GENESIS 32 TO 35
In chapter 35 the house is marked by divine communications — God speaks there. After long wanderings, Jacob learns something of his own crooked character, and on returning from Padan-aram God meets him, and Jacob has his name changed: he is now Israel, for he has power with God and with man, and has prevailed. This new name involves the possession of the Spirit, for it is only by the Spirit that such a name can be maintained. Now Jacob is qualified for the house, but instead of going there, alas, he goes to Shechem. These chapters are intensely important as indicating the believer’s soul-history. Jacob had a crooked path: he had acquired much substance in the East, and on returning he would make a good show before Esau his brother: “I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and men-servants, and women-servants and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight”. Genesis 32:5. But all Jacob’s belongings having gone over the brook, he is left alone; God meets him, and Jacob is crippled. God was thinking of Jacob, not of his flocks. Jacob is crippled, but he is now a prince; you must be a prince in God’s account in order to have a place in His house. Nature can never qualify us for divine things. Discipline prepares us for a divinely given name, and by the power of the Spirit that name is practically set forth in us. Dignity marks the house of God.
Instead of going to Bethel after receiving his new name, Jacob, as we have said, went to Shechem, and here he gets into trouble and disgrace. Now God says to him, “Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there”. Genesis 35:1. Jacob responds, and now note: the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about him. It is remarkable that when a believer turns his face to the house, God is against his enemies.
[p. 301] When the divine command is given to go up to Bethel, Jacob commands that the idols be buried; he recognises the holiness of God’s house. At Bethel he rears up an altar to God, and calls it El-beth-el. He thus recognises, not only that God has a house, but also that God is paramount there, for his altar meant, “God of the house of God”.
In Genesis we have to take account of the house abstractedly; there was no real building. But it is noticeable that it is not connected with Abraham or Isaac, but with Jacob, and we do not get the building properly until we get to David. It is true that Moses constructed the tabernacle in the wilderness, but the thought of a permanent dwelling becomes effective in David, and it is noticeable that he speaks of building an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob, Psalm 132:4.
Jacob received the blessing in chapter 32; he had his name changed. In Christianity this involves the possession of the Spirit. The truth set forth in the brazen serpent corresponds with Jacob’s experience in Genesis 32. In Numbers 21 we read of princes digging the well. In chapter 35 we read again of God blessing Jacob; this is in connection with the house. Princes are men of power among God’s people; they make way for the activity of the Spirit. If there were more such amongst us there would be more refreshment for the saints.
Believers may have the Holy Spirit, and yet not go in for the full enjoyment involved in the house. Jacob did not go to Bethel at once after receiving the blessing, but, as we have said, went to Shechem, and indeed in Succoth he built himself a house. Under such conditions the believer may allow much that is of the nature of idolatry, as we see with Jacob here; but coming into the circle of the saints, where God dwells, we are ashamed of these things. Jacob buried all his idols under the oak at Shechem.
[p. 302] There are several burials in this chapter. We have been speaking of the burial of the idols, and then come to the burial of Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse. The nurse supposes dependence on the part of the one nursed. There is that which we may need individually, but which terminates at the threshold of the house. Mephibosheth’s nurse dropped him, and he became lame. David takes care of him.
It is most interesting to see how God reveals Himself to Jacob at Bethel as God Almighty. It is the answer to Jacob’s question in chapter 32. Jacob again definitely names the place Bethel.