Why the God of Bethel? Previously called Luz, Jacob changed it to Bethel. Genesis 28: 19 says he (Jacob) called the place Bethel; but the name of the city was Luz at the first. It was the place where Jacob encountered the angels in his sleep whilst escaping from his brother Esau after deceitfully obtaining Esau’s blessing from his father, Isaac with his mother’s connivance. Read from Genesis 28: 10-22.
Jacob was exhausted and finding no place to lay his head, took one of the stones of the place to rest his head on it, Genesis 28: 11. On this stone, Jacob had a dream that there was a ladder set up on the earth reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it, Genesis 28: 12. Aside from the angels, the LORD stood beside him with a firm promise to bless him and will also be with him, Genesis 28: 13, 15. God always provides where there is no hope of a provider. Abraham said in Genesis 22: 14, “The LORD will provide”. Let us believe that God will always be our unfailing hope.
When Jacob woke up, he called the place Bethel based on his encounter with God, Genesis 28: 19. Jacob rested his head on not an ordinary stone but Christ Jesus though he thought it was an ordinary stone. When we rest our thoughts and burdens on Jesus, he will surely give us rest. What burden or anxiety do we carry? Jesus said in Matthew 11: 28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Jesus said in Matthew 21: 42; Mark 12: 10; Luke 20: 17 the stone that the builders rejected has become the (chief) cornerstone. Read also Psalms 118: 22; Acts 4: 11; 1 Peter 2: 7.
What did Jacob see in God’s presence?
In Genesis 28: 16-17 when Jacob woke up from his sleep he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place–and I did not know it!” And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” First, Jacob experienced the Lord’s presence because he repented of his actions. With a repentant heart, we will encounter God. God is waiting to appear to us.
Most of us are still sleeping and dreaming. Proverbs 6: 4 said, give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber. Jacob woke up from his sleep and dream and took a step of faith towards God in appreciation of the dream. He did not wait to see what he saw in the dream before he confessed and praised God. We must also wake up and take a step of faith based on our dreams to glorify God. We cannot sleep and realize our dreams at the same time. Dreams are distinct from imaginations and hopes from the mind.
Jacob also confessed his dream and said the Lord is in this place. We must equally confess the Lord’s presence with us in faith. Jacob did not know God was at Bethel. We cannot confine God to a fixed location. If God is in our hearts, he will be wherever we may be. Jesus was quoted in Hebrews 13: 5, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” We must not be misled by ignorance but must be led by the Spirit of God. When Jacob was led by the Holy Spirit, he confessed to his ignorance. We must in truth confess to our ignorance about God so he will graciously restore our full knowledge in him.
Jacob said, how awesome is this place! God’s presence is surely awesome and peaceful beyond words to describe it. When Peter, James and John experienced God’s awesome presence at the transfiguration they said in Matthew 17: 4; Mark 9: 5; Luke 9: 33, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” No one who has tasted the awesome presence of the Lord wants to go back. If God’s presence is in our hearts, we will never go back to our old ways of life. Is God’s presence with us?
Jacob said that this is none other than the house of God. Jacob meant to say that there is relief in the house of God. He also said the house of God is the gate of heaven. The true God’s house brings indescribable relief to not only our bodies but especially our souls. 2Corinthians 3: 17 said, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. God makes his first choice of dwelling in our hearts so he would bring us liberty or release or relief. Jesus is quoted in Revelation 3: 20, Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. Jesus knows our restless souls from the heart and wants to help. Will we let him in?
Our hearts are the gateway to heaven for each of us. Based on the content or character of our hearts, we may qualify or not qualify for heaven. Judgment will be based on our hearts. David said in Psalms 66: 18, if I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. So for David to be heard by God, he said in Psalms 119: 11, I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you. Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 3: 5, may the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. James 4: 8 says purify your hearts. James 5: 8 says strengthen your hearts. No matter the places of worship we visit, if our hearts are not right before God, we deceive ourselves.
We may not believe in the existence of heaven but Jacob confirms its existence as a spiritual world. 1 Kings 8: 30 said, O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive. Read also verse 39, 43; 2 Chronicles 6: 21, 33. The angels said in Luke 2: 14 said, “Glory to God in the highest heaven”. At Jesus’ baptism, Luke 3: 22 said, and a voice came from heaven. Jesus also said in Luke 6: 23, rejoice in the day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven. When Jesus broke bread, he looked up to heaven, Luke 9: 16. Jesus said in John 14: 3, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. Stephen saw heaven in Acts 7: 55. The bible has countless references to heaven. Heaven is real. Will we go to heaven when we die?
Jacob’s memorial for God
Following Jacob’s experience, he set up a memorial for God. In Genesis 28: 18-20, Jacob set up a pillar with the stone as a reminder and called the place Bethel with a vow, saying (a) the pillar shall be God’s house; (b) and of all that you give me I will give one tenth to you.” Our best memorial for God’s goodness to us is a thankful heart, a humble heart of obedience, and a faithful heart to Jesus Christ.
Out of Jacob’s free will, he promised a tenth out of what God will give him. What have we volunteered for the Lord out of his bountiful grace, mercy, love, protection, health, life, loved ones, providence and all we have? Jesus commended the poor widow for giving all she had to the Lord, Mark 12: 44. The widow of Zarephath did equally, 1 Kings 17: 9-24. We must not promise God what we cannot keep, Numbers 23: 19. We must let God’s truth be our memorial and pledge. We must resist Rebekah’s sin of greed and deceit, Genesis 28: 13. We must allow the Holy Spirit to lead the way to Bethel.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, in truth our sins of greed and deceit will not help us but give us restlessness. We need your awesome presence to rest in our hearts. Restore the sight of our souls to behold the beauty of your dwelling. Give us the grace never to depart from your awesome presence. Lift our burdens from us for we cast them unto your care. Blessed Jesus, thank you for your presence with us always and for answering our prayers in your holy name, Amen!!
