After the conversation with Esau, Jacob sets out on his journey that signifies a resolution in his relationship with his brother and a return to his intended destination. The place where he builds a house and booths for his livestock is called Succoth, symbolizing the completion of the Jubilee. The Jubilee is a significant event occurring every 50 years, signifying a time of release and restoration. It involves the return of land to its original owners and the liberation of slaves. Just as living in the spirit of Succoth, fingding a own place where I need to be.
Rather than clinging to relationships, possessions, or negative emotions, entering the tabernacle of God and truly experiencing the Feast of Tabernacles necessitates letting go. We need to be willing to let go of the burdens we carry, the act of sending back what we've been holding onto — whether it's people you want to keep under control, distorted emotions, or possessions — to their original place.
In Genesis chapter 34, Dinah, Jacob's daughter, is violated by Shechem, a prince of the Hivites. Shechem desires to marry Dinah, and negotiations take place between Jacob's sons and Shechem's family. Shechem, genuinely in love with Dinah, proposed a union to bring their two families together. However, Levi and Simeon, harboring a grudge over Dinah's violation, responded with violence, using the sword to separate and turn Shechem into a place of slaughter. Instead of being a joyful banquet for weddings, Shechem became a tragic scene due to the hatred and the pretext of defending their sister's honor, resulting in a house of mourning.
Yeshua intentionally journeyed to the hostile and alienated village of Samaria to Jews. In the heat of noon, he had a conversation with a woman drawing water from a well—a woman who had been marginalized and ignored. Yeshua delved into the essence of worship, emphasizing worship in spirit and truth as a means of restoring oneness and unity(one new man), relating to the restoring Shechem.
In the aftermath of the tragic events involving Dinah and Shechem, Jacob had a profound realization of the underlying issue. He heard the voice of God instructing him to go up to Bethel, a place with significant spiritual importance in his life. Recognizing idolatry in the midst of tragedy, Jacob took a step by burying these idols in an terebinth tree near Shechem.
We return to the place where Jacob's stone pillow was erected.
Only God needs to be with me.
Let go of our many regrets and distorted emotions
and return to the house of the Lord.
We look forward to the true victory of the Jabbok River,
where resentment, fear, and sense of victimization disappear.
This article was written based on Pastor Daewi Kang's Torah Portion and the inspiration gained from it.