A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

Jacob’s compromise in ownership was not without its own price to pay. During his stay
in the region of Shechem, Dinah, his daughter, was raped by the prince of the region. Then the
heathen prince wanted her for his bride. Her brothers responded to the news by developing a plan
by which they could slaughter all the men of the city. First they convinced the men to voluntarily
circumcise themselves in the city gate. Then, three days later when the men were in too much
pain to even defend themselves, Simeon and Levi went through the city killing every man. The
actions of his sons caused Jacob embarrassment and some concern. He was afraid of retaliation
by those around in other cities. Once again Jacob was on the move.
Finally to Bethel (35:1-15)
“Then God said to Jacob, ‘Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there; and make an altar
there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother’” (v. 1).
This time, Jacob was ready to obey.
Before Jacob could return to his Bethel, he had to get rid of the idols he knew had no
rightful place in his house. No doubt by now he knew he was in possession of the idols of Laban,
but other idols may also have found their way into the household of Jacob. Regardless of their
nature, anything having to do with the worship of false gods was surrendered to Jacob, even
jewelry, and was buried by him under the oak near Shechem. Only then did the family move to
Bethel.
Years prior he had arrived alone, now he returned with his family. God had honored His
promise and blessed him abundantly. This time he built an altar and named it not for the place,
but the God who made the place what it was. He named it El Bethel, “the God of the house of
God.”
Bethel became a place of death and blessing. Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died as they
arrived and was buried under an oak named Allon Bachuth meaning “the oak of weeping.” Jacob
also died spiritually and became Israel. And once again God appeared to confirm His covenant
with His people.
PERSPECTIVE
It has often been noted, “There is nothing so permanent as a temporary solution to a
problem.” That principle is certainly true when it comes to running from problems. Jacob ran
from a problem with his brother “for a few days” and when he returned twenty years later, the
problem was still enough to cause him to continue running. In the process of trying to escape
from his troubles, he kept himself from Bethel, the place of intimate fellowship with God. The
scared young man who had met God at Bethel as he ran from Esau was a lame old man with a
mature family when he finally returned to the place of that meeting. In his wandering, his family
was raised under the influence of the gods of his father-in-law Laban rather than that of the God
of Bethel. Jacob should not have been surprised when his sons adopted a value system foreign to
that of El Bethel. As one ponders the life of this patriarch, two questions ought to probe our
conscience. First, what is it that is keeping us away from our own individual Bethel? Second,
what is it costing our family?
TWENTY-ONE
JOSEPH: