Go up to Bethel

Genesis 35:1-15

Key Verse 35:1

“Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”

Whenever new year comes we usually choose one year key verse and prayer topics based on the key verse. Do you know why we choose key verse and prayer topics? It is because we do not want to forget what we really want to do in the coming new year and achieve it. There are so many things to do in life and there are so many distractions in life. So if we do not fix what we want in advance usually we will be distracted by this and that and in the end we will not achieve what we really want to do. So it is no wonder that successful people are very focused. They know what they want and use all of their resources on their goal and that is why they are successful.

Now in today’s passage we learn that God helped Jacob to return to Bethel. Why did God want Jacob to return to Bethel? It is because Jacob was lost in the course of life. Jacob wandering here and therefore forgetting the purpose and vision of his life. Then he had a lot of troubles as well. 

So today we want to think about ‘why did God want Jacob to return to Bethel?” Answer: to restore original purpose and vision of his life. 

Part I. Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel” (v.1-7) 

Look at verse 1. “Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”

The word ‘Then’ is related to what happened in chapter 34. Jacob’s daughter Dinah was raped by Schechem, the son of Hamor who was the ruler of the land where Jacob settled. Then Simeon and Levi, 2 sons of Jacob, lied to the people of Schechem saying that they will allow their sister to marry Schechem if they circumcised. When the men of Schechem cicumcized and were in pain Simeon and Lei attacked them and killed all male. But they took away all their wealth and women and children. Then Jacob, their father said to them in Genesis 34:30-31.

³⁰ Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me obnoxious to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.” ³¹ But they replied, “Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?”

Jacob was in big trouble because his household are few in number and they were aliens and they killed native people.

So Jacob was in big trouble(delete). At that time God said to Jacob, ““Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”

Now where is Bethel and what happened in Bethel? Genesis 28 explains what happened in Bethel. About 30 years ago Jacob left his home for the first time in his life because his brother Esau was trying to kill him. Jacob took the birthright of Esau by cheating his brother and his father. And Esau was really upset and wanted to kill him after his father Isaac died. So Isaac and Rebekah sent Jacob to Paddan Aram where Rebekah’s hometown were and asked Jacob to get a wife there. So Jacob left his house in Baeersheba (Beersheba) for the fist (first) time in his life, and he was running away to save his life. 

Genesis 28:10-22.

¹⁰ Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. ¹¹ When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. ¹² He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. ¹³ There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. ¹⁴ Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. ¹⁵ I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” ¹⁶ When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” ¹⁷ He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” ¹⁸ Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. ¹⁹ He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. ²⁰ Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear ²¹ so that I return safelyto my father’s household, then the LORD will be my God ²² and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

Jacob has a believing parents. So he was like second gen believer. But until that time he did not have any personal encounter with God. But the Lord appeared to Jacob in his dream when Jacob did not expect him at all. God introduced himself as ‘I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.” And God promised him land, many descendants and safe return to his home again.

When Jacob woke up he was very amazed and said, ““How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” And he took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. ¹⁹ He called that place Bethel. The word “Bethel” means ‘house of God.” In addition he even made a vow. His vow was ““If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear ²¹ so that I return safelyto my father’s household, then the LORD will be my God ²² and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

Jacob was not interested in land or many descendants. But he was interested his safety and his return to his home again. “¹⁵ I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” So he made a vow based on God’s promise of safety and returning. 

So Bethel is the place where the Lord appeared to Jacob first in his life. It was there Jacob made his vow to the Lord and made a personal contract with the Lord. The Lord established relationship with Jacob through the vow. 

Now Jacob spent 20 years in Paddan Aram. There he got 4 wives and 11 sons and returned to his hometown. But on his way he had to meet his brother Esau. 

Jacob had a great fear when Esau was coming with 400 trained men. So he had to even wrestle with God in order to overcome his fear. But when his fear was gone after the Lord changed his name from Jacob (he deceives) to Israel (he struggles with God) he set up an altar and called it “El Elohe Israel” (mighty is the God of Israel) and settled in Sukkoth. After he solved his major life problem he settled where he wanted. Basically it means he decided to live as he wanted. God’s purpose in his life was not in his mind.

After Jacob met Esau he did not return to Bethel but rather he went to Sukkoth and later moved to Schechem. And then his daughter was violated by the named Schechem. So probably about 10 years have passed since Jacob returned from Paddan Aram to his home town.

