"And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went."
Genesis 35:3
Part 5
Yesterday: Removing the False gods
“And let us arise, and go up to Bethel.” (b)
Jacob is making major renovations in his family. He knows that trying to worship God while his home is filled with pagan gods is an oxymoron. It is impossible!
He is finally removing the idols from his home.
Now, he can worship God and lead his family to Him.
Today: Returning to God
“And I will make there an altar unto God.”
Jacob realized how much he needed the LORD, for he decided he will obey God and build an altar, a place of sacrifice and worship to the “Mighty One.” During the past years, Jacob was not leading his family to walk with God. They had accumulated false beliefs, and the pagan gods collected from the peoples who lived around them. His family was in no shape to offer sacrifice to God until they “cleaned their house” and got rid of all the trappings of idol worship that they had with them.
This may not have been a popular move to his wives and children, but pleasing them wasn’t the point. It was the right move towards God and bringing his family to Him. This pleased God.
“And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem” (Genesis 35:4).
Jacob is beginning to see how vital it is to lead his family to the right worship of God. In the coming years, Jehovah will teach Jacob’s children, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). And until everyone present in Jacob’s household rids themselves of these “strange gods,” God will not bless them. Jacob purged these things from his home by “burying” them under that oak tree. Now, being “clean,” from their false gods and wearing clean clothes, they are ready to meet with God at “Bethel.”[1]
There is a great principle that comes to light here in Jacob’s story. The only way to deal with worldliness is for the believer to separate from it! Jacob’s family could not worship both God and the false gods of the world at the same time. These are mismatched. God is light, but the world’s gods are evil and dark. They cannot be mixed! God cannot bless His child who holds onto Him with one hand and tries to grasp the things of the world with the other! God will not share His throne with anyone or anything! (See 1 John 2:15-17).
“Who answered me in the day of my distress.”
Jacob knew the “Mighty God,” for He had met with him when he was a young man. He remembered how God had helped him when he was first on the run from Esau. This is where and when Jacob made his strict promise to follow God.
“And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God” (Genesis 28:20-21).
Through the intervening years, he seems to have forgotten this vow. He needs to get back to following his faithful God.
“And was with me in the way which I went.”
All along, Jacob knew that it was God who cared and provided for him through the years. God has kept His part. He has delivered and given protection from those who would bring harm to his household or to him. In fact, David sang of Jacob’s God.
“The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee” (Psalm 20:1).
When Jacob ended his servitude to Laban, the LORD told him what he needed to do. Take your wives and your property away from Laban’s household.
“And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee” (Genesis 31:3).
“I will be with thee,” could there be any sweeter words from God to His troubled child? Parents, these words can encourage us and keep us going as we raise our family. Life with children is challenging, but by walking with our God, He will lead us through our parenting. Asking Him often for His wisdom will make the difference (James 1:5).
Finally, Jacob will introduce his family to his God, the “Mighty One.” He was late getting his family to God, but eventually, he did present them to Him. As soon as Jacob was on the path of returning to God, his concern was for his family. He wanted his wives and children to get to know his God. And knowing God, they can love, worship, and serve Him. They, too, needed the “Mighty One” in their lives.
Believers, we need to learn from Jacob’s poor example, how not to parent our children. We, believing parents, purpose to keep our home and family Christ-centered. Life is all about Him and living for His glory!
Quote: “Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil” (Joel 2:12-13).
[1] Jacob’s family needed to purge themselves of the false gods, then they were “clean.” And “garments” in scripture speak about the person. “Throughout the Bible, garments symbolize character. The inward life of the unregenerate is compared to a polluted garment” (Barnhouse). This quote is taken from David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword. Genesis 35:2-4.