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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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Genesis 35:2–3
“So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, ‘Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone’”
Well, we’ve moved on – over 20 years since yesterday.
Jacob has moved in with Laban. Served him for seven years for his daughter, Rachel, and been conned into marrying Leah first. Then served seven years for Rachel and over six years for the flocks and herds. He then became very rich and prosperous. So much so that he was a threat to Laban. And so he collected his family, four wives, eleven sons and daughter, and departed secretly.
Laban eventually caught up and after a ‘wide-ranging discussion’, they made a covenant and went their separate ways. The challenges for Jacob were not over yet. He still had to face Esau.
However, the day before he faced Esau, he met God. He started wrestling and was obviously doing so well that ‘the Man’ had to dislocate his hip in order to win. Cheating – I call it.
The ‘Man’ changed his name from Jacob (grasping deceiver) to Israel (he struggles with God), and it seems that ever after the Israelites have ‘struggled with God’ – living up to their name.
Jacob was very fearful of Esau and so sent a barrage of gifts on in front to pacify him. God had, however, already dealt with Esau’s murderous intents. He was as keen as Jacob to be reconciled. Esau was more than pacified – he was amused – but accepted the gifts anyway. Esau went back home and left Jacob to settle in Shechem in Canaan.
Later, we see that deceit was ‘in the family line’ when Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, sought and killed those involved with their sister, Dinah’s rape, under the cover of having them circumcised.
God called Jacob back to Bethel. However, before he returned, he realised that it was holy ground to which he had been invited, and as we’ve seen before, Jacob recognised the holy.
He knew the family had foreign gods in their possession, so he told them to get rid of them and bury them. Then to purify themselves before they went up to the house of the Lord. (Just maybe, it is good to have a check-up & put on our ‘Sunday best’ before we go to Church.)
Here is the repeat of yesterday’s encounter. God has proved totally trustworthy to the promises He gave over 20 years ago. He restates the promises and His covenant to Jacob. He also reminds him of his name-change.
God, I believe, expects us to change when we meet Him and after we’ve been in His presence and heard His voice. We cannot go on as we were – we have ‘touched’ the Divine and lived – how can we stay the same?
Before we come into the Presence of God for a life-changing experience, it is important that we get rid of all our “foreign gods” first. What “foreign gods” do you need to get rid of before you can have the meeting with God that you need and He longs for?
Today, God is speaking to you by His Holy Spirit – how do you respond? God’s promises and covenants are eternal. All the promises of God are ‘yes’ and ‘amen’ in Christ Jesus for YOU (2 Corinthians 1:20).
How are you going to say “thank you” today?
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