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Bible Studies
By Adam Bartlett
Going up to Bethel
Genesis 35: 1-4
Vs. 1 - God spoke to Jacob and He also speaks to us and directs us to go to the place where we can meet with Him. Up to Bethel - Bethel means "House of God" - We are to enter into the Holy of Holies and meet with God. We are instructed to dwell there - we shouldn't just go to God in time of need but our desire should be to dwell in His presence.
The process of dwelling starts with building an altar. The altar is the place of sacrifice, where the sacrifice was offered up to God. The place where we must crucify the flesh and lay it before God and ask for Him to accept us and to give us the needed strength to overcome the flesh. The place where we die to ourselves and our desires and ask for God to place His purposes in our lives instead. The churches of today have made it hard to really understand what it means to go to the House of God and expect to meet Him there. There are too many programs and gimmicks and boards to go through. God is longing for us to "come up to Bethel" and meet with Him regularly. What is keeping you from it today? Don't wait for the church to get you there, it is a personal journey so take it today.
Vs. 2 - Three steps to meet before going up to God.
- Put away all other 'gods' - anything that comes between you and God
- Be clean - purity is a godly trait
- Change your garment - must put on Christ and His righteousness, your robe ( works and righteousness) are as filthy rags.
If Jacob knew of these gods why weren't they destroyed sooner? If you know of something in your life that is contrary to God's will you need to get rid of it now! Could the trouble in Chapter 34 have been avoided if this was done sooner?
Vs. 4 - Jacob hid them - they should have been destroyed, not hidden. Someone could come and find them later and it also allows them to come back and get them later knowing where they are. It is not a good idea to have that temptation there because the enemy will use it to cause you to fall. If he cannot get you to go back to it he will cause someone else to find it and entrap them. Don't hide your idols so they can resurface later, destroy them now.
Genesis
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