Tag Archives: Poem devotional

GENESIS 35 THE SONS OF JACOB

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February 27

GENESIS 35

Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant: Dan and Naphtali. 26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram. 27 And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. 28 Now the days of Isaac were 180 years. 29 And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. – Genesis 35:24-29

GENESIS 35 THE SONS OF JACOB

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

Jacob had six sons by Leah with Reuben as the firstborn

Then there was Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulon

With Rachel, Jacob had Joseph and Benjamin

Bilhah, Rachel’s servant had Dan and Naphtali

Zilpah, Leah’s servant had Gad and Asher

All in all, Jacob had twelve sons born in Paddan-Aram.

In this account, we get a picture of the family of Jacob that God had blessed him with. When he left his family to run from Esau’s wrath, he had only himself and a staff. God kept his promise to him that he will have many offspring. It is the first time all these names were mentioned in the bible which comprises the twelve tribes of Israel and later on mentioned many times.

These were the chosen people of God who are not ideal and perfect. In fact, they were very sinful people who were cheaters, adulterers, idolaters, rebels, liars and schemers.  What was God thinking choosing these kinds of people to be the ancestors of his own beloved son Jesus? We don’t know what were God’s reasons for choosing them, but if he chose such sinful, messy persons, we all have hope that God can do the impossible to change their hearts and make it work for good according to his plan.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God chose these bunch of sinners to be his chosen people?

GENESIS 35 RACHEL DIES GIVING BIRTH TO BENJAMIN

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February 26

GENESIS 35

16 Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. 17 And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.” 18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), 20 and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel’s tomb, which is there to this day. 21 Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder. 22 While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine. And Israel heard of it. – Genesis 35:16-22

GENESIS 35 RACHEL DIES GIVING BIRTH TO BENJAMIN

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After Jacob set up an altar in Bethel, they continued their journey

Rachel was with child during this travel and was suffering

Before they arrived in Ephrath, Rachel went into labor

She had a very difficult childbirth; then a son was born to her

Rachel didn’t make it but the child did and she called him Ben-oni

Jacob called him Benjamin instead, which means son of my right hand.

We hear two deaths in Jacob’s household, one after the other. First it was the nurse of Rachel, Deborah who died, and then Rachel herself followed after giving birth to Benjamin. Perhaps the loss of Deborah and Rachel couldn’t be a payoff for the slaughter of men of Shechem by Simeon and Levi, but sins always have a consequence when they are born. Rachel, before she died, called her son Ben-oni which means “the son of my sorrows.” From a commentary Jacob would probably remember Rachel’s sorrows if he called him Ben-oni, which is why he called him Benjamin instead. I think it was God inspired as we know that the right hand in the bible is symbolic of power and strength.

Rachel was buried where she died nearby Bethlehem. It is interesting that Mary, the mother of Jesus was also traveling when she gave birth to Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem.

God surely planned all these events.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think Moses omitted Jacob’s mourning for Rachel in this account?

GENESIS 35 COVENANT PROMISE TO JACOB

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February 25

GENESIS 35

9 God appearedto Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” So he called his name Israel. 11 And God said to him, “I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. 12 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.” 13 Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him. 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. 15 So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Bethel. – Genesis 35:9-15

GENESIS 35 COVENANT PROMISE TO JACOB

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When the Lord called Jacob to come back to Bethel

The Lord changed Jacob’s name to Israel

He also reiterated to Jacob his covenant promise

The Lord passes on to Jacob his promise to Abraham and Isaac

He will be given the land that was promised to his offspring

So, Jacob called that place where God had spoken Bethel.

This place which was originally “Luz” was called Bethel by Jacob when he first laid his head on the stone and God showed himself to him for the first time. At this point, the Lord showed himself to Jacob again and reiterated his promise to his grandfather Abraham and to his father Isaac. Twelve tribes will be coming from his lineage who will bear kings from such offspring. God also promised Jacob that they will eventually own the land which is currently occupied by the Canaanites.

Once again, we see the Lord’s faithfulness in keeping his promise to his chosen people. Even though Abraham is gone already, the Lord comes to Jacob to remind him of the covenant promise he made to his grandfather.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think God continued to keep his promise to Jacob’s offspring despite their revenge and slaughter of the Canaanites men?

GENESIS 35 GOD CALLS JACOB BACK TO BETHEL

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February 24

GENESIS 35

God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem.5 And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 And Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, 7 and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. 8 And Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. So he called its name Allon-bacuth.  – Genesis 35:1-8

GENESIS 35 GOD CALLS JACOB BACK TO BETHEL

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After the heinous slaying of the Canaanites by Simeon and Levi

God called Jacob and reminded him of his promise to him at Bethel

Jacob had forgotten that vow he made and went to Shechem

Now, the Lord wanted Jacob’s household to be cleansed again

Jacob was directed to get rid of all the idols in his own household

And he had to go to Bethel where he was originally asked to settle.

