July 16, 2023

I may have to take a couple of days for Genesis 35 because some unanswered questions may take further biblical research to come up with answers. However, I noticed an interesting feature early in this chapter as God instructed Joseph to go to Bethel. God told them to move, and the inhabitants of the lands they passed through didn’t bother them. I’m sure they were concerned after the revenge Jacob’s sons took over Dinah. I found it most interesting that Jacob made his family bury all their idols, or gods, under a tree before they ventured to the land where Jacob had seen the angels going up and down the ladder between heaven and earth. They were not allowed to be in the presence of God with their fake gods in their possession. He also made them take a bath and put on clean clothes. We know now, because of Jesus, that it’s not about our outward appearance; it was a symbolic gesture representing holiness. The same goes for us! What idol or fake god are you holding onto, preventing you from coming into the presence of God? We cannot stand before Him with the filthy rag of a body if we’ve defiled it with sin; we must be clean, and Jesus is our only way to be clean. Confess your sins daily so nothing prevents God from hearing your requests or acknowledging your worship. Stay hidden in Jesus; he is the only reason God hears us anyway. 

Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: Genesis 35:2