LastCall: Drifting from God (Genesis 35:1-15 ) -Bob Caldwell

Repentance and Renewal  "Then God said to Jacob, 'Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.'" -Genesis 35:1 Chapter 34 has just described one of the most tragic low points in the behavior of Israel's (Jacob's) 12 sons. Sons who were ordained by God to become the heads of the 12 tribes of Israel. God, in His mercy, calls Jacob to return to Bethel to renew the covenant Jacob and his family had been born into. The covenant was originally given to Abraham that from his family would arise not only a great nation, but also the Messiah, who would become a blessing to all the world. Here at Bethel Jacob calls the 12 sons and their families to abandon the influence of idolatry that had worked its way into each of their lives. At Bethel Jacob also renews his own worship to God (v. 7). God responds to these acts of repentance with a renewed declaration of His covenant promises and a new beginning with God (v. 9-15). Jacob had obviously drifted from God and it had affected his entire family. One tragic result was seeing his two sons go on the murderous rampage recorded in chapter 34. The other result was that they fell into idolatry. Like Jacob, we too can find ourselves drifting from God. And when we do it will inevitably affect those around us. It will result in our spiritual influence being removed and in its place will be darkness. But God, in His grace, will call us back to our first love. When He does, may we come with the necessary acts of repentance that genuine renewal produces. Anything less will only feed the downward cycle our backslidden hearts have created.
Genesis 35:1-15  Jacob's Return to Bethel 1 Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother." 2 And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone." 4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which was by Shechem. 5 And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. 7 And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother. 8 Now Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the terebinth tree. So the name of it was called Allon Bachuth.
Jacob Returns To Bethel (Verses 1-15) v. 1 Go To Bethel – It had been ten years since Jacob had returned to Canaan from Mesopotamia, and 30 years since Jacob had been to Bethel where God had met with him and promised Jacob he would return to Canaan and experience the fulfillment of God's promises. Foreign Gods – This was the first of three things Jacob did in response to God's call to return to Bethel. These idols likely included the ones taken by Rachel (Gen.31:19, 30, 32-35), taken in looting Shechem (Gen.34:27- 29) and from his servants. v. 2 Purify Yourselves – This would have involved ceremonial washing as a sign of being cleansed from idolatry and sin. Change Your Garments – This would refer to putting on clothing that was a sign of worship and cleansing. v. 3 Arise and Go – The distance from their present location would have been 20 to 30 miles. v. 4 Earrings – These were worn as amulets and charms, often based upon superstition and idolatry. Terebinth Tree – This may have been the tree Abraham had pitched his tent under many years earlier (Gen. 12:6). v. 5 Terror of God – Jacob had a legitimate fear of the surrounding cities due to what Simeon and Levi had done (Gen. 34:13-31), but God is shown here protecting him. v. 7 El Bethel – This means the God of Bethel, pointing back to God's encounter with Jacob when he was fleeing from Esau (Gen. 28:10-22). v. 8 Deborah – Jacob would have been very close to her since she would have been an intricate part of his childhood, as his mother's servant. Allon Bachuth – Means oak of weeping.
9 Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name." So He called his name Israel. 11 Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. 12 The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land." 13 Then God went up from him in the place where He talked with him. 14 So Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it, and he poured oil on it. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel.
A Fresh Revelation (Verses 9-15) v. 9 From Padan Aram – This refers to the revelation of God and His call upon Jacob that had been given 30 years earlier (Gen. 28:10-22). v. 10 Israel – It is only after the preparation of the heart and the return to Bethel (v. 1-7) that this renewal of the call and revelation of God is given. God reminds Jacob of his new name (Gen. 32:28), thereby reviving in Jacob a restoration of the walk he was called to in his relationship to God as the patriarch of the people of God. v. 11 I Am God Almighty – "El Shaddai" This name emphasizes the power of God as more than sufficient to accomplish His purposes. Be Fruitful and Multiply – This command is based on God's ability to perform it through Israel because God is almighty. Company of Nations – This refers to the twelve tribes of Israel. v. 12 The Land – This land that was promised originally to Abraham to provide a place for the nation that would come from this family is renewed by an almighty God who has the power to fulfill His word. v. 14 Pillar of Stone – This was a memorial to commemorate this encounter with God. Drink Offering – This is the first time this type of offering is referred to in scripture. It was generally wine. Other references to this offering are Exodus 29:40, 30:9; Leviticus 23:13, 18:37; Numbers 6:15; Deuteronomy 32:28. Poured Oil – To pour oil upon a person or thing was a sign of consecrating it to the Lord.

Devotions with Emotion

Michael James Stone

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