God said to Jacob, "arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau." Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone." So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem. And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. And Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. And Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. So he called its name Allon-bacuth. God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. And God said to him, "your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name." So He called his name Israel. And God said to him, "I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you." Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him. And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Bethel. Genesis 35: 1-15 ESV
God speaks to Jacob, telling him to move to Bethel, but also with a command and reminder of what had transpired. This transitions into obedience on Jacob's part, but also action required by Jacob in the reformation of his household. He commands them to put away their idols, and to purify themselves, and included with this a symbolic change of garment to represent a change of heart. This will be a new start for them in a place sacred to Jacob's heart, and since he feels it to be a sacred place, where God has visited him, he does not wish to bring the counterfeit into the presence of the God who speaks to him. This is the God he has wrestled with and the God who answers him in his distress. The people that are with him bring their idols and he buries them, most likely in a place that they will not so easily find them.
The cities of the surrounding area are now afforded the perfect opportunity to attack, but they do not, because God has put fear in them.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2: 12&13 NKJV
Jacob has a healthy fear of God himself, but also a relationship which moves fear to its proper place in the heart. I fear God's disappointment, my delusion in putting up an idol or an image before Him. Jacob's fear has now extended to his family and their actions before the God who now calls him Israel. This is the God who refers to Himself as El Shadai or God Almighty. The surrounding villages do not know Him, only the fear of Him.
"Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O king of the saints!Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested." Revelation 15: 3b & 4 NKJV
God speaks to Jacob, telling him to move to Bethel, but also with a command and reminder of what had transpired. This transitions into obedience on Jacob's part, but also action required by Jacob in the reformation of his household. He commands them to put away their idols, and to purify themselves, and included with this a symbolic change of garment to represent a change of heart. This will be a new start for them in a place sacred to Jacob's heart, and since he feels it to be a sacred place, where God has visited him, he does not wish to bring the counterfeit into the presence of the God who speaks to him. This is the God he has wrestled with and the God who answers him in his distress. The people that are with him bring their idols and he buries them, most likely in a place that they will not so easily find them.
The cities of the surrounding area are now afforded the perfect opportunity to attack, but they do not, because God has put fear in them.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2: 12&13 NKJV
Jacob has a healthy fear of God himself, but also a relationship which moves fear to its proper place in the heart. I fear God's disappointment, my delusion in putting up an idol or an image before Him. Jacob's fear has now extended to his family and their actions before the God who now calls him Israel. This is the God who refers to Himself as El Shadai or God Almighty. The surrounding villages do not know Him, only the fear of Him.
"Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O king of the saints!Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested." Revelation 15: 3b & 4 NKJV
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