Day 9 Reading Schedule: Genesis 30-34

Genesis 30: Jacob Prospers 

[Overview]

This chapter records the specific fulfillment of the covenant God made at Bethel. The previous verse shows Leah and Rachel being jealous of each other and giving their maids to Jacob to have children. This shows the family discord caused by Jacob’s favoritism and God’s providence to use it to prosper the descendants of the covenant (verses 1-24). After Jacob made a contract with Laban for labor, it records the process of Jacob increasing his wealth through superstitious and cunning methods (verses 25-43). This chapter shows that these blessings of Jacob’s descendants and wealth have divine origins according to God’s covenant and God’s providence to create an opportunity to return to the Promised Land through blessings.

Genesis 30 is about Jacob’s life centered around his sons. The chapter begins with the competition between Rachel and Leah to have more children.

Genesis 31: Jacob's Return Home and the Covenant of Mizpah 

[Summary]

Jacob, who had spent 20 years away from his hometown in his uncle Laban's house, wanted to return home according to God's will. The long years spent in a foreign land had made him miss his family he had left behind. This chapter records the events of Jacob's return home from Laban's house. There was a conflict between Laban and Jacob over property, and this led to God's instruction for Jacob to return home (verses 1-16). Thus, Jacob left Haran with his family without Laban's knowledge (verses 17-21), and the story of Laban secretly chasing Jacob, but Jacob being protected by God's intervention (verses 22-42). Finally, Laban and Jacob made a peace treaty through the Covenant of Mizpah, where they agreed not to invade each other (verses 43-55).

This chapter is the story of Jacob returning to his hometown after 20 years in his uncle Laban’s house. This is the word of the fulfillment of the vow prayer in Genesis 28:21. We learn that Jacob’s great prosperity and return to his hometown with much wealth were due to God’s protection and blessing.

Genesis 32: The Wrestling at the Jabbok River 

[Summary]

Jacob's journey home to Canaan was not an easy one. This chapter shows Jacob's fear of his brother Esau, who had taken away his birthright and blessing, on his way home. The scene where God's angels appeared to Jacob is an incident where God showed that He was with Jacob (verses 1-2). However, Jacob was worried because of his fear of Esau even after meeting God's angels (verses 3-21). He also shows his weak and timid distrust as he seeks human methods to persuade Esau. Finally, the scene where Jacob prays to God at the Jabbok River to overcome the moment of adversity and meets the angel of the Lord and receives a blessing is recorded (verses 22-32).

Many difficulties arose for Jacob and his companions on their journey to Canaan. As seen on the battlefield, Jacob, who had barely escaped the danger of being harmed by his uncle Laban, is once again faced with a desperate situation in this chapter.

Genesis 33: Reconciliation between Jacob and Esau 

[Summary]

God, who had transformed Jacob's character through suffering, now changed Esau's heart, which was filled with revenge. This chapter deals with the scene where Jacob and Esau meet again and resolve their past grudge. It records Jacob and Esau meeting, forgiving each other for their past wrongdoings, and reconciling with each other through love (verses 1-11), and it records Jacob's rejection of Esau's offer to live together and his settlement in Succoth (verses 12-17). This implies that God's children must be distinguished from the children of the world. In the latter part, Jacob purchases the land of Shechem and builds an altar to God (verses 18-20).

Jacob, who received God's blessing after praying desperately all night alone at the ford of Jabbok as if wrestling with an angel, experiences great salvation in this chapter. Chapter 33 of Genesis mainly deals with the reunion and reconciliation of Jacob and Esau.

Genesis 34: The Rape of Shechem 

[Summary]

This chapter shows the conflict between Jacob's family who settled in Shechem and the Canaanites through the rape of Dinah. It records the incident where Jacob's daughter Dinah was raped by the chieftain of Shechem, and the chieftain of Shechem proposed to Jacob (verses 1-12). Then, it shows the scene where Simeon and Levi proposed circumcision as a condition of marriage and used this as an opportunity to commit a merciless massacre of the Shechemites (verses 13-29). Jacob, who felt a sense of crisis because of this incident, rebukes his two sons (verses 30-31). On the surface, this chapter depicts the conflict between the Canaanites and Jacob's family, but in reality, it shows God's punishment for Jacob who delayed the Bethel vow.

Chapter 34 of Genesis records the consequences of Jacob's mistake of changing his course and staying in Shechem instead of returning to Bethel. When Jacob's family stayed in Shechem, his daughter Dinah went to see a native woman and was raped by Shechem, the son of Hamor, the chieftain of the place. The scene in which Jacob's sons slaughtered the people of Shechem in anger is mentioned in this chapter.