Jacob’s misguided decision to settle his family in Shechem within the precincts of a Canaanite town led to tragic consequences. By failing to lead his family to Bethel Jacob placed them instead in great peril as chapter 34 reveals. The violation of Dinah and her brothers’ bloodthirsty vengeance left lasting consequences upon the covenant family.

The weight of Jacob’s compromises and indifference combined with his sons’ vengeful actions make the turn of events in chapter 35 remarkable if not scandalous. Why? Because what is depicted in grace. God’s treatment of Jacob and his family is a reminder of just how tenacious is His gracious hold upon his people.

Having come to his senses after some 10 years of compromise and spiritual stupor, Jacob now leads his family out of Shechem and on to Bethel. What is more, Jacob now leads his family to remove all the idols and any jewelry which bears idolatrous symbols (Yes, the sojourn in Shechem had involved sinful compromise with the culture). Jacob also leads his household through a process of ritual cleansing complete with a change in garments. Such purity rites pointed forward to the inner spiritual change which would be wrought by union with Christ (Ephesians 4:17-24; Colossians 3:5-11).

God protects Jacob and his household as they make their way through hostile land on their way to Bethel. Once there, Jacob builds and consecrates an altar to the worship of the Lord renewing the family’s proper allegiance to God. And then, as if God had not already been far more gracious than he should, he restates his covenant promise in greater and more lavish language than he had previously stated earlier in Jacob’s life.

If we are honest, what we read in the first half of chapter 35 leaves us scandalized. How can God continue to watch over and keep such a mess of a people as Jacob and his family? How can God continue to keep his covenant promise after so many failures on Jacob’s part? After the idolatrous perversions of his family for nearly 10 years? To all of this the answer is grace; God’s tenacious, scandalous grace. Grace that will not let us go. Grace that saves sinners.