1God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and live there. Make there an altar to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”
2Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. 3Let’s arise, and go up to Bethel. I will make there an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me on the way which I went.”
4They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. 5They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob. 6So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. 7He built an altar there, and called the place El Beth El; because there God was revealed to him, when he fled from the face of his brother. 8Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; and its name was called Allon Bacuth.
9God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him. 10God said to him, “Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be Jacob any more, but your name will be Israel.” He named him Israel. 11God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and kings will come out of your body. 12The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your offspring after you I will give the land.”
13God went up from him in the place where he spoke with him. 14Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spoke with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it. 15Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him “Bethel”.
16They traveled from Bethel. There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. She had hard labor. 17When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for now you will have another son.”
18As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Benoni, but his father named him Benjamin. 19Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem). 20Jacob set up a pillar on her grave. The same is the Pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. 21Israel traveled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder. 22While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it.
Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25The sons of Bilhah (Rachel’s servant): Dan and Naphtali. 26The sons of Zilpah (Leah’s servant): Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, who were born to him in Paddan Aram. 27Jacob came to Isaac his father, to Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (which is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac lived as foreigners.
28The days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years. 29Isaac gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him.
Finishing the Race Well
Golden Crown on a Purple Cushion
Paul then gives a testimony about his spiritual journey with Jesus. This is a dramatic statement. When I read these words, I see something poured out totally and thoroughly before the Lord. Drink offerings of wine were poured out and burned up on the fires of the altar both day and night. The first drink offering recorded in the Bible is when Jacob's name was changed to Israel (Genesis 35:14). Jacob poured out a “drink offering.” The word "Israel" means "struggles/wrestles with God". When one hears the words “drink offering”, one can't help but think of Jesus' blood being poured out on the cross to redeem all of humanity. He gave all that He had. It was a "drink offering". His own blood was further poured out when the Roman soldier pierced his side with a spear, and His body fluids poured out onto the sand at the foot of the cross. Paul used this same “drink offering” terminology in his letter to the Philippians (2:7) and here in this passage. Paul knew he was at the end of his ministry, and he saw his own life being poured out as an offering to the Lord. I want to be able to say, “Lord, I poured it all out and didn’t hold back.” We should all desire to be able to say this.
His following words provoke us to be desirous that our own journey in Christ will remain constant. Paul says, "I have fought the good fight. I've finished the race. I have kept the faith." Shouldn’t we all want to be able to say that? In saying these things, Paul is telling us that sometimes our journey with Christ is a fight, and it will be tiresome like a race. Likewise, it will be a challenge to “keep the faith.” Paul says there is a reward awaiting him in heaven for having done this. He says there is a "crown of righteousness" that he will be given on Judgment Day. And, he tells us that all of us who can make these same proclamations will have this same victor’s crown (stephanos) of righteousness if we have loved his "appearing." This means we've loved everything about Jesus and His ministry to humankind. We have loved and we continue to long for His appearing. Paul then turns to some final words. He will express his loneliness here at the end of his ministry, and point out some who can’t make such proclamations. He’ll also caution Timothy concerning trouble makers who will never be able to say those words, “I have fought the good fight. I’ve finished the race. I have kept the faith.”
Reader, choose today to lean on the Lord and let Him take you through the struggles (fights) that you find yourself in. Lean on Him to give you strength when the race causes you to grow weary. Rest in Him as you keep the faith even until the end of your days.