Preparing for Change

Preparing for Change

Genesis 35: 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.

 

============

 

Jacob was told to go to Bethel, the place where GOD showed him a great ladder where angels were descending and ascending. Over the years, Jacob picked up many people as servants, who had varying beliefs. He told everyone, including Rachel, to get rid of the foreign gods.

 

My Observations:

• Jacob had finally placed all of his trust in the LORD.
• Jacob saw the power of GOD’s protection in the past and did not want to do anything to upset the balance.
• Jacob finally saw value in purifying, getting rid of foreign gods and cleaning up to see GOD.

 

As if to say “You can’t just show up any old way,” Jacob told everyone to prepare to meet GOD. He did not want a single person to show any kind of opposition to GOD. He had been in distress before and was facing a larger problem.

 

He ran from one person before. He ran from Esau and ran from Laban, but this time he could not run from a reputation of being a murderer and a thief of an entire city. This label would need GOD’s intervention. He prepared his group to be as reverent, outwardly, as possible.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about Jacob’s instructions to his entire household?
• What preparation have you done to turn to GOD?
• Is this a time that you should purify yourself to hear GOD’s pending instructions for your next steps?