BULLETIN ARTICLE
6 October 2019
BACK TO BETHEL
What does Bethel represent?
Bethel held special place in Jacob’s spiritual journey. It was the place where he heard God speaking to him a promise of his presence, his protection and his provision (Genesis 28:13-15). It was the place of a special dream that spoke of a direct relationship with the Almighty God, from earth to heaven. It was a place of God’s clear word of promise of inheritance. Bethel was also a place of his heartfelt response of worship and vow to honour God in his life. Jacob caught the understanding that God’s promise to shield and provide for him was to fulfil God’s plan for people to know him.

Does this remind you of a similar moment you had with God in your faith journey? Do you remember a word of assurance or a promise concerning your future? Do you realise that perhaps all those verses from the Bible concerning your well-being are within the context of the fulfilment of God’s plan for the people on earth as given in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20?

What moved Jacob and what will move us back to Bethel?
Jacob heard a clear word from the Lord to go back to Bethel. It came with a reminder of his keeping material blessings in abundance and protection from enemies, in particular, from Esau. If we have strayed away from God, what will spur us to get back to our Bethel? Perhaps, it will be that same Bible verse/s reminding us to have a repentant heart. And as we reflect on God’s Word, we recount the blessings of protection, deliverance and help that God has clearly blessed us with starting from our salvation from sin and death, and his faithfulness to his Word in our lives.

How did Jacob and how do we return to Bethel?
Just as Jacob instructed his tribe to prepare for the return to Bethel, we too ought to do the same three things: Put away the foreign gods; Purify yourselves; and Change your garments. Repentance from sin and working hard in living the new Christian life in Christ’s Lordship is needed.

Bethel forward
A spiritual Bethel does not mean all will be plain sailing. After the Bethel encounter with God, Jacob, now called Israel, hits rock bottom of the valley! Rachel dies in childbirth. Rueben, his firstborn son, committed a shameful sexual sin which became a pain for Jacob. Yet, Genesis 35 is bookended by the names of the 12 sons of Israel. Their names are a reflection of the outworking of God’s plan for Jacob/Israel despite how bleak circumstances may look. The greatest privilege for us is to live according to God’s will, to be part of his eternal plan for a vast number of people. To God be the glory!