Sunday, May 10, 2015

An Altar Call for Jacob

In Genesis 35 the Lord God commanded Jacob to go up to Bethel, settle down, and build an altar there. Jacob obeyed the command, and called the place "El Bethel".

Jacob had a relationship problem. He did not get along with Esau his twin brother. Even after shaking hands, he ended up telling a lie, that is, instead of going to Seir he went to Succoth and settled there, sending a message: "Esau, you live over there, minding your business, I live over here minding my business." Prior to this event he exhibited the same problem with his neighbor Laban, his relative. Laban was his father-in-law, from whom came his wives. Yet, he built a wall between him and Laban as if  sending a message, "Laban, you mind your business over there, I will mind my business over here." He had problems with his neighbors the townspeople at Succoth, for as he had a relationship problem Dinah had a problem, so she went out and got into trouble. Like father, his sons went out and gotten into trouble with neighbors - they butchered people in revenge, making it impossible for Jacob to continue to stay there.

We see this 'relationship' problem not only on an individual level but also on a nationwide, and certainly worldwide level. Esau used to be bent on killing Jacob, and Jacob used to flee from him. And the Scripture ways the hands of Ishmael will be against all, prompting all against those who are against all.

Is there a solution to the relationship problem? Genesis 35:1 offers the solution, that is, build an altar to the Lord. Altar is symbolic of dedication and consecration. There you lay down what you have been attached to or holding onto - people, money, and all else, that is that which is created, and devote yourself to God, so you would rise to God's level and live at His level. [The expression 'settle' there at Bethel means do not meander or deviate from there, so you  should always walk with God.]

People like Laban, Esau, people at Sukkot, are all limited, so they are not the objects of competition, but compassion from you. The Lord prayed that Jacob should leave the life that lives on man's level, and rise to and live on God's level, so that by being fully sufficient with God who alone is fully sufficient all the time he could live not as a competitor but a source of blessing for all peoples on earth.

Go up to Bethel and settle down there. Build an altar to me. Jacob then called that place El Bethel. El means God. Bethel means house of God. Bethel is not a physical location but a spiritual one, built inside of you.

After the worship at El Bethel, it appears that Jacob forgot the purpose of the altar call. So the Lord God had to appear to  him again and reminded him that his name should no longer be Jacob but Israel meaning 'the one who contends with God and men and has overcome."

This is the reminder of the purpose of the altar call, that is, the call to live on God's level, not on man's level, and purpose of this purpose is for God to use him as a source of blessing for all nations, just as is shown in his promise (given to him subsequent to the reminder), "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants." Gen 35:11




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