Now finally the time came for God to help Jacob to return to Bethel because Jacob could not stay in Schechem anymore. He had to go somewhere. 

So God said to Jacob, ““Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.” To Jacob God’s advice was a wake up call. It was a wake up call because he could have realized that disaster was waiting for him when he lived according to what he wanted instead of thinking about the purpose of God in his life. 

The tragedy and trouble humbled the heart of Jacob and he was ready to listen to God. So God spoke to Jacob at that time. God was very patient with Jacob. Like the step father in my story he was patient with Jacob. 

Jacob acknowledged God’s direction is right. But he new that in order to return to Bethel he and his household had to do one thing. It was to repent and purification. He could not meet God at Bethel as he was and as his household were. 

Look at verses 2-4. “² So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign godsyou have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. ³ Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” ⁴ So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem.’

It was also the first time where Jacob took responsibility for his household and called for repentance. When Jacob and his household lived as he and they wanted they became idol worshippers. So purified themselves and repented all of their idol worshiping and decided to go back to Bethel.

What happened when they left. Verse 5 reads, “⁵ Then they set out, and the terror of God fell on the towns all around them so that no one pursued them.”

God honored their repentance and protected them. When Jacob and his people fully repented and committed themselves to the Lord all they were not afraid. Rather the terror of God fell on the towns around them and they were afraid of Jacob and his people. It is true that when we fear God we do not need to fear men. Fear of God drives out all fear if men from our hearts. 

Verses 6-7 reads “⁶ Jacob and all the people with him came to Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan.⁷ 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.”

Finally Jacob returned to Bethel and could keep his vow. Bethel has two meanings for Jacob.

First, it is the place where God appeared to him. God revealed himself to Jacob based on his grace alone. One person told me that suddenly out of blue she could believe in God. In this way God can visit us in our unexpected time. To Jacob, Bethel is the place where God appeared to him.

Secondly, Bethel is the place where he was fleeing from his brother. His life was in danger and he did not have any security. The Lord knows his situation and needs and appeared to him and gave him his promise. Jacob said in verse 3 about God, “³ Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” Jacob remembered the grace of the Lord who answered him in the day of his distress. God not only answered in the day of his distress but also has been with him wherever he has gone.

Most of us here have spiritual Bethel, the place or event where we met God personally. I also made a vow when I studied Genesis chapter 28. It was 1975 and God accepted my vow and led me to be born again 7 years later. My vow was if God helped me to overcome darkness in my heart and help me to live most ideal obedient life in my practical life God will be my God and I will live for him completely. Now he is still leading me to my Bethel, the place of my full commitment. Even now through my responsibilities he is helping me to commit myself fully to him. In a way he is helping me to start a new life which is life of complete commitment to him.

Bethel is the place where we made our commitment to God whether in the form of vow or promise or any other means. 

Now God graciously helps us to keep our vow. God who is like our Father has adopted us as his sons and daughters and therefore he gracefully helps us to come to him and grow and even start a new life by his grace as if the step father helped an adopted son in his love and grace. 

The best way for us to return to Bethel is to go up to Bethel by listening to him before troubles hit us. Bethel is the place where we made promise of full commitment. 

Part II. God appeared to him again (v.8-15) 

Look at verse 8. ^8 “Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under the oak outside Bethel. So it was named Allon Bakuth.” Although Jacob repented and committed himself fully to God it does not mean that he is free from all human troubles. Rebekah’s nurse who could be more than his family member died at that time and they wept so much because of sorrow. They wept so much that the place was named as ‘oak of weeping.”

Look at verses 9-13.

“⁹ After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him.¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ 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.¹² The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.” ¹³ Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him.”

So God appeared to Jacob again. The first time God appeared to Jacob was in Bethel. Now God appeared to him again and he delivered message. 

These verses explain the reason why God wanted Jacob to return to Bethel. It was to restore original purpose and vision of his life.

God restored the purpose and vision of Jacob’s life by reminding him of his new name and old covenant.

(1) New name: God restored the purpose and vision of Jacob’s life by reminding him of his new name. Verses 9 and 10 reads, “⁹ After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him.¹⁰ 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.”

Jacob got the new name when he wrestled with God in order to overcome his fear of his brother Esau. Genesis 32:22-30.

