Genesis 35:1
“And God said to Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar to God, that appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”
Here Jacob is commanded to worship at Bethel in fulfillment of his vow he made thirty years previous to return to Bethel (Genesis 28:22). Jacob had said in the day of his distress, “If I come again in peace, this stone shall be God’s house”. God had performed his part, and gave Jacob more than he then desired, namely, “bread to eat, and raiment to put on”.
But it seems, Jacob had not forgotten his vow, or had at least deferred the performance of it. But as many as God loves, he will remind of neglected duties, one way or other, by conscience or by providences. When we have vowed a vow to God, it is best not to defer the payment of it; yet better late than never.
The Truth
“When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.” (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5)
