I Shall Be Destroyed, I and My House (Genesis 34:30)

2024-02-09

And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. (Genesis 34:30)

After the slaughter of the men of Shechem over the matter of Dinah, there was real concern that the surrounding people would come up and destroy Jacob and his household. It was God who came to comfort Jacob, commanding him that he must return to Bethel to serve Him (Genesis 35:1). The implication is that God would preserve Jacob all the way to Bethel. The LORD reminded the patriarch of his former deliverance from Esau. Believing God’s promise to go to Bethel, Jacob got up and had everyone throw away their idols (Genesis 35:2-4).

What was the result? “And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob” (Genesis 35:5).

What is the sequence of events?

1. Jacob faced certain destruction.
2. God revealed Himself to Jacob.
3. Jacob believed God and his household responded accordingly.
4. Jacob was delivered.

We also face certain destruction. God has revealed Himself to us through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must believe and abandon our faith in everything else but Christ. We have been and shall be delivered because we have believed in Christ.