Jacob had withdrawn from his godly heritage and calling, and his withdrawal resulted in a royal mess. By the time the chapter comes to a close, human life is destroyed, family relationships have strained and Jacob is in distress. The last verses of this chapter describe a pathetic Jacob, living in fear with a sense of defilement and scandal and a family that has lost its spiritual moorings by trying to control situations.

When you read this story, all 30-something verses, the saddest part is not what is there, but what is not there. It’s one of the few chapters of Genesis where you will not find the name of God. Nowhere. God’s name is absent from chapter 34, and no one is calling out to the Lord. No one is recognizing that the antidote to this family crisis and moral implosion is to call upon the name of the Lord. They thought the answer was to handle it themselves.

When we are in distress, why do we retreat from God? Why do we go into spiritual recession? This is the time to move aggressively toward God.

Thank goodness, in the following chapter, it’s a new day for Jacob and his family as God’s Word steps in to bring order to the disorder.

Chapter 35 opens with, “then God said.” No one called upon the Lord in chapter 34, but God graciously intervenes in chapter 35 and lays out the plan for Jacob about how to bring restoration not only to his own life, but also to the life of his family. His plan is simple. He tells Jacob: Tether yourself to My words and stop trying to fix everything on your own.

As you read the following verses, you’ll see that Jacob leads his family spiritually. Why? Because he is obeying the Word of God and allowing the Spirit of God to give him hope after a very tough chapter (34) of his life. Maybe you’re going through one of those chapters in your life where the harder you try to gain control the more out of control things seem to get. Economically. Relationally. Vocationally.

Former U.S. Senate Chaplain Lloyd Ogilvie once said the eight most dangerous words in the English language are “I’ve got to get control of my life!” God makes it clear in His Word, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:35, NASB).

We get control by relinquishing control to Him who knows us and loves us and asks only that we believe in His promise.


Recipe for restoration
God gives Jacob the recipe for restoration, a lesson He gives us today. He tells Jacob to go back to Bethel, the place where God appeared to him when he was fleeing from his brother, Esau. This is where Jacob’s eyes opened to a God who cared for him.


Back to the basics
As the new year begins, what a time to go back to the basics. Go back to the place where God first showed up in your life—the place where you made a covenant with Him. David, the king, when his life was reeling after making some colossal mistakes, prayed, “restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12, NASB). 

Where was that place for you, that place of brokenness where you first turned to God in faith? Where you turned to Him and gave up control? This was the place God and His Word showed up in your life and brought order where there was disorder, contentment where you had been frantic.

Jacob begins his pilgrimage to the place where he first heard from God. But before he leaves, he rids himself and his family of foreign gods and they purify themselves. Basically, they rid themselves of that which didn’t belong, that which hindered or tarnished the purity of his relationship with Him.

As 2009 comes—and for many it’s coming during a tough chapter of our life—let me encourage you to allow God to take you beyond the desperation of Genesis 34 and into the security of Genesis 35. Reprioritize your life as Jacob did in Genesis 35:6, when he returns to the place where God first showed up. Then end in a place of worship, like Jacob did. Leave the messiness of your past behind, embrace His Word, repent and allow God to clothe you with the newness of His purity.


Even in distress
Life is full of uncertainties. The world is full of empty promises. Will we make it through the economic crisis? Will we lose our home? Will we lose our job? Uncertainty causes distress. But He has laid out a simple plan for us: Be rooted in His Word and relinquish control to the Lord.

Though tomorrow is uncertain, we can be confident that God is faithful.


Dr. Corey is the eighth president of Biola University, a Christian university in La Mirada. Dr. Corey, a Fullbright scholar, has extensive experience in the field of higher education.