In Genesis 28, God showed himself to him in the land of Luz. Jacob promised that if God was going to look after all his needs and fulfill his covenant promise, he will follow whatever he is asked. He built an altar and called it Bethel. Years later, Jacob settled in Shechem and forgot his promise to be faithful to God. Notice that in Genesis 34, all bad things happened to Jacob and his family. Dinah’s defilement and the killing of the Canaanites. Could it be that God was reminding him that if he does things out of his own will, things won’t go well? If he kept his vow, these sinful things could have been avoided.

REFLECTION

  • Why did God call Jacob back to Bethel? Why did he have to purge from idols?

GENESIS 34 THE SLAUGHTER OF THE CANAANITES MEN

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February 23

GENESIS 34

25 On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed all the males. 26 They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house and went away. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28 They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field. 29 All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and plundered. 30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.” 31 But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?”  – Genesis 34:25-31

GENESIS 34 THE SLAUGHTER OF THE CANAANITES MEN

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

On the third day of the Canaanite males’ circumcision, while they were still sore

Simeon and Levi took their swords and killed all the male inhabitants of the land

They also didn’t spare Hamor and Shechem and they took Dinah out of their house

They also took all their flocks, herds and donkeys and whatever was in their field

Jacob was distressed knowing that his sons have brought trouble for him in Canaan

He knew that he wasn’t getting younger if the Canaanites retaliated from this attack.

This slaughter clearly shows us the sins passed on to Jacob’s sons as far back as Cain who was the first offspring of Adam and Eve. The spirit of rebellion and revenge was in every human being’s DNA. Without the Lord changing our hearts, we are all evil inside of us. Simeon and Levi were walking in their flesh and sinful nature. Their egos were hurt that their sister was defiled and Jacob wasn’t doing anything about it. There was no respect for authority and honor. They were deep in the hurt that was done to their reputation. Now, we can see why Jacob was silent in all of these events. He was doing the best in terms of keeping the peace. He knew his children’s character well enough from the start.

REFLECTION

  • How was “pride” the source of the slaughtering of the Canaanite men?

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GENESIS 34 HAMOR’S MEN AGREE TO CIRCUMCISION

February 22

GENESIS 34

18 Their words pleased Hamor and Hamor’s son Shechem. 19 And the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. Now he was the most honored of all his father’s house. 20 So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, saying, 21 “These men are at peace with us; let them dwell in the land and trade in it, for behold, the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters as wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22 Only on this condition will the men agree to dwell with us to become one people—when every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised. 23 Will not their livestock, their property and all their beasts be ours? Only let us agree with them, and they will dwell with us.” 24 And all who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.

                                                                      – Genesis 34:18-24

GENESIS 34 HAMOR’S MEN AGREE TO CIRCUMCISION

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When the sons of Jacob proposed for Hamor’s clan to be circumcised

Hamor and Shechem presented the condition to all the men in their land

The men saw the benefit it would do to them if they agreed

So, without delay, in obedience to Hamor, they were all circumcised.

It seems to me that the Canaanites, despite their reputation for evil, showed a good side of them here. Despite Shechem’s defilement of Dinah which all began this treaty, we see the sincerity of Shechem to right what he did wrong. There is no detail regarding Dinah’s view on all of this. She must have gone through a traumatic experience too. It was her first time to leave their house to explore the women of the land and was grabbed and raped. Even though we hear of Shechem’s obsession to have her as his wife, we have no idea how she also feels about all these.

We do not hear anything from Jacob. He probably knew his sons so well that he may have suspected the evil revenge plot they were doing to debilitate the men and get revenge for their sister’s honor and their reputation. The men all agreed to be circumcised.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think all the men agreed to go through circumcision?

GENESIS 34 THE SONS OF JACOB PLOT REVENGE

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February 21

GENESIS 34

8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying, “The soul of my son Shechem longs for yourdaughter. Please give her to him to be his wife. 9 Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves. 10 You shall dwell with us, and the land shall be open to you. Dwell and trade in it, and get property in it.” 11 Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, “Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. 12 Ask me for as great a bride-priceand gift as you will, and I will give whatever you say to me. Only give me the young woman to be my wife.” 13 The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah. 14 They said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us. 15 Only on this condition will we agree with you—that you will become as we are by every male among you being circumcised. 16 Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to ourselves, and we will dwell with you and become one people. 17 But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter, and we will be gone.”

