a disgrace to them. So they offered a condition to give their sister to Shechem. All the people of the city of Shechem must be circumcised. What is the nature of irreconcilable difference in their mind?

Circumcision is a sign of covenant with God.  Jacob and all of his children were circumcised; this means that they had exclusive contract with God; God to be heir God and they to be God’s people.  This exclusive relationship cannot be compromised by marrying with other uncircumcised people.  Secondly, in the sense of being God’s people, there was a keen sense of moral righteousness among Jacob’s children. Such concept and morality is the first time shown in this incident.  Then, if they become circumcised, could they become God’s people? No! Not at all! But knowing well that there would be no mitigating position between them, they offered this in deception and ruse. But surprisingly Hamor and Shechem accepted this and took action right away.

How can we understand the people of Shechem? Moral innocence? Amorality?

Marriage is forming a binding relation between two strangers. In between these are two people or two families. God chose Israel to create a family exclusive for God only. God was yet further to define what kind of people they were to be. Nevertheless, the children knew that ‘rape’ by the ‘ungodly’ was wrong and unacceptable for God in his holiness. Also such marriage would greatly jeopardize God’s purpose.

Looking at our society, there are many reasons to choose a spouse. Many benefits are taken into consideration. Most important ones are wealth or riches of each party. Also attractiveness or love, ability of a man or woman, and power or social standing of the family play important role. Deep down in your heart, what is the most important thing in choosing your spouse? If there is one thing that you would not compromise as the condition for marriage, then what is it? 

Let’s look at Hamor,  his son, and the people of Shechem thought on this matter.

vv18-24.

They were delighted to accept Dinah, they moved quickly to meet the demand of circumcision. They persuaded the entire city to be circumcised. In order to persuade, they used a common tactic; to offer a benefit the people desire.

‘Won't their livestock, their property and all their other animals become ours? So let us agree to their terms, and they will settle among us."

This is a common benefit that Hamor and Shechem had in their minds and entire people of the city were in the same interest with them. They accepted the norm of such marriage and exchange of daughters for the purpose of intermingling themselves with others.  So, their appeal was successful and the people of the entire city were circumcised.

What does this mean? They did not see any wrongs in this marriage or particularly the rape that Shechem committed. This was an accepted way of life for them and seeing tangible benefits, the entire community agreed with Hamor and Shechem’s way of thinking.

In your mind, are they wrong or acceptable or reasonable, or the best that could be made? If you be the judge, how would you judge them?

Let’s think about Jacob’s sons.

While they were in pain Simeon and Levi, the two brothers of Dinah, attacked the city and killed all male including Hamor and Shechem. Also they took Dinah back from them.  This is ultimate expression of these two brothers’ unwillingness to compromise their status as children of God and moral purity as God’s chosen. Soon after the rest of the Jacob’s sons went after them and looted the entire city, taking the rest as their slaves and spoils of the war. It says in this way:

v29 They carried off all their wealth and all their women and children, taking as plunder everything in the houses.

In this way the disgrace was taken off and full restitution was made in the mind of these brothers for the sake of their sister. But on the side of the people of Shechem and humanly speaking, it was a deception and unwarranted revenge. How could these guys do such savage thing?  Some may ask why God allowed this to happen or why God did not punish these brothers for their unrestrained violence.  Before we make any rash judgment on this, I like to sort out some key points on their action.

Jacob remained silent when he received the news about Dinah’s rape. He did not take any action or did not tell what his children should do. Jacob’s thinking was focused on the safety of the entire family and their asset.  But all brothers were upset and were furious. Particularly Simeon and Levi , the brothers of Dinah, took initiative and attacked the city of Shechem. They took back Dinah. This is followed by the rest of the brothers.

a.       These two were not thinking too much in terms of security of their family but in terms of righteousness and goodness; moral and ethical righteousness was the utmost importance, esp. as a people of God.

b.      They went after the entire city; they were far outnumbered. But Simeon and Levi dared to attack and killed the entire male; in some aspect, what they did was beyond ordinary power and courage. What was it? Could it imply that God was with them?

c.       The rest of the brothers shared the common feelings about this. They went after them and looted them and totally annihilated the city, by taking all as slaves and war spoils.

Simply what was right and just was the most important thing in their mind. Jacob became so fearful of other surrounding people of the land.

By the outcome, we can say that God brought judgment on the people of Shechem for their ungodly ways of life. At the same time, God was pointing out the weakness or compromised thought of Jacob to be wrong.  This does not mean that God encourages or condones such actions of the brothers. The main theme in this section is not Shechemites against Jacob’s family but Jacob’s way of thinking against his son’s way of thinking in this matter whereby God’s promise was in danger of being compromised through the way of ‘rape’ and marriage with the ungodly(later Jacob chastises these two brothers’ rash actions) .

30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by making me obnoxious to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed."

He was fearful of the people of the land. This fear was real and Jacob faced the biggest crisis in life, much bigger than the problem from Laban or Esau.  If surrounding people of Canaan attack them then, there was no way to protect them. Even it was more than possible that the entire family, which he built so long, might be totally decimated.

Looking back, Jacob wanted to build his family here at Shechem. His primary focus was to keep his wealth and family in this well civilized and secured place. Because of this, from the beginning of this event, in this fear and concern, Jacob did not say a word. But now he faced a crisis that was far beyond his ability to solve.

