Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"Then God said to Jacob, "Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau." So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone." So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. Then they set out, and the terror of God fell upon the towns all around them so that no one pursued them." Genesis 35:1-5
As we start Chapter 35, we find Jacob very concerned about reprisal from neighboring peoples after his sons murdered all the men of Shechem and pillaged their town in revenge of their sister Dinah who had been raped by Shechem himself. And as he is in the midst of this distress, in enters God as He does so often in times of need. The Lord tells Jacob to "Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau." You’ll remember that Jacob wrestled God at Bethel just before he encountered Esau in their blessed moment of reconciliation. You’ll also recall that Jacob would not let go of God until he received a blessing. His faith was rewarded then and it was about to be rewarded again as he responds to God’s command to go to Bethel and build an altar. In other words, Jacob was to go to Bethel to construct a place of worship.
Jacob takes this order and sets out to do what the Lord commanded. But before heading to Bethel, there was one matter Jacob had to get corrected. He had to prepare His people for worship and a trip onto the very presence of the Most Holy God. So Jacob ordered his household to "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone." Jacob knew his people were nowhere near ready to approach the Lord in their present state. It’s obvious that they had been greatly influenced by the polytheistic ways of their neighbors which led them to build an attraction to foreign gods…foreign gods that have no standing or power when compared to the one and only God…the maker of heaven and earth. So Jacob led his people to the right mindset before worship…one of complete devotion and attention to the real God and Him alone. He commanded and they listened, a testimony to the great respect they must have had for their leader.
At the end of this passage with Jacob’s people properly prepared for worship, Jacob leads them to Bethel and scripture tells us that "the terror of God fell upon the towns all around them so that no one pursued them." In other words, God placed His almighty protection on Jacob and his people as they set out to build the worship altar and then pay tribute to God for His goodness and grace. Jacob’s concerns were taken away so he could complete the task that God asked Him to do.
From this short passage of five verses, we’re left with some important truths to take away about our Almighty. Powerful God:
1. Lead and live life faithfully toward God and you can help save others who follow you. Jacob had established a blessed reputation with God during his wrestling match because he showed the Father that he was unwilling to hold onto anything in life more than Go Himself. His faithfulness was rewarded by God not just once as Jacob met a loving, not a murdering, Esau, but now as the possibility of neighboring towns exacting revenge on Jacob and his people after his son’s murderous rampage in Shechem. God sent terror on those wishing to do Jacob and his people harm and they were spared…all because of Jacob and his special relation with the Almighty God.
2. People who respond obediently to God and render proper respect to Him, especially as they approach Him in worship, find favor and protection from Him. Jacob ordered his people to "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes" but they could have told him to get lost and continue to live the way they were. But they didn’t. They did away with anything connected to other gods and went with Jacob to bethel to build the altar and worship God and God alone. There actions pleased God who made sure they were spared and saved.
3. No matter what circumstances might exist, God is in control. As neighboringtowns heard of the Shechem massacre and wished to do the same to Jacob and his people, God took control of the matter and ensured His will could be done. We learn that God honors the loyal and obedient. We also see that He rewards those who approach Him in the right spirit of worship…just as Jacob’s people had done.
Through Jacob and his people, we learn the importance of faith, obedience, and attitude in approaching worship to our Father in heaven. As we approach His throne daily, let us throw away anything that is not pleasing to Him and enter into His presence ready to truly pay Him the honor, thanks and respect He deserves.
In Christ,
Mark
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