Ge 35:1-3
Return to Bethel
35 God said to Jacob, “Get up! Go 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 said to his family and all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your clothes. 3 We must get up and go to Bethel. I will build an altar there to the God who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me everywhere I have gone.”
What a wonderful faith in a beautifully imperfect man. What is beautiful about it? It gives me great hope that I too, though incredibly imperfect, may walk with God the Father through Jesus Christ, experience HIM in an intimate, know HIM, love HIM, talk to HIM moment by moment, day by day!
God said, "Get up!" and Jacob obeyed. Jacob mingled what he knew about the character, attributes and will of God and he ACTED on that knowledge and what God told him to do...bottom line, he obeyed!
My favorite systematic theology is Wayne Grudem's, Systematic theology : An introduction to biblical doctrine. It is unlike any other I have read, it is well written and worshipful. In his work he make the following statement: "The authority of Scripture means that all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God."
That's pretty powerful stuff if you receive it...to disbelieve or disobey any word of scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God. I believe it is true! You will not experience intimacy with God if you are not walking in obedience to what HE has revealed to you.
John 14:21 Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them."
Man...Grudem was bad enough, now Jesus is saying that if you don't obey HIS revealed Word...you don't love HIM! What did Jesus say in Matthew 12:50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother." Basically, it is the one who obeys!
Bottom line, Jacob obeyed and then he intuitively knew to rid themselves of the idols and to purify themselves in preparation for their return to Bethel. Anything you and I love, serve, fear, desire, long for...more than God is an idol. It can be good stuff, it's not just the sinful things that are idols! Our spouse, children, job, car, home, money, reputation, appearance may all be idols that divide our heart. God will not share HIS glory with another!
So what does the man/woman look like that has a white hot intimate love relationship with Jesus. Amazingly, as our Lord would have it our Psalm for today paints this picture.
Psalm 15
A Description of the Godly
A Davidic psalm.
1 Lord, who can dwell in Your tent? Who can live on Your holy mountain?
2 The one who lives honestly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart —
3 who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor,
4 who despises the one rejected by the Lord, but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his word whatever the cost,
5 who does not lend his money at interest or take a bribe against the innocent — the one who does these things will never be moved.
I hope you did not read that and say "I can do that," no you can't. We are brought to desperation again and again, when we come to the end of ourselves then true life and joy begins.
Ps 27:5-6 For He will conceal me in His shelter in the day of adversity; He will hide me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high on a rock. 6 Then my head will be high above my enemies around me; I will offer sacrifices in His tent with shouts of joy. I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Ps 61:4 I will live in Your tent forever and take refuge under the shelter of Your wings. Selah
Mt 12:6-8 But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here! 7 If you had known what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
As we return to Bethel, Jesus says come, come to me...all who are weary come and I will give you rest. We do not return to a place, but to a PERSON! HE offers shelter in the day of adversity, HE offers cover, protection, rest, peace. Let's rid ourselves of idols moment by moment, day by day, fixing our eyes on JESUS and return to HIM and dwell, abide and rest at HIS feet, in HIS presence.
Father in heaven do this for YOUR namesake, for YOUR glory and for the JOY of YOUR adopted Children. In Jesus name, Amen!