Sorrow in the Life of the Believer - Genesis 35:16-29
INTRODUCTION:
There are some churches that teach what has become known as a “health and wealth gospel.” What this means is that if you have enough faith you can live a carefree Christian life without trials, without sorrow, without persecution, and without pain because of your faith in Christ Jesus. In this theology if you do not have health and wealth it is because of your lack of faith. This is not the theology that is taught in the Bible, and as we will see in the life of Israel this health and wealth gospel is not true in his life. He has just come from worshipping the Lord at Bethel, he has had the LORD, God Almighty speak to him and reaffirm the covenant originally made with Abraham, then passed down to Isaac, and now given to Israel (Jacob). At this point in his life Israel is not lacking faith, but the rest of this chapter is filled with sorrow. We have two more graves and sin in the family. These are certainly sorrowful trials for Israel, but it is not due to his lack of faith. Our Scripture reading this morning told us that Israel died in faith having his heart set on the promise of a better country, a heavenly one. Because of this faith God is not ashamed to be called his God. It is not the amount of faith that determines what kind of life a follower of Christ will have, rather faith in Jesus Christ will not eliminate sorrow, pain, trials, or persecutions—in fact, it might increase them. Let’s pray and then get into our passage this morning.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles this morning to Genesis 35:16-29. As we finish up this chapter this morning we have one chapter left in this section of Genesis, after which we will take a short break from Genesis and pursue a New Testament book for a few weeks and then come back and finish the final chapters of Genesis in a study of the life of Joseph. Please stand for the reading of God’s Word and follow along as I read.
Genesis 35:16-29,
“Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe labor. When she was in severe labor the midwife said to her, ‘Do not fear, for now you have another son.’ It came about as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). Jacob set up a pillar over her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. Then Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder. It came about while Israel was dwelling in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now there were twelve sons of Jacob— the sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, then Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun; the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin; and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid: Dan and Naphtali; and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maid: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram. Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre of Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. Isaac breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, an old man of ripe age; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.” (Genesis 35:16–29, NASB95)[1]
SORROW IN RACHEL’S DEATH (Genesis 35:16-20)
After the time spent in Bethel, the family and all that belonged to Israel began making their way south, slowly moving towards Hebron where Isaac was dwelling. We had not been told, but Rachel is pregnant again and nearing the end of her pregnancy. As the household is drawing near to Ephrath (that is Bethlehem). Ephrath is the first name of this city and then it was changed to Bethlehem later on. Further on in this passage Moses gives us this information so that we might know where it is that this event took place. We are told that the time had come for the birth of Rachel’s second born and I am sure that a tent was quickly set up so that she could have some privacy. My Bible says, “she suffered severe labor;” more literally this means that she had difficulty in giving birth. The child was born and the midwife informed Rachel that she had another son, but the birth of this second son cost Rachel her life, the birth was too difficult and as she was dying she named her son Ben-oni which means “son of my sorrow.” In the sorrow of death, she had another son. I cannot help but think of some things that Rachel had said earlier in her life, remember she was Jacob’s favorite wife, but early on she could not have children and it distressed her because Leah was having children. Back in chapter 30:1 we read, “Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she became jealous of her sister; and she said to Jacob, ‘Give me children, or else I die.’” (Genesis 30:1, NASB95)[2] When God finally opened her womb and gave her the first son she named him Joseph which means Jehovah adds and it was a request that God would give her another son. God has answered her requests and has given her children and given her another son, and with those requests fulfilled Rachel leaves this world. Although Israel’s heart must have been heavy with sorrow at losing this wife who was his favorite, he handles the grief and the sorrow with great grace. First, he renames his son, he does not want to be constantly reminded by the name of this son that it was in sorrow that Rachel gave birth to him, also I don’t think he wanted his son to grow up thinking that it was his birth that caused his mother’s death. Jacob renamed this son Benjamin which means “son of my right hand.” Jacob’s life would be wrapped up in this son who reminded him of Rachel for the rest of his life. Next Jacob buried Rachel where she had died and set up a pillar over her grave. The pillar was still there during the time of the of Samuel, because it is mentioned in 1 Samuel 10:2 and Samuel tells Saul that he will meet two men close to Rachel’s tomb. We remember Bethlehem for the birth of our Savior, but before He came it was remembered for the birth of Benjamin and the death of Rachel. Israel in faith lays his wife in the grave grieving her death and moves on and continues his way south with a new born and the rest of his household.
