Moving Forward After Hard Times: The Adventure of Genesis 35
You know you shouldn't compare yourself to others, but you can't help it. Their success feels like proof of your failure.
This is exactly where Genesis 35 meets us. It’s a chapter for anyone who’s trying to hit “reset”—especially after loss, confusion, or change. It shows not only what to do next, but how your own awareness helps you grow, heal, and step into a bigger life.
Overview: What Actually Happens in Genesis 35?
Let’s look at what happens, and how it also describes the journey of awareness inside you.
- Jacob hears a calling to move and build an altar at Bethel, a special place. He tells his family to get rid of their old idols and prepare to go with him.
- They travel, and along the way, God (pure awareness) protects them from harm.
- Jacob’s wife, Rachel, dies giving birth to their son. Jacob grieves and moves forward.
- Jacob’s family grows, and he reconnects with his father Isaac—who dies, marking the end of an era.
Every step of this chapter shows you how your own awareness expands through choice, grief, creative action, and returning to what matters. It’s about more than just a man named Jacob—it’s about anyone ready to turn pain and confusion into a new beginning.
Hearing the Call: Moving When Life Gets Heavy
“God 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.’” (Genesis 35:1 WEB)
Everyone has a moment when they’ve just been through something tough. For Jacob, he had just faced scary challenges with his family. Now he’s called to “go up to Bethel” — the place where he felt a connection to something bigger than himself. This “call” always happens after chaos, when life seems too complicated or sad.
Bethel means “house of God”—that safe, centered place inside yourself where things make sense again. Sometimes it’s a real place (your favorite park, a tidy office, a quiet coffee break), but it’s always about returning to what’s real and honest in you.
- When your business plan falls apart, do you freeze, or do you listen for what needs to change?
- When you feel lost, can you notice the “call” to move—not with panic, but with honesty?
In these moments, your awareness gives you a gentle nudge: Get up. Move. Build something new and real. Prepare for what really matters.
Packing Up the Old: Cleaning Up Your Inner World
“Then Jacob said to his household... ‘Put away the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves. Change your garments.’” (Genesis 35:2 WEB)
Jacob doesn’t just get up and go—he tells his family to let go of old idols, to clean out what no longer fits. This is about clearing clutter, not just in your home, but inside yourself:
- What worries, doubts, or grudges have you been hanging onto?
- Are there habits or excuses that just don’t work for you anymore?
Whether it’s deleting distracting apps or letting go of old ideas about what’s “possible,” the first step is to clear out the mess. When you do, you make room for something more meaningful.
Pop Culture Example: Marie Kondo became famous by asking people if their stuff “sparks joy.” People all over the world cleaned out their homes—and felt lighter, clearer, and free to begin again. That’s what Jacob is doing here: letting go of the old to make space for the new.
The Journey: Trusting You’re Not Alone
“They journeyed... and the terror of God was on the cities... they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob.” (Genesis 35:5 WEB)
As Jacob’s family travels, they expect danger from people who might not like them. But something changes: they move safely. It’s not luck—it’s that, when you clean up your inner world and listen, life often “protects” you in surprising ways:
- People who would normally criticize you just... don’t.
- Opportunities open up in ways you didn’t plan for.
- Your senses get sharper; you spot help where you didn’t see it before.
This is your own expanded awareness at play. By realigning your attention and letting go of what doesn’t fit, you actually create space for support to show up—sometimes in ways you can’t explain.
Ever notice how noticed how, once you commit to a clear direction, things seem to “line up” more? It’s not magic. It’s the result of a focused mind and open heart.
Starting Fresh: Building Your Altar
“He built an altar there, and called the place El-beth-el...” (Genesis 35:7 WEB)
When Jacob arrives at Bethel, he builds an altar—a special spot that marks his new beginning. In modern life, “building an altar” could look like:
- Redesigning your workspace to inspire creativity
- Journaling your real goals for the first time in months
- Turning off phone notifications so you can pay attention
An altar isn’t just religious furniture; it’s any choice or action that tells you: This is who I am now, and this is what matters.
What “altar” could you build in your own life this week, to remind yourself what’s truly important?
Loss and Grieving: When Good Things Hurt
“They journeyed from Bethel. There was still some distance... and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor... Rachel died, and was buried.” (Genesis 35:16,19)
Genesis 35 is honest: even after doing everything right, you can still experience painful loss. Rachel, the love of Jacob’s life, dies giving birth to their son. Jacob names the boy Benjamin, which means “son of my right hand.” Even in heartbreak, there’s a gift—a new beginning, a new future.
In your own life, this part of the story reminds you that pain and progress often come together:
- When you give up an old dream, sometimes a new one is born.
- Leaving a partnership can hurt, but it can also give you more freedom and new relationships.
- If you lose a project, you might find a new direction inside the mess.
Feelings of grief, disappointment, and lost dreams are not signs you’re off track. They’re part of every meaningful journey. You get what you need so you can create what you really want next.
Can you remember a time when, after losing something, a new possibility eventually appeared? Did it feel confusing at first, or did you discover strength and awareness you didn’t have before?
Returning and Reconnecting: The Power of Coming Home
“Jacob came to Isaac his father... Isaac gave up the spirit, and died... and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.” (Genesis 35:27,29 WEB)
After all the wandering and struggle, Jacob returns home. Isaac, his father, passes away, marking the closing of a chapter. But Jacob isn’t the same person who left years ago.
In every creative, entrepreneurial, or personal journey, there’s a moment when you come “home”—to your real values, your family, or your true self. Sometimes, relationships have changed. Sometimes, old ways must end for new ways to begin. But you’re wiser, and your awareness is bigger than before.
For anyone building a business, this could mean reconnecting with a mentor or teaming up again with family, but from a new and mature place. For a seeker, it might mean seeing your roots in a new light, forgiving old hurts, and letting go of what no longer serves.
Ask yourself:
- What does “coming home” mean to me right now?
- Is there someone I need to reconnect with—not just out of duty, but out of real growth?
Bigger Awareness, Bigger Life: The Adventure Never Ends
Genesis 35 is about movement, cleansing, loss, and new beginnings. Each event isn’t just about Jacob; it’s about parts of you:
- Jacob: Your ability to choose, aim for something better, and grow stronger in awareness
- Rachel: The beautiful dreams and relationships you cherish; the creative part of you that sometimes feels delicate or is lost in change
- Benjamin: The new gift or energy that emerges when you let go—even when it hurts
- Isaac: The wisdom and patterns you inherit, which eventually must change for you to fully step into your own life
With each step, Jacob’s story becomes your map:
- You answer the call to realign with purpose
- You clean up the old, letting go of distractions and blocks
- You journey in faith, trusting that new support and new beginnings will appear—even after loss
- You close chapters, honor what’s been, and step into what’s next
Simple Takeaway: Create a Fresh Start Today
Tonight, set aside five minutes. Ask yourself:
- What old habit, fear, or story do I need to put down so I can move forward?
- What’s one small “altar” (a daily routine, a special notebook, a call to someone supportive) I could build to remind myself of what matters now?
- Can I name any recent pain—but also ask, “What new possibility is being born in me?”
Write down your answers. Small steps, taken with honest awareness, are how your bigger life unfolds.
What’s Next: Genesis 36
In the next chapter, you’ll learn about the descendants of Esau—the parts of you that compete, compare, and sometimes feel left out. We’ll see how even the parts you think aren’t important hold clues to your own journey of growth and how to include every piece of yourself in your adventure forward.
No matter where you are or what you’ve just been through, you can always begin again. All you need is awareness, honesty, and the courage to move.
