Genesis 35 & 36: Will You Cry To God In Your Distress?
Verse of the Day: (35:3) And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
    
1. Distress (35:1-28)
And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. (35:1)

God comforted Jacob in his distress and disappointment as his sons failed him when they killed all the males of the people under Hamor the prince, because Hamor’s son had raped Dinah, their sister. God directed Jacob to go to Bethel to build an altar to worship Him and also to stay there. Indeed, let us in our distress and disappointment, go to God and worship Him, and seek His face and direction, as God knows best what is best for us.

2. Death (35:29)
And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Everyone shall die, and Isaac was no exception, as he died at the age of 180. Though Isaac was not a perfect father as he failed to raise Esau and Jacob in the way of God, yet God was good to him, as both Esau and Jacob managed to reconcile, and were there to bury him at his death. Though Jacob did finally walk in the way of God, Esau continued to doubt and disobey God. Indeed, we may fail as fathers and parents, but let us continue to trust and obey God, and do our best to raise and train our children in the way of God, and His Word, and God shall surely bless and keep us and our family. (Proverbs 22:6)

3. Dukes (36:1-43)
These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz, (36:15)

While Jacob trusted and obeyed God in his life, Esau doubted and disobeyed God. Esau married many wives who were worshipping idols, and they even called their children dukes or princes, and assumed themselves to be the King and the Queen and concubines. In fact, God had never approved Esau to be the King of his people, as God was their King to lead them. This was why during the time of Prophet Samuel, when Israel wanted to have her King, like the nation of Esau (Edom), and other nations that followed Edom, God disapproved of it. However, Israel stubbornly persisted, and God eventually allowed it, but warned them of the dire consequences of their disobedience. (1 Samuel 8:1-7) Let us humble ourselves, and know that we are nothing, and God is our King, and everything. Indeed, with God we have everything, and without God we have nothing. (John 15:5)

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please comfort me as I cry to You in my distress and disappointment.