January 17

Genesis 35
 
“Arise, go up to Bethel…”
 
I believe, before going into this chapter, we must have an accurate account of the recent events in Jacob’s life.  In the previous chapter, Jacob settled in Shechem, a city in the land of Caanan. It was in this place that Jacob purchased land and pitched his tent (aka “settled down”). Shechem was also the city where Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, was raped by the prince of the land. This horrifying act disgraced Dinah and their entire household. Because of this great injustice, Jacob’s sons felt licensed to murder all the males of the city and take their wives and children captive. When Jacob hears of his son’s actions, he is deeply disturbed.
In a state of paralyzing fear, Jacob proclaims to his sons, “ You have troubled and embarrassed me among the inhabitants of this land…since I am few in number, they will gather themselves against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, me and my household!” Genesis 34:30
In this crisis, amidst uncertainty and drowning fear, God comes to Jacob and says,” Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there…”
 
Bethel means, “House of God.” After all these years, Bethel was still alive deep inside Jacob’s heart. And even though Jacob remembered the encounter vividly, it appeared God’s glorious revelation may have diminished over time. It was in this place, as a youth, that God had marvelously made Himself known in a dream.
 
In essence, God asks Jacob to return to the beginning.
“Remember Jacob?”, God asked. “Let’s go back to the place where it all began.”
So Jacob readied his household for the journey.
The first thing Jacob did was prepare himself and his family to meet with God. He knew he must dispose of all that might prove as a hindrance on their journey. “And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, ‘Put away the foreign gods among you. Purify yourselves and change your garments.” “So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands and he buried them.” Returning to God always requires a “lightening” of the load. Throughout their journey back to Canaan, it is clear that Jacob’s family had trusted in the idols of surrounding nations and Jacob had tolerated this idolatry. When we turn back to God, we realize we cannot carry with us the very things that will hinder us from seeing His face. Such was the case with Jacob’s family and often with us.
Once the idols were forsaken, they began their journey. As they traveled to meet the God of their father, they were protected from the wrath of the city and were not pursued by the sons of Shechem.
When they finally arrived at Bethel, Jacob looked to the left and saw Leah and to the right and saw Rachel. His sons and their children spanned across the distance. “Remember Jacob?” God asked again. And he did. He remembered that at this very place, decades earlier, he was alone. But now he was many, just as God had promised. He remembered that once he was fleeing in fear and his name was deceiver but now his foe was his friend and he was called “prince with God”. He remembered the God of his father’s Abraham and Isaac. The God who turned a once weak man who was full of deceit, into a great nation. This was now his God!
And God gave him the land. “The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac and give to you and to your descendants after you I give this land.”
In the midst of uncertainty and confusion, God brought Jacob back to Bethel. The place where God’s promise was once a seed. He brought him to Bethel so he could see God’s promise fulfilled.
 
Look back to your “Bethel”. You’ll be astounded at how far God has brought you!
 
Warmly,
Lauryn Everett