| Subject: Genesis 35 vss 14-21 Post 172 |
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Hillbilly
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Date Posted: 19:22:52 12/19/11 Mon
Genesis 35:14-21 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel. 16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. 17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. 18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. 19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. 20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day. 21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.
Lives are lived in various modes. We have highs and we have lows. In between we have the ordinary hum drum of life but with Jacob it seems the lows are coming more often than the mountain top experiences. Jacob has just gone from a low with the loss of Deborah to one of his highest points. He relished in his "mountain top" experience with God. It's not everyday you have so a close and personal experience with the Creator and Lord of your life. Jacob had to have been filled with exhilaration at God's coming to him to talk with him. After God's presence leaves Jacob he erects an altar at Bethel and pours a drink offering of wine and the anoints the stones with oil and wine.
Wine is representative of blood in the Bible.(Mark 14:23-24) and the oil represents the Holy Spirit. While the sacrifice is not an actual blood sacrifice the elements are there in type and it acceptable to God. Remember this is long before the law is given on Mt. Sinai. Afterward Jacob leaves Bethel and heads toward Ephrath (means ash heap) Ephrath down through time would have a name change and would become Bethlehem. .Bethlehem, which means 'house of bread" was destined to become the birth place of our savior who is the "Bread of Life" (John 6:35).
They were almost to their destination when Jacob is forced to come down from his "mountain". Rachel goes into hard labor from which she dies giving birth to her second son. "And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. "
As Rachel is dying she calls out the name "Benoni" which means "son of my sorrow." Jacob over rules Rachel and names him Benjamin (son of the right hand). Jacob did not want to be brought back to the point of sorrow every time he called out his sons name so he called his name Benjamin. The right hand is many times used symbolically to mean strength. The strength lies in the right hand for most people and for Jacob this beloved youngest son strengthened him.
We notice in the passage also in verse 18 it is written; "as her soul was in departing". This is an important spiritual truth we need to understand. Many teach the soul and body reside together in death and will not be awakened until the resurrection. This is fallacy and the Bible is plain the soul departs the body at death. Jesus body was in the grave for 3 days and 3 nights but his soul was in the heart of the earth visiting the souls of the saved departed. It is called Paradise in Luke 23:43 and this is where Lazarus the beggar was carried when it was written in Luke 16:22 that he was carried into Abraham's bosom by the angels. Lest on doubt the truth of this ponder on this: Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. And this: Ephesians 4:8-10 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
An interesting thing about the death of Rachel also is that it is in the area where the young male children 2 years old and under were slain by Herod's soldiers. Matthew 2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. (Matt. 2:16-18) Rama is where Bethlehem is.
Jacob was again in the valley of sorrow with the death of his beloved Rachel. He had loved her so much and she him. We are so often brought low after having great spiritual uplift in our lives and it makes us to wonder if Satan picks this time to hit us the hardest and try to shake our faith in God. Jacob lost two of the people whom he loved dearly and meant much to him in just a very short time. As he is in another time of mourning he raises another memorial in his wife's memory. The author of Genesis cites that the memorial is still to be seen in his day. The writer of Genesis is assumed to be Moses but if Moses wrote this part it had to have been through the revelation of God which of course is entirely possible. Moses was not allowed to enter into the promised land that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob called home. Joshua, however was and it is believed that Joshua finished what was left unwritten at Moses death.
Who ever wrote it the testimony and memorial to Rachel remained for hundreds of years. The testimony written in the Bible however will be there as a witness throughout eternity.
We close this passage with a thought on the last verse. And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar. And Israel journeyed. Not, "and Jacob journeyed" but Israel journeyed. We will find from this point on that Israel and Jacob both are used but to God Jacob is no longer Jacob but "for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men," (Gen. 32:28)
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