SORROW IN REUBEN’S SIN (Genesis 35:21-22)
Israel’s journey took him to a place called Migdal-eder which means “watchtower of the flock.” And we read that he pitched his tent here and that they stayed here for a while, we do not know how long. But during the time here we read of a very grievous sin which took place, Reuben, Israel’s firstborn son, the son of Leah, the brother to Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun and the brother to Dinah went and had sexual relations with Bilhah, Rachel’s maid and Israel’s concubine who had borne him the sons Dan and Naphtali. We read that Israel heard about it and I am sure that it brought pain, anger, sorrow and a host of other feelings. This is not the carefree life of this man of faith that the “health and wealth gospel” teaches.
Reuben’s sin involved more than just fulfilling a lustful appetite. For a son to take a father’s wife in this manner was to declare that he was now head of the family. Maybe because Israel was grieving the loss of Rachel, Reuben felt that someone needed to move the family forward, someone needed to exert some authority and lead the family. We have other examples of this during the times of the kings. When Absalom declared himself king he had sexual relations with his father David’s concubines. Reuben’s purpose was to take over the leadership of the family, which made his deed only that much more vile. He did not want to wait for his inheritance.
Jacob did not do anything about it immediately, but surely his heart was broken by what his son had done. We know from the history recorded for us that his ploy to take the leadership of the family did not happen, he as the eldest could not even keep Joseph from being sold into slavery. At the end of his life, Israel exposed Reuben’s sin and because of his sin he lost the right of the firstborn son, that right was passed onto Joseph. This what Israel prophesied about Reuben at the end of his life in Genesis 49, Israel said, “Reuben, you are my firstborn; My might and the beginning of my strength, Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch.” (Genesis 49:3–4, NASB95)[3] Later on in the book of 1 Chronicles chapter 5 we read this, “Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. Though Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came the leader, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph),” (1 Chronicles 5:1–2, NASB95)[4] Although Israel did nothing about it at the time, in the end Reuben did not receive what it was that he had tried to take by defiling his father’s bed, he did not become the head of the family and he did not receive the birthright and blessing of the firstborn, that was passed onto the firstborn of Rachel, to Joseph and to his sons.
Those who teach that our faith, our dedication to the Lord automatically protects us from
troubles and tears, from grief and sorrow, from trials and persecutions need to read this chapter carefully. Certainly God had forgiven Jacob, and Jacob was walking with the Lord in faith and obedience. With that said, he still had his share of trials. If we obey the Lord only for what we get out of it, and not because He alone is worthy of our love and obedience, then our hearts and motives are wrong and we are going to be sorely disappointed when trials, pain, sorrow or persecution comes into our lives.
SORROW IN THE DEATH OF ISAAC (Genesis 35:23-29)
It seems odd that right after the incident with Reuben we have listed for us the twelve sons of Jacob or Israel, and then right after that we have the death of Isaac recorded for us. This I believe is the reason that the end of this chapter is written this way. We are given the record of the generations of Jacob, the son of Isaac. Isaac is about to pass from the scene, his generation is past, the promises of the covenant pass onto Jacob and his sons. God has already affirmed this to Jacob, this is history now playing out what God had said. The children in this record are listed according to the mother that bore them, first Leah, then Rachel the wives of Jacob; then Bilhah, the handmaid of Rachel, and Zilpah, the handmaid of Leah, the concubines of Jacob. The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, then Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Rachel’s sons: Joseph and Benjamin; Bilhah’s sons: Dan and Naphtali; and Zilpah’s sons: Gad and Asher. These are the twelve sons borne to Jacob in Paddan-aram. This statement we know is not entirely true, but was used by Moses concerning the majority of the sons of Israel, and should be taken to mean that in general these were the sons that were born to Jacob when he dwelt in Paddan-aram, all except Benjamin, the last one, he was born in the land of Canaan.
With the sons of Jacob listed together for the first time, we read that Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre of Kiriath-arba (that is Hebron). Again Moses gives us a modern day name for the city where Isaac dwelt, it became the city of Hebron after the conquest of Israel and carries that name still today. This place is close to the field and cave that Abraham had purchased as a burial site. The last two verses of this chapter tell us that Isaac was 180 years old when he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people. If you remember when Jacob fled to Paddan-aram, the cause was that Isaac thought he was going to die and Jacob deceived him to get the blessing. Jacob was in Paddan-aram for 20 years and Isaac recovered and lived on until he was 180 years old. He lived the longest of the Patriarchs, although less is recorded about his life than his father, his sons and his grandson Joseph.
