Back to Bethel

“And God said to Jacob, Arise and go to Bethel ... And Jacob said to his household, Arise and let us go to Bethel...” Genesis 25v1,3

After a very sad incident involving the defilement of Dinah and an a cruel retribution by her brothers God once again appeared to Jacob. He told Jacob to go “back to Bethel, the House of God.” So Jacob called his household together and gave them some instructions for their return to Bethel.

His instructions were quite simple:

Put away the strange gods

Be clean

Change your garments

Jacob never ceased to be God's man. Yet, the closed fellowship with God was broken so God called Jacob to go back to Bethel where he had first encountered God. Without diligence it is easy for us to get ourselves off track and wander away from Bethel. When those times come we would do well the heed the words spoken by Jacob.

Put away your strange gods – lay aside anything which as taken the place of God in your life

Be clean – put aside the sin that is holding your back

Change your garments – lay aside the lifestyle that is more befitting of the world than of God's people.

It should be our constant desire to live at Bethel. When we wander from Bethel let us be quick to go back there.