Text: Gen. 31:13; 35:1
I am the God who appeared to you at Bethel, where you poured olive oil on a stone marker for a holy purpose and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land, and go back to the land of your relatives. (GW)
And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. Gen 35:1 (KJV
BETHEL
• The name Bethel comes from the Hebrew beth, meaning house, and el, meaning God. Bethel means House of God. Numerous events of Bible History occurred there.
EVENTS AT BETHEL
· When Abraham first entered Canaan, he camped between Bethel and Ai (Genesis 12:8), and when he returned from Egypt he returned there and "called upon the name of The Lord" (Genesis 13:3-4).
· Jacob, while fleeing from Beersheba to Haran, had his Stairway To Heaven dream near Bethel.
• Years later, upon his return there, Jacob built an altar and renamed the place El-Bethel (Genesis 35:6-7), and then Bethel (Genesis 35:15).
WHY DID GOD IDENTIFY HIMSELF AS THE GOD OF BETHEL?
1. It was there that Jacob had his first memorable encounter with God. Gen. 28:10-11
God choose to reveal Himself to Jacob through dream, Gen. 28:12;Heb 12:1
Gen 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of
it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on
it.
2 He had promised to give him the land on which he slept.
Gen 28:13 And, behold, the LORD stood beside him, and said: ’I am the LORD,
the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon thou
liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.
3. There He promised to be with him; protect him
4 . He had a purpose for his life vr. 15. To raise up a nation through him, through whom the Messiah would come. Heb 7:14 Because it is clear that our Lord comes out of Judah, and Moses said nothing about priests from that tribe.
The God who spoke to you at Bethel when you were running from Esau, is now
speaking to you again, so listen and act in obedience.
WHERE WAS JACOB?
He was far from Bethel, (Mesopotamia) not only in distance, but in relation to
God.
I have not seen an instance where he prayed to God while in Haran.
HIS OCCUPATION
1. Sought a wife but he got four wives. Leah, Zilpah, Rachael and Bilhah, because of the culture of the day.
2. Busily working for Laban.
3. Engaged in scheme, 30:37-43
Ti 6:9 But those who have a desire for wealth are falling into danger, ……
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all evil: …..have been turned away
from the faith, and been wounded with unnumbered sorrows
Luke 8:7 And some went among thorns, and the thorns came up with it and it
had no room for growth.
Luke 8:14 And those which went among thorns are those who have given
hearing, and go on their way, but they are overcome by cares and wealth and the
pleasures of life, and they give no fruit.
GOD’S PURPOSE MUST BE FULFILLED
For that to be accomplished, we must be where God wants us.
Jacob’s time was over at Haran
Jacob had to leave, change position and course.
Although he left he did not go to Bethel.
WHERE DID HE GO ?
Gen 33:18 So Jacob came safely from Paddan-aram to the town of Shechem in
the land of Canaan, and put up his tents near the town.
Shechem was the first city in Canaan next to which Jacob set up tent.
WHAT HAPPENED WHILE THERE?
• Trouble arouse: Dinah was raped
• Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers killed the men of the city 34:25.
• Jacob’s was shaken because of their number. Gen 35:1-4
THREE THINGS JACOB SAID TO HIS FAMILY HAVE A PARALLEL FOR CHRISTIANS
1. Put away the strange gods — a reminder that old habits of sin must be forsaken.
2. Second: Be clean, and change your garments — a reminder to follow . . .
holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). In the law of
Moses, many ceremonial purifications were ordained and observed by persons
who had contracted certain defilements, and without the observance of which,
they were reckoned unclean and unfit to join in the social worship of God. These
bodily purifications were purely figurative.
Earrings of various forms, sizes, and materials, which are universally worn in the
East, and, then as now, connected with incantation and idolatry (compare Hosea
2:13).
They readily surrendered the objects of superstition
3 We are to worship only God: You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve (Luke 4:8).
Participation in church worship is a very important way in which God can speak to
us, through Sunday school, Bible study, and sermons
APPLICATION
1. Get close to God through prayer and consecration.
2. Have a greater thirst for God. David said my soul longs for Thee.
3. Slow down a while and take stock of your life.
4. Obey the voice of the Spirit: When your Spirit speaks to me with my whole heart I’ll agree and my answer will be yes Lord.
