Back To Bethel

Genesis 35:1-29
When Jacob was in trouble, he built an altar at Bethel. It's here that God does an amazing work in his life. He had deceived his brother, had stolen his birthright and had schemed along with his mother Rebecca to take the rightful blessing that was due to Esau. He is running and exhausted, it's here at Bethel that he stops and builds and altar to rebuild his life forever.

It's at the altar of Bethel that God changes his life. He has been a deceiving manipulator. Now everything is about to change.

There never has been anyone yet that God couldn't change. It was at an altar, that Christ came in and changed my life forever. It doesn't matter how bad and how low in sin you have been. The blood of Christ will forgive us of all our iniquities.

It's after the altar of Bethel that God says, "your name shall no longer be called Jacob but Israel." God says, "out of your seed will come nations and Kings. "It's at Bethel that God reveals to him future promises and blessings.

Why would any of us attempt to live our lives without a Bethel experience? This is a place that represents an act of humility to seek God first, not to forge ahead without his wisdom his strength and his protection. Jacob was tired and exhausted in running from Esau, it's from this point God shows him you will never be the same.

It's at Bethel, God says to Jacob, "Throw out all the alien gods which you have."(2) As they were high tailing it from Laban's home, Rachel goes into her dad's house and steals his idols. Laban runs after his daughters and grandkids, and ask, "Why have you left me and requires that they return his idols. Rachel hides them without being detected.

Friend you and I need more than a good luck charm to be successful in this life. Jacob realizes that it's the God of Bethel that has blessed him and has opened the heavens over his life to become a great nation Israel.
God is saying, " Don't offend me with the thought that "something else" has brought on your blessings."

Jacob buries the idols they bring to him under an oak tree in Shechem. (4) It's at Bethel, that God buries our past and help us to move on to higher plains and places that He has prepared for us.

Paul says, "Forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forth unto those things that are before you."

It's at Bethel that God says, "take a good bath and put on clean clothes."(2b) It's at the altar that God cleans us up and gives us a new wardrobe. He is preparing you and I his bride, to be ready when Christ comes back to this earth.

Don't live without a Bethel. Create a place like Jacob, a place that God makes us a new creation, gives us a new name, buries our sins and past, and dresses us ready for our future and for His soon return.

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