The Book of Genesis
Day 331
Ge 35:19 So Rachel
died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which
is the pillar of Rachel's grave to this day.
21 Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of
Eder. 22 And it happened, when Israel
dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's
concubine; and Israel heard about it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: 23 the sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob's
firstborn, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; 24 the sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin; 25 the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant,
were Dan and Naphtali; 26 and the sons
of Zilpah, Leah's maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob
who were born to him in Padan Aram. 27
Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kirjath Arba (that is,
Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt.
28 Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. 29 So Isaac breathed his last and died, and
was gathered to his people, being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and
Jacob buried him.
Rachel dies in
childbirth and I find it odd that we don’t read anything concerning Jacob’s
mourning over the death of his precious Rachel. Jacob did erect a substantial
pillar to mark her burial place. I say substantial because it became a landmark
used by many and is even mentioned in 1Sa 10:2 "When you have departed
from me today, you will find two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of
Benjamin at Zelzah;”
The place of her
death, (on the way to Bethlehem) is significant in that it was in the vicinity
of Bethlehem that Herod killed all the male children two years and
younger. Mt 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw
that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth
and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its
districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had
determined from the wise men. 17 Then
was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: 18 "A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more."
After burying
Rachel, Israel (Jacob) moves on and we are informed of the sin of incest
committed by Reuben. It’s a casual mention, but not without consequences.
That’s the way it is with sin. All sin is forgivable through faith in
Jesus, but that doesn’t mean the
immediate consequences are removed. In Reubens case, this lustful act on his
part would cost him the blessing
normally given to the first born. Simeon and Levi had already lost their
opportunity for blessing because of their lack of discretion in dealing with the Hivites. So this little
mention of Reuben’s sin here sets up Judah , the fourth child, as being the
child of promise, and of course it was from the tribe of Judah that Jesus came
forth!
Finally, in this
section, we read of the death of Isaac and how the now reconciled Esau and
Jacob buried their father. Isaac’s time to depart the earth had come, he was
“full of days.” We all have days to be filled as it says in Ps 139:16 Your eyes
saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
These days are
filled with joys and sorrows, sins and forgiveness, and opportunities for
reconciliation. Let us learn to make our days count as we seek to live our
lives in thankfulness to our Sovereign Lord.
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