Genesis 35: The Celebration of Death

Death shows up in Genesis 35 with no warning, and it forces a question most of us would rather avoid: do we face loss with fear, denial, or a deeper kind of hope? We follow Jacob back to Bethel, the place where God first met him, and we watch renewal begin in a surprisingly practical way, by burying idols, purifying the household, and choosing worship again. From there, God reaffirms the covenant promises given to Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob steps more fully into his identity as Israel, carr...