Back to Bethel, Part 2

Genesis 35v5-7, 9-14

7^th October 2022

We continue the story of Jacob, who was on his way home after spending twenty years in Paddan Aram in northern Mesopotamia. After a number of adventures, including a powerful meeting with God in which God dislocated his hip and then gave him a new name, Israel, which means "He wrestles with God", God instructed him to return to Bethel, the site of his first experience of God. After purifying themselves, Jacob and all his household travelled to Bethel in obedience to God's command.

Genesis 35v5
Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no-one pursued them.

When we're obedient to God, when we reject the ungodliness and impurity in our lives and return to wholehearted service to Him, we can be confident that He will protect us on our journey.

Genesis 35v6
Jacob and all the people with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan.

Bethel means, "The house of God". Finally, Jacob was where he belonged. He was home. Not his father's house in Beersheba, but God's house in Bethel. God's house is our true home.

Genesis 35v7
There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother.

When Jacob first met God there twenty years before, he could only set up a single stone as a pillar. Now he could build a proper altar in God's honour, and make a proper sacrifice there. Our worship of God should become more and more wholehearted over time.

He called this altar "El Bethel", which means "God of the house of God". That may seem as slightly strange name to our ears, but I think it means "God is in God's house". Yes, He is! The church, the gathered, redeemed people of God is His house now, and Jesus has promised:

Matthew 18v20
"... where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."

Whenever you meet with your brothers and sisters in Christ to pray, whether in a church meeting, a home group or over coffee, God is with you, because the church is God's house.

Genesis 35v9-10
After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. God said to him, "Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel." So he named him Israel.

Now that Jacob had come back to Bethel, the house of God, and entered into worship, God appeared to him again and blessed him.

Have you wandered away from a close relationship with God? Have you let God down? He invites you back to His house. Do you remember those sweet times, years ago, when God seemed so very near to you, when God spoke to you, when you felt His touch? Come back to Bethel, and God will appear to you again. He hasn't given up on you.

God reminded Jacob of the new name God had given him. When we live a lukewarm, semi-detached sort of Christianity, we forget so much about God, and about what He's has done for us and who He's made us. But when we come back, God restores to us what we've lost. Come back to Bethel. Come back to God. He will welcome you, and fill you afresh with His Holy Spirit, and talk with you. Another of Jesus's promises is:

John 15v23
... "If anyone loves me he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

Although a lot of people don't realise it, Revelation 3v20 was written to Christians. Jesus says:

Revelation 3v20
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

God desires deep relationship with you, no matter where you've been, or what you've done, or who you've hurt. He wants you back.

This is God's blessing to Jacob:

Genesis 35v11-12
And God said to him, "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants. The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you."

Now that Jacob was back home with God, God blessed him again, reaffirming His earlier promise, and expanding that promise to include a commitment that Jacob's descendants would be kings. When we come back to God, He forgives us completely, and blesses us even more than before. There is no end to God's love for you.

Genesis 35v13-14
Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him. Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.

Jacob would never forget his first encounter with God at Bethel when he was still a young man. He could never forget wrestling with God, because his dislocated hip would remind him, every day of his life. And he would never forget this second visit to Bethel, when he finally came into his inheritance, not just his earthy inheritance but his spiritual inheritance. Henceforth, he would live as a man of God.

If you will come back to Bethel, back to God and his house, the church, worshipfully and wholeheartedly, you will find your true spiritual inheritance: the love, joy, peace and power of God almighty.