Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Simeon and Levi had done terrible things:

a. They had murdered

b. They had stolen

c. They had enslaved

2. The family was now in obvious danger

a. There were other tribes living in Canaan

b. They would have heard about the massacre of the Hivites

c. These deeds of Simeon and Levi were wicked and cruel

d. They were uncalled for!

THE GREAT MERCY OF GOD

Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”

Genesis 35:1

1. God’s word of instruction to Jacob

a) This was necessary

b) This was clear and specific

2. Go to Bethel

a) This was where God first appeared to him Genesis 28

i) Returning to the Commencement of faith in God

ii) This represented a returning to the LORD

b. Dwell there

i) There is much wisdom to be found in these words

ii) There wasn’t any other place that was safe for Jacob at this point of time

c) Make an altar to God

i) Jacob must pay more attention to things spiritual

ii) He had not cultivated his faith-relationship with God much

ADDRESSING THE FAMILY

2 And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.
3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.”
4 So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree which was by Shechem.

Genesis 35:2-4

1. Idolatry had crept into Jacob’s family

a) But Jacob had not dealt with this problem

b) He now realised that he could not set this problem aside easily

i) Idols were to be put away

ii) Purification was needed

iii) Change of garments would reflect sincerity of the heart

2. Plans shared with the family

a) To return to Bethel

b) To return to following the LORD

3. Response of the sons of Jacob

a) They yielded their idols to Jacob

b) They gave up their earrings too

c) This was symbolic of the influence that the sons of Jacob were under

4. Jacob’s burying of the idols

a) They were best buried

b) These should not have been in their possession in the first place

THE PROTECTION OF THE LORD

1. The journey to Bethel

a) This was a long journey

b) They would be vulnerable en route

2. The protection of the LORD

a) God caused the hearts of the Canaanites to feel fear

b) Nobody attacked Jacob and his family

3. Reaching Bethel

a) Jacob and family reached Bethel safely

b) Jacob obeyed the LORD

i) He built an altar to Him

ii) He renamed the place “El Bethel”

c) The first appearance of God was remembered Genesis 35:7

i) It was not meant to be forgotten

ii) Every effort must be made to strengthen faith in the Lord

CONCLUSION

1. Deadly Influence of the world

a) Idolatry

b) Worldly ideas

c) Greed

2. Putting away sinful things

a) This was necessary

b) Problems cannot go unaddressed

3. Purification

a) This was needed

b) Returning to spiritual roots was of great importance