Genesis35:1 God spoke to Jacob: “Go back to Bethel. Stay there and build an altar to the God who revealed himself to you when you were running for your life from your brother Esau.”
2-3 Jacob told his family and all those who lived with him, “Throw out all the alien gods which you have, take a good bath and put on clean clothes, we’re going to Bethel. I’m going to build an altar there to the God who answered me when I was in trouble and has stuck with me everywhere I’ve gone since.”
4-5 They turned over to Jacob all the alien gods they’d been holding on to, along with their lucky-charm earrings. Jacob buried them under the oak tree in Shechem. Then they set out. A paralyzing fear descended on all the surrounding villages so that they were unable to pursue the sons of Jacob.
6-7 Jacob and his company arrived at Luz, that is, Bethel, in the land of Canaan. He built an altar there and named it El-Bethel (God-of-Bethel) because that’s where God revealed himself to him when he was running from his brother.
8 And that’s when Rebekah’s nurse, Deborah, died. She was buried just below Bethel under the oak tree. It was named Allon-Bacuth (Weeping-Oak).
9-10 God revealed himself once again to Jacob, after he had come back from Paddan Aram and blessed him: “Your name is Jacob (Heel); but that’s your name no longer. From now on your name is Israel (God-Wrestler).”
11-12 God continued, “I am The Strong God. Have children! Flourish! A nation—a whole company of nations!—will come from you. Kings will come from your loins; the land I gave Abraham and Isaac I now give to you, and pass it on to your descendants.”
13 And then God was gone, ascended from the place where he had spoken with him.
14-15 Jacob set up a stone pillar on the spot where God had spoken with him. He poured a drink offering on it and anointed it with oil. Jacob dedicated the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel (God’s-House).
Although this map is entitled “Abraham in the Promised Land,” it also shows important locations for Jacob. Jacob has been staying north near Shechem; now God orders him to return to Bethel to worship. Jacob has few illusions about his family or his servants, for he knows they have amulets, trinkets, and all kinds of household gods they have been carrying around. But for this company to meet the One True Living God, all that stuff has to go completely. In addition, Jacob orders everybody to bathe and don clean clothes. In a land where water is scarce and herdsmen fight over water rights, bathing is a big deal. But those in Jacob’s company can’t argue with the way God has prospered Jacob, so they comply. Rather than save all that gold and silver in those charms and amulets and statues, Jacob buries everything under one giant oak tree.
When Jacob leaves for Bethel, God sends the fear of Him on all the surrounding tribes so they leave Jacob and his company strictly alone. Jacob reaches Bethel and builds an altar on which he makes sacrifices, and God meets him there.
9-13 God revealed himself once again to Jacob, after he had come back from Paddan Aram and blessed him: “Your name is Jacob (Heel); but that’s your name no longer. From now on your name is Israel (God-Wrestler).” God continued, “I am The Strong God. Have children! Flourish! A nation—a whole company of nations!—will come from you. Kings will come from your loins; the land I gave Abraham and Isaac I now give to you, and pass it on to your descendants.” And then God was gone, ascended from the place where he had spoken with him.
Once God leaves, Jacob sets up a stone pillar, pouring a drink offering on it and anointing it with oil of dedication. Then Jacob calls that pillar “Bethel” or “God’s house.”
By now, you’re probably getting tired of all these stories about altars and blood sacrifices. Big deal! What’s so important about this particular story? Actually, quite a few things. First, there’s the preparations. For many of us, taking our kids to church on Sunday morning is enough of an ordeal, but Jacob is moving flocks and herds and perhaps 100 or more people from Shechem down to Bethel.
Next, there’s the preparation for worship. No matter whether these people choose to worship Jacob’s God or not, Jacob demands that they hand over all their pagan jewelry and statues. Jacob doesn’t want anybody sneaking off to worship a sun god or a star god while he is meeting with the One True Living God. And Jacob demands that his people bathe and put on clean clothes as a sign of respect for God, which means that they must also wash those clothes. In a place where water is scarce, bathing and doing washing takes a lot of water and a lot of work. And then when the company reaches Bethel, everybody must behave properly. While the Scripture doesn’t mention it, I am certain that Jacob puts out the word-no drunkenness, no parties, no unnecessary noise. Keep the herds away from the altar area so they don’t make a clamor and defecate all over the place.
At the end of this story, Jacob erects a pillar, a standing stone for remembrance, and pours out a drink offering before anointing it with oil. I’m sure Jacob uses the best wine and the best oil available; after all, God has just made incredible promises and has re-confirmed Jacob as Israel, “God-Wrestler.” For the rest of Jacob’s life, whenever he passes that way, he will see that pillar and remember the day he met with God.
As we read these verses, the question for us is simple: How much do we respect God? Are we treating God as some kind of a divine dispensing machine-put in a prayer and get an answer? When we pray, do we remember that we are meeting with the One who has created everything around us? Are we disrespectful or casual? And do we misuse God’s name, texting “OMG!” without thinking about it? God still meets people and gives them new names. But we must be willing to slow down, to be quiet, and to wait silently for Him to speak to our hearts. May God help us to be good listeners!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to listen reverently and quietly for Your Voice. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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