El Bethel

“And he built an altar there, and called the place El-bethel, because there God appeared to him…” – Genesis 35v7

We have already seen the importance that Jacob placed on Bethel. This was the House of God and certain standards were set for God’s people to go back to Bethel. God had to be first in their lives and that had to show that by their actions.

Genesis 35 is something of a sad chapter. Two deaths take are recorded here. Rebekah’s nurse Deborah was clearly loved by the people. When she died they called the place where she was of weeping.” Later in the chapter Jacob’s wife Rachel dies in childbirth. Tragedy is a part of life, even for God’s people.

Yet, in the midst of this Jacob, who is here called by that name for the last time, reminds us where our focus should be. Bethel is a wonderful place to dwell. He is great blessing in dwelling in the House of God. However, just dwelling there is not really enough.

Jacob built an altar here and he called the place El Bethel – God of the House of God. There is only one source of true comfort and blessing. There is only One who is worthy of our worship. Let us remember as we worship and serve. Our object is not to be our ministry. Our object is not to be our place of service. The object of our worship must always be El Bethel – The God of the House of God!