                                                                   – Genesis 34:8-17

GENESIS 34 THE SONS OF JACOB PLOT REVENGE

This account is quite interesting. It seemed like the Israelites were more deceitful than the Canaanites who offered a great exchange for taking Dinah as wife to Shechem. You would think that they would give Jacob a hard time since he was dwelling in their land. Shechem seemed to be so in love with Dinah that he could give them anything they wanted. Another unsettling thing here is that Jacob seemed to be very quiet and not make the treaty with Hamor. Instead, he turns over the decision making to his sons. He was supposed to be the father and we do not hear any reaction from Jacob after all these events have happened. Maybe if Jacob had asserted his authority on this matter, it would have been a peaceful and fair treaty

The sons of Jacob were plotting revenge covertly because their egos were hurt from the defilement. They were after their reputation rather than honoring God. When they required Hamor and Shechem and the rest of the Canaanites to be circumcised, it wasn’t to make them clean and purified. It was a malicious intent to hurt the men of Canaan so they could slaughter them later without defense.

REFLECTION

  • How were the Canaanites more honorable here than the Israelites?

GENESIS 34 SHECHEM DEFILES DINAH

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February 20

GENESIS 34

Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. 2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her. 3 And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. 4 So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this girl for my wife.” 5 Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah. But his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came. 6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. 7 The sons of Jacob had come in from the field as soon as they heard of it, and the men were indignant and very angry, because he had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing must not be done. – Genesis 34:1-7

GENESIS 34 SHECHEM DEFILES DINAH

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

When Dinah, Jacob’s daughter by Leah went to see the women

She was seized and defiled by Shechem, Hamor’s son, the prince of the Hivite

But later on, Shechem’s lust turn into love and wanted Dinah to be his wife

But Dinah’s brothers were outraged by this act of defilement to their sister.

This chapter in Genesis is a very disturbing account of abuse of power and out of control desires. According to Matthew Henry’s account, Dinah was the only daughter of Jacob. One can imagine growing up with all these boys around her. Because she had no sisters growing up, she was probably curious what it was like to be around women, so she left their house to explore. According to some commentaries, she probably was not just curious to meet the women, but also the men. The fact that she was seized by Shechem and raped was indicative that she was walking alone unescorted by any of her brothers.

Shechem was the son of a prince of that land and we see the abuse of power manifested in him when he decided to grab the woman he wanted. We clearly witnessed the abuse of that status that he held. He didn’t care who she was, he just wanted her and took her. Jacob’s silence at the news of his only daughter’s predicament is quite surprising and unsettling.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think Jacob didn’t react to the news of Dinah’s defilement?

GENESIS 33 JACOB ARRIVES IN SHECHEM

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February 19

GENESIS 33

12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead ofyou.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” 15 So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore, the name of the place is called Succoth. 18 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of moneythe piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

                                                                                – Genesis 33:12-20

GENESIS 33 JACOB ARRIVES IN SHECHEM

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

After meeting his brother Esau who wanted to journey with them

He requested that they take their time because of the women and children

So, Esau understood his brother’s request and went back to Seir

While Jacob went to Succoth, built a house and made booths for his livestock

He also came safely to the city of Shechem and camped before the city

Then, from the sons of Hamor, he bought a piece of land and put up an altar.

We witness the love between Jacob and Esau here. Esau wanted to provide some of his men to help Jacob and his camp to follow them, but Jacob was wise enough to see that it would stress the flock, women and children.  Esau respected his brother’s request and went on his way back to Seir. It is amazing how Jacob is able to be very sensitive to his women and children and I was thinking that he himself was already in his nineties when he returned to his homeland. Jacob’s thankful heart was so evident in his desire to erect an altar and call it El-Elohe-Israel as a gratitude for all going well.

REFLECTION

  • What was evident in Jacob’s heart in this account?

GENESIS 33 JACOB & ESAU REUNITED

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February 18

GENESIS 33

And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So, he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. 8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 11 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus, he urged him, and he took it. – Genesis 33:1-11

GENESIS 33 JACOB & ESAU REUNITED

A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA

As Jacob prepared himself to meet his brother Esau

There were concerns for him so he positioned servants

He made sure the servants and their children marched first

Then his wives and him and their children last.

In this account of the reunion of Jacob and Esau, we witness Jacob’s wise strategy to ease himself to meet the brother that he had cheated on. After being cheated himself for twenty years by Laban, he knows how Esau must have felt after he tricked him. We also see the hand of God in this reunion, as he reassured Jacob that he is not alone. All of Jacob’s fear was appeased when his brother came running towards him and hugged him and wept. It is a picture of God’s grace and mercy that Esau forgave his younger brother.

REFLECTION

  • How was it possible that Esau forgot and forgave his brother after twenty years?