Bibledoorajar Applauds Jacob's Response

     We have been following the progress Jacob the man made to becoming Israel the Prince. On our last visit, we remarked on his humiliation following the violation of his daughter Dinah. What conviction of heart did Jacob feel as he dealt with the events surrounding the violation of Dinah? Just how humiliated did this father feel at the city gate following these terrible events?  It is clear to me that Jacob inventoried his life and its' most recent happenings and that his life status and that of his family came up wanting. He must have been convicted that his bringing his family to Shechem had led to serious reversals in their walk with God. And so Jacob is to be commended for 1) burying all the family idols at Shechem and 2) returning to Bethel in the midst of his sorrows. Luz (light): Bethel (House of God) was seen as the greater need now.
     As we approach the Day of Thanks, it would behoove us all to look at our most recent responses in life. Are we living at a place that has drawn us closer to Him? Have we given our sorrows to Him as He gave His for us? Think of those early pilgrims who chose to honor God with a harvest feast after a serious drought broke. The drought may have brought concerns and even sorrows, but God was faithful to the small group. May we find Luz and the House of God ever to be the place for us. Happy Thanksgiving!

Bibledoorajar: "Arise and Go to Your Bethel"

     How much can we identify with the spiritual ups and downs of Jacob? God had changed his name to Israel, Prince of God, but on so many occasions he remained Jacob- his flesh showing forth. Now, we find him a property owner in a idol oriented town. When newly married Rachel wanted to take her idol with her as they left her father's house, she had to hide it in her belongings. Now, idols are commonplace in the family's experience because Jacob planted his family in Shechem amid worldly and ungodly people. Jacob's experience with God was not that of his children and when his only daughter sought her own experiences she did so in the ungodly place of Jacob's choosing. The results were not pretty; lowering standards of living never are. Each of us can speak of the results of these types of life altering decisions in our own lives and in the lives of those we know and love.
     But at least, here is a good thing. After the sad affair with Dinah and the murder of her predators by her brothers, Jacob says to his family: "Let us arise, and go up to Bethel". God propels Jacob to regain lost spiritual ground. His family is still the source of future spiritual realities and must move toward that reality. God has a way of bringing his children back to the need we have to spend time in Bethel, the house of God. We are stirred to challenge the coarseness and the dryness we have allowed to enter our hearts. We realize our witness among others has waned. The apostle Paul spoke often of our need to follow God's leading as we confront the flesh. To return to our most blessed spiritual places is to renew us in a way that only the Holy Spirit can. To return to our "Bethels"  places us amid worship and fellowship of a more glorious kind. There we will be renewed and rekindled. When Jacob used the word "arise" it carried with it intent and purpose. How badly do you need to return to your Bethel? How motivated are you to "arise" and do so? May we all listen to the stirrings of the Spirit and respond accordingly so that our witness can remain strong and true. Amen.

Bibledoorajar looks at two women at Shechem

      Jacob left Esau and came to Shechem a crossroads in the area. Its' location made traverse for trade easier and it also had plenty of water. These and other factors probably entered into Jacob's decision to buy land and live there. Even if God had intended for Jacob to stay in Shechem it would have not been for the length of time that he did so. Abraham did not tarry there very long at all for God had him on a path to Canaan where much greater destinies would play out. This was also true of Jacob whose name had been changed to Israel, Prince of God. But Jacob stopped the process,  paid for land, erected tents and dug a well. Surely Jacob had no idea that a terrible thing would happen to his only daughter there. Nor did he realize the action two of his sons would take after the event. You can read the story for yourselves in Genesis 34; it details a terrible ending for a girl who just went out to visit some of the local women.
     Years later Christ himself sat on the edge of the well Jacob had dug and taught a Samaritan woman. John 4:6 speaks of it. In Genesis the well is all about sin and judgement, but in John it is all about sin and redemption. The destiny of Israel to bring forth a Messiah is found playing out at Jacob's well.



"You've heard of Messiah, well I am the One,
I am called Jesus, God's only Son,
It's to people like you my Father sent me,
Drink from My cup, I'll set you free."

I rushed from the well and ran into town,
I called for the people to gather around,
"There's a man at the well who says Messiah has come,
He told me my life, every thing I had done."

I went to the well a woman in sin,
When I left that well I had Jesus within,
The curse on my lips had been changed into praise,
I'll never more thirst the rest of my days.

That Man at the well, His praises I'll sing,
I drank of the water, new life it did bring,
My life which was empty is now full and free,
Because of that water God's Son gave to me.

Portion of The Woman at the Well by Edward Potts

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Bibledoorajar Emphasizes Worship

     We said last week that Jacob was in many ways still the Jacob with whom we started our journey. But in many ways he is not the same man. After his wonderful redemptive encounter with his brother, he built an altar. He may not have reached perfection, but he definitely had met God in the encounter with Esau and he knew it. His declaration about God at the altar speaks much of his increased relationship with God and his reverence for Him. God was Jacob's God and Jacob was on his way to becoming a mature son of God. I believe that building this altar may have been the most mature thing Jacob had done to date. An altar that declared that God was God and that he was the God of Israel. You know people can come up with bad ideas about the supremacy of our Father. Remember Peter's attempt to help?
     "Peter said to Jesus, 'It's good that we're here, Lord.
       I'll put up three shelters if you want---one for you, one for Moses
       and one for Elijah. (Matthew 17:4). "
    It was great that Peter wanted to help on the occasion, but he totally missed the importance of being in the presence of his glorified Lord. Of all the interesting stories about Moses and Elijah and their service to God, none outstrips the "old story of Jesus and His love". For the Jew, it was Shema first--Listen, the Lord thy God is One...For Peter, God spoke just as loudly..."This is my Son, whom I love...listen to Him. The fallibility of Jacob and that of Peter, gives me hope for the rest of us. Their human difficulties encourage me to go on in the hope of the Lord. Lord, I'm at the altar, help me to listen! Help me to praise Your Son above all other and help me to listen to the One who it is that dwells in me. Amen.