relationships (Genesis 35:1-15) Be an Example and Lead the Way

(Genesis 35:1-15)  Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; 3 and 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 wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem.

5 As they journeyed, there was a great terror upon the cities which were around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. 7 He built an altar there, and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed Himself to him when he fled from his brother. 8 Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; it was named Allon-bacuth.

9 Then God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and He blessed him. 10 God said to him,

     “Your name is Jacob;
     You shall no longer be called Jacob,
     But Israel shall be your name.”

Thus He called him Israel. 11 God also said to him,

     “I am God Almighty;
     Be fruitful and multiply;
     A nation and a company of nations shall come from you,
     And kings shall come forth from you.
12 “The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac,
     I will give it to you,
     And I will give the land to your descendants after you.”

13 Then God went up from him in the place where He had spoken with him. 14 Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He had spoken with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. 15 So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Jacob finally stepped up and was the spiritual leader of his household!  God blessed his obedience, reminding him of the Abrahamic covenant.  And even after the blessing - because of the blessing - Jacob continued worshipping the Lord! 

This is what the role of a father should look like:  following God and His will, and humbly and lovingly setting an example in order to lead the way!  Even though a husband and wife are equal, and should work together as a team, the husband really needs to stand up for his family's welfare, with the support and encouragement of his wife.

If there is another god or religion in one's life, that has got to go completely!  And whatever "idol" (thing or person) that becomes more important than God will only distract and derail us.  God should be first in our lives, to be worshipped and obeyed. He alone is worthy!