It appears that when the Lord had brought Jacob safely back to Canaan after his 20-year stay with his uncle Laban, his vow to return to Bethel was forgotten (see chapter 28:20-22). But for those whom God loves, He will remind them of their neglected duties in one way or another – either by conscience or by Providences. Perhaps the bad name that Jacob’s sons had brought upon the family at the end of the last chapter provided the motivation he needed to leave Shechem and visit Bethel, as he should have done when he first returned to the region. When we have vowed a vow to God, it is best not to delay the payment of it; however, better late than never.

Jacob commanded his household to prepare not only for the journey to Bethel, but also for religious services. The heads of households should use their God-given authority to keep up the worship of the Lord in their families (Josh. 24:15). Jacob told his family to put away their idols. They were also told to be clean, and to change their garments. These were only outward ceremonies, but they signified the purifying and changing of the heart.

Perhaps Jacob had been afraid to require the members of his household to part from their idols. But it seems they were actually quite willing to do so. If he had only called for the removal of these idols sooner, as he should have done, they would have parted with them sooner. Sometimes attempts for reformation succeed better than we would have thought. Jacob buried these “strange gods” – teaching us that we must be completely separated from our sins, just as we are separated from those that are dead and buried out of sight. Then he and his family moved from Shechem to Bethel.

Although the Canaanites were surely very angry against the sons of Jacob for what they had done to the Shechemites, yet they were restrained by the Lord from taking vengeance upon the family when they were journeying and vulnerable to attack. And it seems that Jacob was no longer afraid of them, either. The way of duty is indeed the way of safety; when we are doing God’s work, we are under His special protection. Since God is for us, who else can be against us?

It was while Jacob’s family was at Bethel that they buried and lamented a faithful family servant – Deborah, who had been Rebekah’s nurse. But it was also here that the Almighty and all-sufficient God appeared to Jacob and renewed His Covenant with him. He assured Jacob that He would fulfill His promise in due time, and support and provide for him in the meantime. Two things are here promised: first, that he would be the father of a great nation; and second, that he would be the master of a good land. These two promises had a spiritual meaning, which Jacob had some perception of – although it was not so clear and distinct as the view which we now have. Christ is the Promised Seed, and heaven is our Promised Land; the former is the cornerstone of all God’s favors to us, and the latter is the keystone.

More sorrow awaited Jacob as he traveled on from Bethel toward Bethlehem. Rachel passed away from earthly life as she gave birth to another son. Her dying lips called her newborn baby Ben-oni – meaning, “the son of my sorrow.” But Jacob, probably not desiring to renew the sad remembrance of his wife’s death every time he saw his son, changed his name to Benjamin – that is, “the son of my right hand,” who was very dear to him.

When our flesh mourns over trials, it would be well for our faith to triumph in Divine faithfulness. Faith’s manner of walking is to cast all care upon the Lord, and then to anticipate good results from the worst calamities. Out of the rough oyster-shell of difficulty, she extracts the rare pearl of honor; and from the deep ocean-caves of distress, she uplifts the priceless coral of experience. When her flood of prosperity ebbs, she finds treasures hidden in the sands. When her sun of delight goes down, she turns her telescope of Hope to the starry promises of heaven. And when death itself appears, Faith points to the light of resurrection beyond the grave – thereby making our dying Benoni to become our living Benjamin.

The age and death of Isaac are recorded here at the end of this chapter, although he did not die until after Joseph was sold into Egypt. Isaac lived about 40 years after he had given his blessing to Jacob (chapter 27:2). Particular notice is taken of the agreement of Esau and Jacob at their father’s funeral, showing how wonderfully they were indeed reconciled to one another.

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