What can we discern from this? The heart of issue is Jacob’s desire to keep the blessings in his own accord. Keeping the riches among the people of the world is not easy. Also through the issue of marriage, a great difference between God’s people and people of the world has been revealed. This difference is most prominent in marriage because marriage is a union of two people and two families and to tribes and two different ideologies: one from God and the other from the world. For God’s people, righteousness and holiness, God’s covenant in circumcision are the utmost importance. But the people of the world have not much interest in these things. Their eyes are on power, riches, beauty and love and so on. As long as they see these benefits through marriage, they did not any other problem.  Why is it so important for believers to marry someone of faith? Rebekah said to Isaac about the wives of Esau, Genesis 27:46 Then Rebekah said to Isaac, "I'm disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living."

This was the reason why Jacob went to Paddan Aram. Marriage is the place to find out one’s standing between godliness and ungodliness, between morality and immorality, and between God’s covenant or without God’s covenant. In addition to these, there would be long consequences, their children.  God chose Jacob, God was not just looking at Jacob only. He was looking in to the generation after him since God wanted make out of him a nation of God’s people.  Because of this, reading the will of God in this ‘signature’ event is very important for Jacob and his family in forth coming years.

Why did Jacob not succeed in what he wanted to do in his good will? He was thankful of God and built an altar to the Lord, calling him God of Israel. Wasn’t this enough? What was wrong if there was any?  Looking at just what Jacob did in Shechem, it is difficult to read what went wrong. This event is set against what God told him to do at Bethe. Let’s explore this through the next passages.

(35:1-7) God of Bethel

V1. 35:1 Then God said to Jacob, "Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau."

 In this crisis of life, God told him to go to Bethel and settle there. Also God told him to build an altar there to the God who appeared to him when he was fleeing from his brother Esau.

1.       It was an implicit rebuke to Jacob particularly because God said in Genesis 31:13 ‘I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land. '  God appeared to Jacob in his dream and told him to go back to his country. God meant that he was to go to Bethel where God appeared to him and gave promise to Him.

2.       God is demanding the commitment that Jacob made to God at Bethel.

So what did Jacob do?

V2-3 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. 3 Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone."

He spoke to all members of his household.  It seems that for the first time Jacob opened his eyes on what the entire family members was doing in God’s point of view and showed his concern on what should the entire family should do.

He told them to do two things:

Get rids of foreign gods: they had many gods with them. Jacob knew it and even Jacob himself might have had such things with him. What was then he built an altar at Shechem, El Elohe Israel? He honored God who protected him and changed his life from Jacob to Israel. This honor does not mean that El Elohe Israel was the only God he served. He had many gods along with El ELohe Israel. But the God who appeared to him and changed his name and blessed him to arrive safely in the land, he was honoring. Also it might be just himself that honored God, not thinking in the entire family being obligated to serve God. Also this God, among so many, is just the most important and affectionate God for Jacob.

Purify yourselves; it is interesting that Jacob initiate this process.

a.       Jacob had such reverence to God, but because of his concern for his own safety and wellbeing, he did not express this fully at Shechem.

b.      He did not have a keen sense of right and wrong in God’s perspective at Shechem but as he saw his two sons ‘holy anger’ and God was with them, he came to sense that he compromised such purity as God’s chosen and wanted to rectify this before meeting God.

c.       He came to have genuine fear of God of holiness. He must keep his family pure! Not only in marriage but also getting rid of all other gods.

Let us go up to Bethel ; where I will build an altar to God who answered me in the day of my distress ; who has been with me wherever I have gone.

a.       The primary goal of moving was to build an altar to the Lord there.

b.      First time he mobilized all of his people with one purpose, to build an altar to the Lord.

c.       He introduced God as the one who has been with me wherever he had gone. He was ready to give the credit fully to the Lord that appeared to him at Bethel. This God became in his mind  the only God.

d.      That God is very personal God who proved Himself as Jacob’s personal God throughout his life. His faithfulness and consistence and without failure.

V4

Removing all foreign gods and buried them under the oak at Shechem. Shechem was a city, a well-established center of culture and living. There were many gods in that city and they are rejecting all of them in honor to God of Jacob. It is declaring a sole loyalty to the Lord.

What does it mean for Jacob and his followers? How is it different from what he did in Shechem, God of Israel ; the mighty is the God of Israel.  When they did so, what happened?

V5 Terror of God fell upon the towns all around them ? ; God being with them in his holiness

There was a looming threat to the family. But as they showed total allegiance to the Lord, God accompanied them with his holiness and no one dared to chase after them. God is with this people and no one dared to attack them!

V6-7 Luz; El Bethel ?

In Shechem God was Jacob’s God. At this time he had many gods within his family. God of Israel was the best God among so many. He did not think it was in conflict with God of Bethel. So he was willing to serve in thanks to Him. Simply all was ‘Jacob-centered’ and the primary concern of Jacob was his blessing, i.e family and riches that he had acquired.

But here Jacob was God’s. Through this incident, it was clear that unless God protects, all that he acquired may not be his at all. In this way his attention turned from his possessions to God. He committed fully to the Lord in God’s terms. Jacob came to the term of God’s promise and accepting God’s purpose in his life. In this way Jacob showed his undivided commitment or loyalty to the God that appeared to him at Bethel.

When we do not put God’s will and God’s purpose at the forefront of our lives, something else will replace the position of priority in our lives. This is the beginning of our compromise. The most damaging compromise is the compromise in marriage. It will shake up the foundation of our relationship with the Lord in Christ.

God appears to each of us with a particular setting. It was his design for a specific goal and purpose. We should not depart the will of God that is embedded in our first encounter with him.

May God richly bless you!