^“22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. ²³ After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. ²⁴ So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. ²⁵ When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. ²⁶ Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” ²⁷ The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. ²⁸ Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” ²⁹ Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. ³⁰ So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

The meaning of the name “Jacob” means “He grasps the heel” It is a Hebrew idiom for “He deceives.” In another word “Jacob” means ‘deceiver.’ But the name “Israel” means “He struggles with God.” When Jacob lived according to his own desire he became a deceiver. He deceived his brother and his father and his uncle. But God changed his name and gave him a new identity which is ‘He struggles with God.” Jacob became a noble man because he did not struggle with men anymore but he struggles with God. When he struggles with God he could grow all the more. When he struggles with men he deceives people more and more. 

So the name change means God was planting vision in the heart of Jacob, saying, “Jacob, you are a new creation and you are a new man. You do not deceive men but you struggle with God and grow to the image of God.”

(2) Old covenant: God restored the purpose and vision of Jacob’s life by reminding him of his old covenant.

Look at verses 11-12. “¹¹ 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.¹² The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”

First of all, God introduced himself as “God Almighty” rather than “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.” God appeared to Jacob as God Almighty with whom nothing is impossible. So God Almighty can do everything and everything is possible for him. 

God wanted Jacob to believe his almighty power. So he said, “I am God Almighty.” When we believe the almighty power of God we can have hope for everything. We can see possibility from even impossible things. When we look at ourselves we despair much because we are not almighty at all. We are so weak and powerless. So we despair and are frustrated so many times. But God whom we believe is God Almighty. He is the same God whom Abraham believed.

Romans 4:17b “the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.”

God is almighty. So he can give life to the dead and he can call into being things that were not. 

The almighty power of God is revealed in the resurrection of Jesus. 

Ephesians 1:19-21. 

^“19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.”

When Jacob did not believe the almighty power of God he ended up living for himself. He was busy to take care of himself not knowing that God can help him to be generous more than he can think. 

Ephesians 3:20 “²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”

Because God is God Almighty he is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us. How much can you imagine? Our imagination does not have any limit. But Almighty God can do immeasurably more than we all ask or imagine. 

Jacob lost faith in God Almighty. That is why he was wandering here and there trying to secure his own life, purchasing the land in Schechem and trying to establishing himself. 

Now this Almighty God says to Jacob, “Be fruitful and increase in number.” Do you remember where you saw ‘Be fruitful and increase in number”? Yes, Genesis chapter 1. So when God Almighty appeared again to Jacob and restored the purpose and vision of his life he went down all the way to the very purpose of man revealed in Genesis 1:28. God created man and woman and blessed him and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number.” 

This is the command of God Almighty. Who can oppose it? No one can hinder the fulfillment of the command of the God Almighty. So when God Almighty said to Jacob, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number” it was as good as done. 

Not only so but also God Almighty reminded Jacob of the old covenant he gave when he appeared to Jacob at Bethel at the first time. It is “A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants.¹² The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.” It is the covenant to be fruitful and increase in number and the promise of the land.

Especially from Jacob, kings and a community of nations will come. One of the kings is the King of kings, Jesus Christ. So the covenant that Jacob will be a source of blessing for all peoples on earth with inheritance was reminded. The land may symbolizes the promised land, the kingdom of God, whereas numerous descendants may refer to many people who will be blessed through Jesus Christ. 

God reminded Jacob of such precious old covenant. Jacob was so blessed by God Almighty. But when he was left alone he lost his vision and purpose of his life and ended up wandering here and there.

We also have great vision and purpose of our lives from God. But when we do not believe God Almighty and remember God’s promise in Jesus Christ we may lose such vision and purpose and wander here and there. It is very possible because there are so many distractions and failures and wounds and scars and they can all make us weary and tired and make us wander away. 

Look at verses 14-15 and how Jacob responded.

¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.

Jacob set up a pillar 30 years ago but it was for himself. Now he accepted God’s vision and purpose in his life. He established a pillar as the sign of his acceptance of God’s vision and purpose in his life.

In this way God helped Jacob. 

In conclusion, why did God want Jacob to return to Bethel?” Answer: to restore original purpose and vision of his life. God restored the vision and purpose of Jacob’s life by reminding him of his new name Israel and old covenant of blessings. Most of all God revealed himself to Jacob as God Almighty so that Jacob may life by faith in him all the days of his life. 

One word: I am God Almighty