Back to Bethel
Feb 01, 2026
Summary
Chapter 35 shows Jacob returning to a place of great personal significance to him. He has been there only once in his life, and that was well over 20 years ago. It used to be a place called “Luz,” which means “almond tree,” but he renamed it “Bethel,” which means “house of God” (28:19). It was here at Bethel that Jacob had his first encounter with God Almighty, and it was a powerful one indeed. Now God commands him to return to Bethel. As we’ll see, there’s a real sense that returning to Bethel was returning to God. https://efcspringlake.org/2023/02/08/back-to-bethel-genesis-351-15/
Detail
When God commands us to move then let us move. “Get up and leave Ur, Abram, and GO to the land I tell you.” “Go therefore and make disciples!” “Get up Paul, be baptized, wash your sins away, and then Go!” “Go, and leave your life of sin [woman caught in adultery].” God is constantly commanding us to get up and go. Get up and move to the cross of Jesus to receive God’s forgiveness. Get up from bitterness and move over to forgiveness. Get up from lust and move over to purity. Get up from anger and move over to patience. Get up from greed and move over to generosity. Get up from coveting and move over to contentment. Get up from self pity and move over to joy. Get up from fear and cowardice and move over to courage and “stoutheartedness.” Get up from judgmentalness and move over towards charity. Get up from slavery to your appetites and move over to self-control. Get up from self-centeredness and move over to concern for others. Get up from laziness and get to work. Get up from pleasing others and go over to pleasing God.
https://efcspringlake.org/2023/02/08/back-to-bethel-genesis-351-15/