Genesis 35: 7

"And he built there an altar and called the place El-Bethel because there God appeared

unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother."

El-Bethel means "God of the House of God"

There is a place in the Christian walk where we mature and develop a relationship with

God. A place where we move beyond knowing where God can be found, and realize

the place that we can dwell in His presence. A place that we long in our soul to be

constantly but the demands of life itself makes that extremely difficult.

Genesis 28: 16-19

Jacob started his spiritual journey here on his way to Laban's. He has a dream and

does not understand it completely. He only recognizes the fact that he did meet with

God here. He calls the place "Bethel" which means "House of God." He had found

the place to meet God but had failed to realize that it could have been a place to

'commune' with God. Jacob had just stolen the birthright and blessing from Esau and

was now fleeing for his life. The spiritual journey starts here for Jacob.

Genesis 32: 22-31

After 20 years of working for Laban who was just as cunning as he was Jacob

(reaping what he had sown) departs and moves further in his spiritual journey. Jacob

now recognizes the fact that he can commune with God and wrestles to stay in that

presence. Because of this desire for God's presence and blessing God changed his

name and blesses him. Jacob now realizes this relationship and calls the place "Peniel"

which means "the face of God."

Genesis 33: 17-20

Jacob now builds his house then erects an altar and calls it "El-Elohe-Israel" meaning

"God-the God of Israel" - Jacob now declares that God was his master and also

recognizing that he could not walk in his new name without God in control. There has

to come a time in your walk that this becomes a reality instead of just head knowledge.

Once it is a reality in mind and spirit then you will understand the things that Jacob was

able to realize at this point.

Genesis 35: 7

We now see the spiritual journey and the importance of why Jacob called the place "El-

Bethel." Jacob now knew the God and not just the place where He could be found.

Where are you in your spiritual journey? Do you know God or just the place where He

can be found? Many can go to church and never know the God of the place where

they worship.