GO TO BETHEL

Genesis 35:1-3
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Jacob’s Return to Bethel

1 Then God said to Jacob, “Get ready and move to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother, Esau.”

2 So Jacob told everyone in his household, “Get rid of all your pagan idols, purify yourselves, and put on clean clothing. 3 We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone.”


Last night we closed out revival at Nazareth. The evangelist preached from this Old Testament passage and it came alive for us as he preached. Bethel was where Jacob first met the Lord. Part of his message was that we can’t go back to Bethel … experience the presence of the Lord in our lives … with stuff that displeases God.

How does this speak to our current days?

We must get rid of our idols … the idols of superiority or inferiority complexes. We must clean ourselves from our bigotry, racism, and denominational hatred. We must take off the filthy rags we call heritage and put on clean garments of reconciliation. Only then will we be ready to go to Bethel and experience the joy of our salvation.