A Journey to Easter - Day 2

God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.”

(Genesis 35:1)

Jacob returned to Canaan, the land promised his forefathers, some 30 years after he deceived his father and betrayed his brother, Esau (Genesis 27:18ff). He had been wandering since he left his father-in-law, Laban. But from Shechem God bid Jacob to journey to Bethel and dwell there. He knew the place well, for it had provided a sanctuary for him when he was running for his life (Genesis 27:1). It was the place where God blessed him with a dream of a heavenly ladder (Genesis 28:11-12).

But before they could move forward, before they could make their pilgrimage to Bethel, the House of God, before Jacob met with God, or built an altar to worship God, and only God, they needed purification . . . and to bury their idols (Genesis 35:2-4). They needed to lay aside everything from their former lives. Everything that competed with their sole allegiance to the One True God.

What is it that you place ahead of God? That keeps you from moving on, closer to Him? That hinders your wholehearted worship?

For the duration of their 20-mile journey, God protected them (Genesis 35:5), striking fear in the hearts of the people—as He would centuries later for the tribes of Israel returning to the land (Joshua 5:1).

God reminded Jacob of his new name (repeated here for emphasis). “No longer” was he Jacob, but Israel (Genesis 35:10). God wanted Jacob to move forward in his new identity. (A struggle we share in moving forward in our new identity in Jesus.) God then pronounced His name, El Shaddai, God Almighty—so there would be no doubt that God was able to accomplish all He intended. God also pronounced a blessing upon Jacob, His ancient, perpetual blessing from the beginning, then passed on to Noah, and extended to Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham.

God then reiterated his covenant to Jacob as a descendant of Abraham—because it was meant for future generations. And thankfully so! Humans have a propensity toward forgetfulness. But not God! He remembers His covenants (Deuteronomy 4:31). There, God declared kings would come from his familial line. Kings would indeed come from the line of Judah, as promised. Ultimately leading to King Jesus, the Lion of Judah.

Jacob built an altar, anointed it with oil, and presented an offering to God. He fulfilled his earlier vow, with the last altar he built in that certain place. Jacob stated at that time that if God would be with him and keep him, He would be his Lord and God (Genesis 28:20). God had brought him to the place where he could testify that God had been with him wherever he went (Genesis 35:3). It was as though God called him back to Bethel to remind him, not only of his identity, but of his earlier vow.

His journey had come full circle, at last.

#AJourneytoEaster

#LentPilgrimage