This blog serves as an outreach for Pastor Randy Powell of the First Baptist Church of Franklin, PA. Feel free to ask questions or send me an e-mail at pastorpowell@hotmail.com
* The message begins with a tribute to one of 1st Baptist's lifelong members, Nancy Klingensmith, whose battle with cancer ended this week as she was promoted to her heavenly reward.*
The text of Genesis 35-36 serves a transitional role between the generation of Isaac & Jacob / Esau and the generation of Jacob & his 12 sons, primarily Joseph.
It reminds us of God's faithfulness and kindness to Abraham's offspring, even those who were outside of the chosen line of Jacob.
In this chapter of his life story, Jacob's relationship with his father-in-law Laban deteriorates, eventually breaking. Both men are to blame, as both seek to cheat the other. In the end, Jacob is successful in obtaining most of Laban's wealth, and then leaves with his wives and children to head back to Canaan.
In a soap opera worthy long-running tragedy, the family of Jacob is repeatedly convulsed by jealous rivalry between his wives who happen to be sisters. That this was entirely foreseeable, by both their father Laban and husband Jacob, doesn't make it any less tragic for these women.
In the end, the passage sees Jacob fathering 11 sons with 4 wives, all whilst the sibling rivalry rages and everyone is negatively impacted by going along with cultural expectations.
