Go back to Bethel

Text: Gen. 31:13; 35:1

Genesis 31:13 I am the Elohim of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.

Genesis 35:1 And YHWH said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto YHWH, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

Bethel
• The name Bethel comes from the Hebrew beth, meaning house, and el, meaning YHWH. Bethel means House of YHWH. 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 Yahwah" (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 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. And he built there an altar, and called the place El-Beth-EL: because there YHWH appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

• and then Bethel…

• Genesis 35:15 And Jacob called the name of the place where YHWH spake with him, Bethel.

Why did YHWH identify himself as the Elohim of Bethel?

01. It was there that Jacob had his first memorable encounter with YHWH
a. Genesis 28:10-11 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. (Gen. 28:10-11).

02. YHWH choose to reveal Himself to Jacob through dream

a. Genesis 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 Elohim ascending and descending on it.

03. He had promised to give him the land on which he slept.

a. Genesis 28:13 And, behold, YHWH stood above it, and said, I am YHWH Elohim of Abraham thy father, and the Elohim of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

04. There He promised to be with him; protect him.

05. He had a purpose for his life

a. Genesis 28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

06. To raise up a nation through him, through whom the Messiah would come.

a. Hebrews 7:14 For it is evident that our Master sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

Where was Jacob?

• He was far from Bethel, (Mesopotamia) not only in distance, but in relation to YHWH.

• I have not seen an instance where he prayed to YHWH while in Haran.

His occupation

01. Sought a wife but he got four wives. Leah, Zilpah, Rachael and Bilhah, because of the culture of the day.

02. Busily working for Laban.

03. Engaged in scheme

a. Genesis 30:37-43 And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink. And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted. And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Labans cattle. And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods. But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Labans, and the stronger Jacobs. And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.

b. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

c. Luke 8:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

d. Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

YHWH’S PURPOSE MUST BE FULFILLED

For that to be accomplished, we must be where YHWH 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?

Genesis 33:18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.

WHAT HAPPENED WHILE THERE?

• Trouble arouse: Dinah was raped

• Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers killed the men of the city

• Genesis 34:25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.

• Jacob was shaken because of their number.

• Genesis 35:1-4 And YHWH said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto YHWH, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto YHWH, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gds 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.

THREE THINGS JACOB SAID TO HIS FAMILY HAVE A PARALLEL FOR BELIEVERS

01. Put away the strange gods — a reminder that old habits of sin must be forsaken.

02. Be clean, and change your garments — a reminder to follow . . . holiness, without which no man shall see YHWH

a. Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see YHWH:

03. 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 YHWH. 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

04. We are to worship only YHWH:

a. You shall worship YHWH your Elohim, and Him only shall you serve (Luke 4:8).

05. Participation in church worship is a very important way in which YHWH can speak to us, through scripture study, and sermons.

APPLICATION

01. Get close to YHWH through prayer and consecration.

02. Have a greater thirst for YHWH. David said my soul longs for Thee.

a. Psalms 42:1 To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O YHWH.

03. Slow down a while and take stock of your life.

04. 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 YHWH.