Genesis 35:1-15
Reflect
How does one live in a violent world and in a culture that denies the existence of one true God, holding different values? We catch a glimpse of this in today’s passage.
Jacob is called to stay in the land of the Canaanites and find a way to be faithful. The defiling that took place in chapter 34 (vs 5, 13, 27) is responded to in chapter 35 with purification (35:2-4). And the fear of being destroyed by the surrounding nations (34:30) is countered with the terror of God in 35:5. Through ritual/liturgy (getting rid of idols, changing clothes) and through worship (building an altar, setting up a stone pillar), Israel is defining themselves among the nations as a people who worship Elohim.
Jacob, as we have seen in the past few chapters, is prone to fearing for his life. Yet his radical encounters with God have led him to serve and honour Him among the pagan nations, and to direct his family to do the same. We too, are called in the same way. How is God inviting you to live faithfully in your context?
Meditate on Ephesians 4:22-24 and what it means for you to “put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Pastor Melissa
Pray
- Pray through the prayer section in our program.
- Pray for our Congregational Life Pastor, Mike Bartusek and his family.
- Pray for Dave Schneider, our Youth and Worship Pastor and Erin Gibbard, Youth Ministry Associate.
- Pray for our Hospitality Coordinator, Irene Dickau.