The Infectiousness of Sin: Genesis 35:1-4

When small pockets of sin infiltrate our life, it festers and grows until drastic measures are needed.  I think of sin like I think of mold.  Sin, just like mold, is all around us.  By the time we see the issue, it’s already a big deal and usually needs costly mediation.  However, if we do things right and don’t give it a habitat where it can fester, it never becomes a big issue.  The secret to dealing with sin – just like mold – is to never let it grow to the point of being a big problem.

God instructs Jacob to move to Bethel, where God visited Jacob before he left Canaan.  God calls Jacob to worship Him there.  We continue the theme of the previous story.  Jacob isn’t getting the small things right.

When Jacob came to Shechem, he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel, which means God, the God of Israel.  In general, there isn’t anything wrong with this, although it does raise the question as to who is following whom?  Does Jacob understand he is following God?  Or is Jacob claiming God for himself and trying to possess God as one might possess an ally in negotiations?  When Jacob says, “The God of Jacob,” is Jacob’s focus on God or himself?

I believe God doesn’t care where He is worshipped as long as the worship is done respectfully, properly, and reverentially.  This indicates that God is trying to make a point.  Bethel means House of God.  When God calls Jacob to Bethel, God teaches Jacob He doesn’t want to be the God of Jacob but rather Jacob is to come into God’s house.  Perspective matters.  God is be followed and revered, not possessed.

To indicate Jacob understands God’s point, Jacob tells his family to put away their household gods.  Jacob takes their gods – figures, rocks, jewelry – and buries them within the earth.  He hid them.  He did not destroy them, which would have made a certain statement, but he did at least hide them from view.  Although he put them in a place where they could be recovered, he at least got them out of the house.  Jacob continues to advance in the faith, but he does so hesitantly and with reservation.

Here is another opportunity to look back and recognize when Jacob didn’t get the small things right.  Back in Mesopotamia, Rachel stole her father’s household gods, hiding them under her person and using her womanhood to make sure Laban wouldn’t find them.  At some point Jacob realized she had them.  He had asserted his faith in God instead of allowing Rachel’s worship of Laban’s gods to continue, he wouldn’t be dealing with this issue now. 

By allowing Rachel’s worship to continue, the rest of his house and all the servants felt welcome to worship whatever gods they wanted.  Jacob ends up dealing with a big problem.  When small pockets of sin infiltrate our life, it festers and grows until drastic measures are needed.