Gen. 35:6-156So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Beth-el, he and all the people that were with him. 7And he built there an altar, and called the place El-beth-el: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother. 8But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Beth-el under an oak: and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth. 9And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him. 10And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. 11And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; 12And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. 13And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him. 14And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. 15And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Beth-el. (Genesis 35:6‑15)
“So Jacob came to Luz which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Beth-el, he and all the people that were with him. And he built there an altar, and called the place El-eth-el; because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.” vv. 6,7.
Two things are of particular interest in this portion of the narrative: First, Jacob manifested a new and high estimation of God in naming the altar “El-beth-el,” which means, “God, the God of His house.” Secondly, Jacob was reminded of his former estate when, fleeing from Esau, he went empty handed and fearful, not really trusting the God of his fathers. It is certainly good to think of God in terms of His relationship with us individually and this Jacob did when at Succoth, when he named his altar “El-elohe-Israel.” Yet, this did not give God His true place, for He is not only the God of the individual, but the God of His entire house — supreme and omnipotent in every purpose and program for all His people. It was well for Jacob to rise to this new level.
But it was also well for him to be reminded of who he was before God’s ways were truly made known to him, and to recall all the way God had led him through those important but trying years of his life. So he was not permitted to forget that low estate, in order that he might now worship God more fully. Now that his own ways and those of his household were cleansed, he was ready for the blessing, which God was waiting to bestow. “And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name;... And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; and the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed! after thee...” vv. 10-12. Was this not a lovely expression of God’s pleasure with Jacob’s obedience?
The statement of the eighth verse is interesting: “But Deborah Rebekah’s nurse died, and she was buried beneath Beth-el under an oak,” When Jacob’s mother, Rebekah, had sent him away approximately thirty years before, telling him to flee to Haran, she had said: “I will fetch thee from thence.” Chap. 27:45. But neither she nor Jacob could know that they would never see each other again. Although no doubt often in one another’s thoughts there is no instance given of any communication between them. Perhaps she had told Deborah of her longing for Jacob. Now, after Rebekah’s death Deborah apparently went out voluntarily to accompany him back to the land of his youth. We do not know for sure why she was part of Jacob’s company at this time, but it is reasonable to conclude she chose this place out of faithfulness and affection to both Rebekah and Jacob. In any event it is touching to read of her death at this point and to see the sorrow in Jacob’s heart over her departure that prompted him to name her burial place Allonbachuth — “The oak of weeping.”
ML 01/08/1967