Gen. 35:1-5
“And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.” v. 1.
Jacob’s times of communion with God invariably followed periods of trial when he found himself powerless to proceed in his own strength. After the tragic and brutal events of Chapter 34, he felt entirely defeated, for Simeon and Levi had placed him and his family in jeopardy with those around him. At this time God spoke graciously again to him, instructing him to forsake his wicked surroundings and go up to Bethel. This was where God’s promises had first been made to him and it was here that God would have him return.
Apparently these instructions kindled a new spirit in Jacob and deeply moved him. This should be the effect of God’s Word on everyone who will be attentive to it. How much better to dwell at Bethel the house of God — than to dwell in the tents of wickedness! How much happier to build an altar to worship God than to build up worldly gain in a strange land.
Aware that moving on to Bethel involved more than mere physical preparation, Jacob undertook the cleansing of his household. We are here reminded of the words of the psalmist: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His holy place? He that bath clean hands, and a pure heart.” Psa. 24:3,4; again, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Psa. 66: 18. It is a most important principle that there can be no true communion with God nor any resting in His goodness if unjudged sins or any pattern of life interferes with His holiness.
When Laban charged Jacob with the theft of his images, Jacob had stoutly defended himself, unaware as he was that it was his loved Rachel who had stolen them. But at some time along the way, Jacob had learned the sad truth; nevertheless he apparently lacked the courage to deal with it. Thus the images Rachel had taken were added to and spread throughout the whole company, What a reminder of the effect we have upon one another — for good or for evil! “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump,” I Cor. 5:6,7. The enemy well knows how to spread evil so that soon all are contaminated, unless by God’s help it is purged out, completely done away with. So it was with Jacob’s household.
But now, moved by God’s voice, Jacob gave instructions: “Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments. And let us arise and go up to Beth-el.” “And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods 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.” v. 4. The way was now opened for them to journey on under God’s protecting hand and those whom they feared were unable to harm them. “And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.” v. 5.
ML 01/01/1967