Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me “wherever I have gone.” (vv.1-3)
When God called Jacob to return to Bethel, I believe it was for two reasons; 1) divine protection for Jacob and his family and 2) a call for rededication and commitment to God. After the brash surprise attack against the men of Succoth by Jacob’s two sons, retaliation was probably just a mater of time. Plus, false worship had begun to enter Jacob’s household in the form of pagan idols and God knew Jacob’s family and all who were with him had begun to stray from His will and righteousness in their life. Therefore, it was time to go!
So we now see an older and wiser Jacob calling on his household and all that were with him to, “put away the foreign gods, purify yourselves, change your garments, and arise and go back to Bethel” (vv.2-3). Jacob is now coming full circle, back to where the LORD first appeared to him. And he responds in much the same way as he had years ago. He set up a stone pillar to commemorate the occasion, consecrated it by anointing it with oil, and poured out a drink offering in worship to the Lord.
Jacob desperately wanted his family to be dedicated to the Lord in every sense of the word. He also wanted to be sure that he fulfilled his calling by God, and that he had God’s blessing on his family - as he knew they had strayed far from God’s will and righteousness in their life.
What a turnaround! After a life characterized by deceit, struggle, selfishness, and recently a lack of spiritual leadership in his own house, Jacob now surrenders everything to God. His life story is evidence that God's choosing of us doesn't depend on our own worthiness, for we all fall short in this life. Yet God never fails, He never leaves us. He keeps His promises, and has a sovereign plan both for individual lives and for all man kind. We are the ones that stray, backslide, turn from Him. Yet He waits, patiently for us to come back to Him.
Do you need to rededicate your life and or your home to God? Are there things that you have been allowing to occur in your home or even condoning which need to be repented of and turned over to God? If so, do it now. Return to that place God would have you to be and rededicate your heart, mind, and soul to Him. Go back to your Bethel, He is waiting and willing to change your garments. Just ask.
The Truth: "If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleans us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
The Truth: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)
