GO UP TO BETHEL
[p. 50] GO UP TO BETHEL
I did look forward to happy seasons with you here — seasons when something would be gained for our acquaintance in the eternal future, but it has been ordered otherwise, and because of the Lord, it cannot be without blessing.
It is very touching how the Lord waits on the afflicted one, and as He is recognised, how the heart is drawn out to Him. To Jacob (Genesis 28), bereaved and torn from his mother’s side for the first time, a lonely, houseless wanderer, with only a pillow of stone to rest on, instead of all the care that a devoted mother expended on him, the Lord appears in a vision, and introduces him to the house of God, the gate of heaven, and in company with the angels. Then Jacob’s heart is drawn out to God: thus true instincts are awakened; there he vows to the Lord, but he undergoes many trials and sufferings before he fulfils the self-same vows. He never fulfilled them until he came to Bethel in chapter 35. He had allowed many things to come in — family interests, and present advantages to interfere with his return to Bethel, where only he could fulfil and satisfy the divine desires that had been awakened in his soul. We are never thoroughly happy until we satisfy the divine desires that have been awakened in us. A bird never sings until it flies; its true instinct has not been fulfilled until it flies. To hop is not enough for a bird; in fact, it only hops to fly, and if a wing be wounded there is no singing — no true joy until there is recovery; the true instinct has been interrupted. I believe saints have sadly hindered themselves by not seeking to satisfy or comply with their divine instincts.
These instincts would make us at times appear very eccentric, but the Lord would vindicate us in the way He would satisfy the desire which He had awakened. Zacchaeus may have looked ridiculous to man climbing up a tree; he was ruled by his divine desire, and rewarded far and away beyond his expectations. The woman in Luke 7 would brave the reproaches of the Pharisee, and intrude [p. 51] into his house to see the One her heart clave to, and surely she was abundantly rewarded. But, like Jacob we go through many a trial and sorrow in order that we may give up and surrender everything, and be free to go to the spot where the heart can enjoy the Lord of whom it has tasted; like Caleb getting possession of the very land where he had gathered grapes 45 years before!
The word to us, as it was to Jacob, is, “Go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother” (Genesis 35: 1). That was about 40 years before. Let us gratify the divine instincts which the Lord has given us, cost what it may.
Truest love to you, and prayers for your progress and joy in Christ, and may you delight yourself in the Lord where your heart knows there is only true delight.