Bible Study Online Article
After Jacob's sons had put all the male Shechemites to the sword, and looted the city for all it had to offer, including the women and the children. Jacob had become fearful of a possible retaliation from the Canaanites and the Perizzites. It's not clear if Jacob had resigned himself to prayer, being that he was afraid and concern about the safety of his household. I would assume that he did, being that his past tendencies would suggest that he did. But nevertheless, God came to Jacob and gave him a message. "Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau." Now that's something? Do you see what God just did? He reminded Jacob of the vow that he had made to the Almighty back when he was running away from his brother Esau.
It would seem that Jacob had forgotten his vow that he had made to the one true God. So could it be that God had allowed Dinah to be defiled by Shechem because Jacob had settled in the wrong place? During that same night God had confirmed his covenant with Jacob. And he had promised to do it all on the land that Jacob was lying on at the time.
"All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (Genesis 28: 13-15) To is a reminder that God will allow distress times to come upon us in order to get us back on the right path. God wants nothing but the best for us, and sometimes He has to get our attention in order to do it. So Jacob went to his household and told everyone to get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and instructed them to purify themselves and change their clothing. For they were now going to Bethel and once they arrive they will build an altar unto the Almighty God. Jacob would bury the foreign gods and the rings they had in their ears and buried them under the oak that was by Shechem. Soon after, Jacob and his household would begin their journey to the land of Bethel. The one true God would be with Jacob and because of this, the terror of the Almighty had fallen upon all the towns that were around them. So therefore no one would pursue or try to bring harm to Jacob and his family. Jacob and his family would arrive at Bethel and without harm. He would build the altar and make a sacrifice to the one true God. The sacrifice probably was the tenth of the cattle that Jacob had also committed to the Master Creator. Jacob would call the place 'El Bethel'... which signifies - 'the God of the house.'
Start at: Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 56) Rachel the Thief 57) Jacob's Mistake 58) Laban's Pursuit 62) The Reconciliation of Jacob & Esau 63) Dinah the Daughter of Israel 65) <-CURRENT PAGE->  CrossDaily.com Web Search where you can VOTE FOR THIS SITE & other great ones. Christian search engine, directory & voting index. You'll find Bible, chat, churches, jobs, music, reviews, software, theology, & more. See the best sites!
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