We see that the reconciliation between Esau and Jacob was true as the brothers together lay their father to rest in the cave that was the family burial place. Esau was a man of the world and not a child of the covenant, but he was still Isaac’s son and Jacob’s brother, and so it was right and fitting that he should be there. Having lost my own father this summer I know what a comfort it is to have all the family together. Death is a human experience that brings human pain to our hearts at the loss of a loved one, and caring for the dead is the responsibility for all the family—believers and unbelievers.
Isaac’s death changed Jacob’s status: He was now the head of the family and the heir of the covenant promises. He inherited the majority of Isaac’s great wealth. He was now the patriarch of the family, truly the Lord had become the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.
Before leaving the scene of Isaac’s death it is important to know that Isaac’s death is out of chronological order, he did not die before the history of Joseph begins, Isaac was still living during the events in chapters 37-40, even though his death is recorded here. This is recorded here because of the shift in the characters, now focusing mainly on Joseph. Let me explain how we know that Isaac’s death is out of chronological order. We know from Genesis 47:9 that Israel (Jacob) was 130 years old when he went down to Egypt after learning that Joseph was still alive. When he went to Egypt Joseph was 39 years old because we are told that Joseph became second to Pharaoh when he was 30 plus the seven years of plenty and the two years of famine when the family moved to Egypt, these ages tell us that Jacob (Israel) was 91 years old when Joseph was born. If Joseph was 17 years old when he was taken to Egypt, and we are told this age in Genesis 37:2, then Jacob would have been in Canaan 11 years and was 108 years old when Joseph was sold into slavery. This would put Isaac at 168 years old because he was 60 years old when Esau and Jacob were born (Genesis 25:26) and therefore was still alive when Joseph was sold. Isaac would have died 12 years after Joseph was sold, one year before Joseph was elevated to second ruler of Egypt. Why do I tell you all this? Because I think it is important in this chapter of sorrow to know that Jacob did not lose Deborah, Rachel, and his father in such a short span of time. Deborah and Rachel’s deaths were close, but he had his father for a number of years and it seems that he came to his father and dwelt nearby for the rest of his father’s life. Surely it was long enough for Isaac to see that his son Jacob had truly changed and the name Israel was more fitting than Jacob, and Isaac was able to see that forgiveness and reconciliation had taken place between Israel and Esau and because of this he could die of a ripe age, or a more literal translation “satisfied with days.” I am sure it was a comfort to Israel to have his father near when he thought that he had lost his son Joseph.
CONCLUSION:
A careful reading of this chapter does not portray the Christian life, the life of one devoted to Christ and walking by faith and in obedience as a carefree life, a life without sorrow, or pain, or trials, or persecutions, in fact, the life of faith and obedience is often portrayed as just the opposite. Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23b, NASB95)[5] Jesus is not talking about wearing a pretty piece of jewelry, he is speaking of a wooden cross used for the execution of criminals in the Roman world. To deny oneself and take up his cross daily does not sound like a carefree life, but rather a life of struggle and surrender. The walk of faith and obedience is not an easy one and it is full of sorrow, pain, trials, persecution. Paul penned these words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12, NASB95)[6] Never does God’s Word promise that the Christian life on this sinful earth will be free of sorrow, free of pain, free of trials, or free of persecution. Yet through the all of the sorrow, pain, trials, and persecution that we live through in this life we have the promise in Hebrews 13:5 that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us. We are promised in Romans 8 that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, intercedes for us. In Romans 8:26-27 Paul writes concerning the Spirit of God, “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26–27, NASB95)[7] Paul reminds us in Titus that we are ever looking for the blessed hope, our greatest promise, the appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, to take out of this world of sin and into the eternal life in His presence for which we long and wait. Do not be discouraged when sorrow, pain, trials or persecution come into your life, that is just part of the life of faith and obedience on this earth, keep your focus on Jesus and your hope for His soon and sure return.
[1]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[2]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[3]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[4]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[5]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[6]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995
[7]New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995