Here’s the sermon notes for “Hope in the Darkness” (Genesis 34-36) preached at Cross of Christ Fellowship on 6/21/26. Audio here. 
Genesis 34-36: Jacob’s Return to Bethel
Intro: Movies have different ratings: G, PG, PG13, R.
-If you had to give the Bible a rating for explicit content, how would it be rated?
-On the one hand: it is unlike any other book—it gives light and life. àG. Everyone can and should read!
-On other hand: we see human evil in all its depths: darkness, death and depravity. àR. Mature content
Today’s passage includes much of this: darkness, death, and depravity.
-We see a world and a people with darkness, death, and depravity…
-We also this: God’s people experience hope and grace in the midst of the darkness.
I A Dark Time for Jacob’s Family (Gen 34)
This is a bleak chapter, and almost every character acts in dark and depraved ways…
Setting (1): Jacob’s family is in the land and Dinah goes to meet the other women of the land.
-The tragic rape of Dinah (2):
-Shechem, a man of power and influence (prince of the land): ‘saw her,’ ‘seized her,’ ‘lay with her,’ and ‘humiliated her.’
-This is awful, tragic, and dark. Humanity depravity is on display.
-Remorseless Shechem, seeks to have Dinah as his wife (3-4)
-No apology, no repentance, just a plot to acquire Dinah… (More darkness)
-Passivity of Jacob (5-6)
-Jacob “holds his peace,” as the father of Shechem visits him.
-Sin of passivity: Like Adam before him, he was passive.
-APP, Men, we can fall into this too.
–Encouragement: Dads, I see you leading your family spiritually. Keep it up!
-Sin of favoritism: Dinah was daughter of Leah. Likely that he did not show the care she deserved because of it.
-The Deceitful Plan of Simeon and Levi (7-24)
-Shechem and family plead to acquire Dinah and offer wealth and future marriage for other siblings (7-12)
-Simeon and Levi answer “deceitfully” (13): ‘if you are circumcised, then we’ll move forward with this’ (13-17)
-Shechem and the men of the town go along with the plan and are circumcised (18-24)
-The Brutal Murder and Pluder of the City (25-31)
-Simeon and Levi take advantage of weakened state (25) and slaughter all the men, and Shechem and his father (25-27)
-The other brothers come in and plunder the city: taking women, children, and property (28-29)
-This is AWFUL, DARK, and DEPRAVED…
-Jacob’s complaint (30): rooted in self-protection.
-Brother’s retort (31): they wanted justice, but were brutal and wicked in their murder of the people.
SUMMARY: Genesis 34 is story of darkness, death and depravity (both from Shechem and also the family of Jacob).
-We see sexual sin, passivity, lying, murder, dishonor of parents, stealing…
–NOTICE: Who is not mentioned or referred to in this chapter? GOD.
II Deliverance and Hope in the Midst of the Darkness, Death, and Depravity (35:1-15)
Even in the darkness, God’s people can experience hope, deliverance, and God’s grace!
-God SPEAKS (1): Go to Bethel (Gen 28 [Ladder vision]), make an altar [worship]
-In the midst of the darkness, death and depravity—God speaks and invites us to worship Him.
-Jacob RESPONDS (2-4): Jacob calls his family to put away the idols, purify themselves, and head up to Bethel (2-3)
-Jacob’s family responds! (4)
NOTE: Following God will mean a break with our godless way of the past and those of the world around us.
-You cannot follow Christ and then live a life unchanged from the world and your past.
–QUESTION: How is God calling you to leave behind the godless ways of your past?
-Apathy toward God to Treasuring God; Rebelling against God to submitting to Him.
-God PROTECTS (5): “a terror from God fell upon the city that were around them…they did not pursue…Jacob”
–Remember: Jacob and family were in danger after the slaughter of ch 34.
-God protects! àCONSIDER: There is no more powerful protection than God Himself!
-Jacob and family arrive at Bethel, build an altar (6-8)
-Jacob arrives, and builds the altar (fulfillment of promise made in Gen 28), with his family there
–OBSERVE: the faithfulness of God! Over 20 years later, richer, bigger family, God brought Jacob back!
–DEATH: Rebekah’s nurse died (8)
-God APPEARS AGAIN to Jacob and BLESSES HIM (9)
-The one true God, a personal God, appears to Jacob again, and BLESSES HIM.
-Jacob is experiencing the blessings from God that first came to Abraham and then Isaac.
-God’s PROMISES TO JACOB (10-15)
-New name reiterated (ISRAEL), and promises of Abraham and Isaac (nations/kings from you, land)
-Jacob worships (14-15)
SUMMARY: This is a beautiful passage where God speaks, protects, blesses and makes promises to Jacob.
-We see God’s grace in Jacob, leading him to respond, lead his family, worship, and walk in faith.
-By God’s grace, DADS, we too can lead our families in worship of God
-In the midst of darkness, death, and depravity, Jacob found hope in God and His promises.
III. More Darkness, Death, and Depravity (35:16-36:43)
As the story continues, we see more darkness, death, and depravity in this world.
-Death of Rachel and Birth of Benjamin (16-21)
-Family travels south and sadly Rachel dies in childbirth as she gives birth to Benjamin.
-Depravity and Darkness of Reuben (22a)
-Reuben commits incest by sleeping with Bilhah—probably an attempt to seize power
-Sadly, Jacob is passive—though we see him curse Reuben at on his deathbed.
-The family of Jacob listed and the DEATH of Isaac (22b-29)
-We see now that Jacob has 12 sons, this is the beginning of the nation of Israel (22b-27)
-Death of Isaac at 180 years old (28), but positive note of Esau and Jacob burying together (29)
-Genealogy of Esau (36:1-43): àDARKNESS of wealth and family over God and God’s promise.
“apathy for the Lord and peace and prosperity in the less important part of this life. That’s basically the story of Esau. The saddest imaginable outcome of someone’s life is that they experience peace and prosperity with everyone except the God who made them.”-Duke
-This is the darkness we feel all around: financial prosperity, but apathy and coldness to God
SUMMARY: Gen 34-36 we see much darkness, death and depravity, but also a hope in God and His promises.
QUESTION: Are things better now? Have we finally moved past the darkness, death and depravity?
-NO… The darkness, death, and depravity is out there…
-WORSE…It is inside us too. Sexual Sin of Shechem, Anger of Simeon/Levi, Passivity of Jacob, Lies
APPLICATION: Where do we go to find hope in the midst of darkness, death, and depravity?
-Sources of HOPE: Alcohol, Distracting ourselves, Baseball/Stamp Collection, Accomplishments, Money, Health,
Friends, Family, Political Party, Hard Work, Religious Performance, Yoga…
GOSPEL: A BETTER AND MORE SURE HOPE IS OFFEREDàJesus Christ
***SHOCKING GOSPEL: God has grace for us lost in the darkness, spiritually dead, and depraved.
-Jesus—the only one to truly have no darkness or depravity within him.
-Jesus came into our dark world and shined the light of God
-Jesus loved us in our awful, wicked state
-Jesus’ death frees us from our darkness, death and depravity.
-Belief in Christ—union with Christ (died w/him; raised w/him)
Unbeliever: The only way to have a sure hope in face of darkness, death, and depravity is Jesus Christ.
-Come to him in faith, and see that with him as your Lord, you have a sure hope!
Believer: Look again to Jesus!
-See who He is: your mighty Savior and King—‘Light shined in the darkness and darkness has not overcome it’ John 1:5
-See His rescue of you—‘at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light’ Eph 5:8
