God’s Faithfulness Through Life’s Seasons and Struggles

Life often brings us to places where joy and sorrow collide—where the mountaintop moments of worship and renewal are quickly followed by valleys of pain, loss, and even betrayal. In Genesis 35, Jacob’s journey is a vivid picture of this reality. After experiencing a spiritual high at Bethel, where God renews His covenant and Jacob worships, he is immediately thrust into heartbreak as Rachel, the love of his life, dies giving birth to Benjamin. The sound of new life is mingled with the silence of death, and the journey is further marred by the sin of his firstborn, Reuben, and the eventual death of his father, Isaac.

Yet, through all these shifting seasons—joy and grief, obedience and suffering, faithfulness and failure—God’s covenant love remains unbroken. The passage reminds us that being in the center of God’s will does not exempt us from pain. Obedience may lead us straight into suffering, but God’s promises are not cancelled by our circumstances. Even in the hardest moments, there is a whisper of hope: God is still working, and His faithfulness endures.

Jacob’s response to Rachel’s death is instructive. He does not rush past his grief or try to escape the pain. Instead, he builds a pillar—a marker of worship in the midst of loss. This act is not about idolizing pain, but about memorializing God’s presence and faithfulness even in the valley. It’s a call for us to do the same: to mark the places of our sorrow as places where God met us, rather than letting pain have the final word.

The story also confronts us with the reality of sin’s pollution, even within the covenant family. Reuben’s rebellion is a stark reminder that sin’s reach is not limited to the world “out there”—it can take root in the hearts of those who should know better. Sin, when hidden or ignored, only grows stronger and spreads its stain. Yet, the narrative does not end with sin’s victory. God’s relentless grace moves the story forward. The list of Jacob’s twelve sons, despite all the dysfunction and failure, is a testament to God’s unbreakable promise.

Ultimately, the chapter closes with a picture of restoration and fulfillment. Jacob returns home, scarred but kept, and stands with his brother Esau at their father’s grave. The faithfulness of God is older than our grief, stronger than our sin, and longer than our lives. Through every season, God’s promise endures, culminating in Christ—the true Son who enters our pain, bears our pollution, and fulfills every promise.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Faithfulness Endures Every Season God’s covenant love is not fragile or dependent on our circumstances. Whether we are on the mountaintop or in the valley, His faithfulness remains steadfast. Even when life is unpredictable and filled with both joy and sorrow, God’s promises are not undone. We are called to trust Him, not because the pain disappears, but because His presence is even greater than our suffering. [41:48]
• 2. Worship in the Midst of Loss Jacob’s act of building a pillar at Rachel’s grave teaches us to mark our places of pain as places of worship. Rather than rushing past grief or trying to escape it, we are invited to meet God in our sorrow. True spiritual maturity is found in renaming our seasons of loss—not letting pain define us, but allowing God’s faithfulness to reframe our story. [51:27]
• 3. Sin’s Reach and Grace’s Power Reuben’s sin is a sobering reminder that even the redeemed are not immune to sin’s reach. Hidden or ignored sin only grows stronger, polluting our hearts and relationships. Yet, God’s grace is not fragile—it is fierce and purifying. No stain of sin is deeper than the cleansing blood of Christ, and confession brings healing and restoration. [61:42]
• 4. The Promise Moves Forward Despite Brokenness Despite death, sin, and dysfunction, God’s promise to Jacob is fulfilled. The twelve sons become the tribes of Israel, and the covenant continues. Our failures do not cancel God’s faithfulness; His story of redemption moves forward through broken people. This gives us hope that our own stories, no matter how messy, are not beyond the reach of His grace. [64:31]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [25:31] - Announcements and Prayer Requests
• [26:28] - Psalm 110: Christ Our Priest and King
• [27:35] - The Hope of Christ’s Return
• [28:48] - United in Christ’s Blood
• [29:27] - Interceding for Those in Need
• [31:02] - Praying for the Nations
• [39:14] - Introduction to Genesis 35
• [40:09] - When Joy and Sorrow Collide
• [41:48] - God’s Faithfulness in Every Season
• [46:18] - The Pain of Life’s Seasons
• [49:46] - Renaming Sorrow by Faith
• [51:27] - Building Pillars in the Valley
• [55:43] - The Pollution of Sin’s Presence
• [61:42] - Grace That Outruns Sin
• [63:37] - The Promise Moves Forward
• [65:27] - Coming Home: Covenant Fulfilled
• [69:56] - Responding to God’s Faithfulness
• [73:57] - Invitation and Reflection

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Genesis 35 – When Joy and Sorrow Collide

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### Bible Reading

Genesis 35:16-29 (ESV)

> 16 Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor.
> 17 And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.”
> 18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
> 19 So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem),
> 20 and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel’s tomb, which is there to this day.
> 21 Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
> 22 While 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.
> 23 The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
> 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
> 25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant: Dan and Naphtali.
> 26 The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
> 27 And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned.
> 28 Now the days of Isaac were 180 years.
> 29 And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

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### Observation Questions

1. What significant events happen to Jacob and his family in Genesis 35:16-29? How do these events show both joy and sorrow happening close together? ([41:00])
2. What does Jacob do after Rachel dies, and what might be the meaning of him building a pillar at her grave? ([51:04])
3. What is the significance of Reuben’s action with Bilhah, and how does the text describe Jacob’s response? ([55:43])
4. After all the pain and sin in this chapter, what does the listing of Jacob’s twelve sons represent in the story? ([01:03:37])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that being in the center of God’s will does not exempt us from pain. Why do you think God allows suffering even when we are obeying Him? ([47:14])
2. Jacob renames his son from “Ben-oni” (son of my sorrow) to “Benjamin” (son of my right hand). What does this act show about how Jacob is choosing to view his loss? ([49:46])
3. The story points out that sin can take root even in the lives of those who should know better, like Reuben. What does this teach us about the reality of sin in our own lives and communities? ([57:21])
4. Despite the brokenness in Jacob’s family, God’s promise moves forward. What does this reveal about God’s character and His way of working through imperfect people? ([01:04:31])

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### Application Questions

1. Think about a time when you experienced both joy and sorrow close together. How did you see God’s faithfulness in that season, or how do you wish you had? ([41:48])
2. Jacob built a pillar at Rachel’s grave as a way to mark God’s presence in his pain. Is there a loss or painful moment in your life that you need to “mark” as a place where God met you? What would it look like to do that? ([51:27])
3. The sermon challenges us not to rush past our grief but to worship God in the midst of it. What are some practical ways you can invite God into your sorrow instead of trying to escape it? ([51:55])
4. Reuben’s sin was not confronted right away, and it affected the whole family. Is there a hidden or ignored sin in your life that needs to be brought into the light? What step could you take this week toward confession and healing? ([01:00:39])
5. The story shows that God’s grace is stronger than our failures. How does this truth give you hope for your own story, especially in areas where you feel broken or unworthy? ([01:01:42])
6. Jacob’s family was far from perfect, yet God’s promise continued. How can you trust God to work through your own family or community, even when things are messy or disappointing? ([01:04:31])
7. The chapter ends with Jacob and Esau standing together at their father’s grave, a picture of restoration. Is there a relationship in your life that needs healing or reconciliation? What is one step you could take toward that this week? ([01:06:59])

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