Genesis 60

 

 

The New Grace Received At Bethel

(Genesis 35:9-15)

 

 

Jacob forgot God's command and the oath he had sworn to God and stayed in Shechem, blinded by worldly desires and comfort. As the name Shechem

suggests, he lived with partial obedience to God and dreamed of happiness. Jacob's dream of happiness was shattered. The daughter was reviled by

a foreigner, and the sons, enraged by this, shed revenge and became murderers who killed countless people. Jacob was trembling with frustration, sighing,

anxiety, and fear. God came to Jacob again and said, “Jacob, arise, go to Bethel.” It means going to God’s house. It means living centered on the temple of

God’s house. Worship God there and live according to the Word of God you learned there. Jacob threw away all his thoughts, desires, and stubbornness

and returned to Bethel with deep regret. Now he has firmly decided that he will live only serving God. God, who saw Jacob like this, did not blame him

for his past disobedience and promised great blessings to Jacob.

Today’s passage clearly shown what a serious issue drifting apart from the Word and becoming weak in prayer life is. The incident and accident

that happened in Jacob’s family was very severe. That is when God made Jacob go up to Bethel.

 

1. The importance of the Word and the life of prayer - failure

  1) Gen. 6:1-18

    v. 5. The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

  2) Gen. 9:20-24

    v. 20. Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard.

    v. 21. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent.

  3) Gen. 11:1-9

    v. 4. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves

         and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

  4) Gen. 19:1-14

    v. 14. So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, "Hurry and get out of this place,

       because the LORD is about to destroy the city!" But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.

 

2. The success of the Word and prayer life is the success of everything.

  1) Gen. 13:18

    v. 18. So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he built an altar to the LORD.

  2) Gen. 13:14-18

  3) Is our prayer life going well, and are we enjoying peace? (Ps. 50:22-23)

    v. 22. "Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue:

    v. 23. He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."

 

3. The reason God told him to go up to Bethel

  1) Gen. 28:10-22

    v. 13. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your                        descendants the land on which you are lying.

  2) Gen. 32:24-32 (name)

    v. 28. Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."

 

4. The new grace received in Bethel

  1) God appeared to him again (Gen. 35:9)

    v. 9. After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him.

  2) Reminded him of his name (Gen. 35:10)

    v. 10. God said to him, "Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel. " So he named him Israel.

  3) Promise of the future (Gen. 35:11)

    v. 11. And God said to him, "I am God Almighty ; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you,

       and kings will come from your body.

  4) Restoration of the covenant (Gen. 35:12)

    v. 12. The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you."

  5) Restoration of the altar (Gen. 35:14)

    v. 14. Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.

  6) Restoration of the place of covenant (Gen. 35:15)

    v. 15. Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.

 

Conclusion:

 

I hope that you will make Jacob's life as a mirror and live your life centered on God's house, Bethel. So, as promised to Jacob, I hope that you will enjoy

a blessed life with great blessings such as a beautiful name and prosperous descendants.