Get Back to Bethel

Genesis 35:1: "Then God said to Jacob, 'Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.'"

In the previous chapter of Genesis (34), there is presented a rather tragic story of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, who was violated by a pagan prince named Shechem. Dinah had gone out into the pagan community to visit with the women of the land and became easy prey for the son of King Hamor. As would be expected, Dinah's brothers were furious at the news. They came running in from the fields when the news was brought to them and were filled with "grief and fury, because Shechem had done such a disgraceful thing" (34:7).

The sons of Jacob then devised a plan to destroy Shechem for this violation against their sister. When the prince asked for Dinah's hand in marriage and was willing to pay whatever bride price the brothers demanded, the brothers acted deceitfully by dictating that the prince and his male subjects had to be circumcised. They pitched this instruction in a way that the people of Shechem would think that the family of Jacob was seeking an alliance with them. Hamor, the king of Shechem, was thrilled at such a prospect, for he had observed the material blessing that Jacob had acquired over the time that he had been in the land. He told his community leaders at the city gate that this alliance would bring opportunity for his kingdom (i.e. to acquire some of this prosperity through a marital alliance). Whereas his son may have had true feelings for Dinah, Hamor saw political and financial opportunity.

While Shechem, Hamor, and all of the males of the pagan nation were recovering from their circumcisions, two of Dinah's brothers (Simeon and Levi) seized the opportunity to attack these men with a sword. They had no intention of giving Dinah to Shechem in marriage; they were looking for the chance to enact vengeance upon the people for the violation of their sister. Thus, they went out and utterly destroyed the pagan community for this detestable violation of their sister.

When Jacob was told of what his sons had done, he denounced their behavior, fearing that they had brought the destruction of his family at the hands of a now angered pagan land. The sons of Jacob returned frustration toward their father, suggesting that he was more concerned about his own reputation and relations with the pagans than he was with defending the honor of his daughter.

It is now that God intervenes by telling Jacob, "Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God . . . " Jacob was quite familiar with Bethel, for it was the place where God previously had revealed his Mighty Power to him when he was fleeing for his life from his angry brother, Esau. By opening the portals of heaven and giving Jacob the opportunity of seeing the angelic beings ascending and descending from heaven, God was communicating to the patriarch that He was in control. The LORD was going to accomplish everything that he desired, to fulfill His divine purposes. God promised at Jacob's first encounter at Bethel that He would protect Jacob wherever he went, and He would provide the blessing of the promised land to him and his descendants after him. Jacob was so overwhelmed at this first Bethel experience, that he cried out, "Surely the Lord is in this place . . . . How awesome is this place!" This was exactly what Jacob needed to press on, despite his circumstances; for he knew that the LORD would be with him and would protect him wherever he went.

Now that Jacob in chapter 34 had lost his focus on the LORD and instead looked upon his circumstances as that which would dictate his fate, the LORD knew that the patriarch needed another revival experience; thus, he called out to Jacob and ordered him back to Bethel. Bethel was about 1000 feet higher in elevation than Shechem, so as Jacob made his way toward the mountaintop, he had chance to look up toward his destination and remember the powerful encounter that he had had previously with the Almighty God. I'm sure that the Holy Spirit was using this opportunity to prepare the heart of Jacob, so that he could be reminded that he needed to place his ultimate faith in the One True Lord, not his circumstances. To be sure, Jacob knew that he needed to prepare his heart and the heart of his family for the divine encounter. He instructed his family to get rid of any pagan idols that they had collected during the time that they had been in the pagan lands; Jacob was wise enough to know that God was not pleased with idolatry in any form and would not bless his family if they sought feigned substitutes over the One True Lord.

When Jacob reached Bethel, he built an altar there to the LORD, and he was reassured in his spirit that God "had been with (him) wherever (he) had gone" (35:3) and would protect him wherever he would go. God was true to His word and put fear in the minds of the pagan peoples around Jacob so that they would not harm Jacob and his family. Jacob called the place of spiritual renewal, El Bethel, which can be translated, "The Strong God of the House of God." Again, Jacob was strengthened in his awareness of God's protective hand upon him. He knew that he did not need to worry about circumstances around him, if only he would be faithful to God alone.

God then put an exclamation point on the experience by reminding Jacob that his new name was Israel. This of course would have brought back to memory Jacob's wrestling with God at Peniel. It was there that God blessed Jacob, but only after he had pursued it with full vigor, weeping and begging for the favor of God (see Hosea 12:4). Jacob would have remembered that God did not quickly grant a blessing to Jacob; Jacob would have to demonstrate that he desired it above all other things. God demanded that Jacob struggle with Him for the divine blessing, so that the patriarch would appreciate its worth. Now, in chapter 35, God is reminding Jacob that He is El-Shaddai. This title of God comes from the Hebrew word for breast . . . thus, God is communicating that He is the One who would provide spiritual nourishment to meet every need. God then reminded Jacob of the covenant blessing that he could be fruitful and be blessed through the power of God.

This episode presents to us a good word of instruction about trusting in the LORD. Many times we permit our circumstances to dictate our understanding of reality. When we are faced with difficult situations, we quickly can become ensnared in the trap that God is not in control. Fear begins to well up within us, and we look to manipulate our circumstances. God then calls us back to our Bethel . . . the place where He presented to us His magnificence . . . . the place where we surrendered to His Lordship and experienced His assurance that He alone is in control and will provide blessing if we would only submit to Him alone.

Have you been in the valley of discouragement? Maybe it is time to return to Bethel again to experience the power and assurance of the LORD.