The House of the Lord

• 1^st – Back to bethel… vs. 1-7 (4 points)
  • 1^st – Four commands… vs. 1
    • Arise – Go – Dwell – Make an altar – all in the imperative…
      • It was time to leave Shechem – and fulfill a promise God had made to Jacob!
      • 20 years earlier – when Jacob was running for his life from Esau – Genesis 28:12
      • He spent the night at a place called Bethel – there God met him in a dream…
      • He saw a ladder to heaven (Jesus) with the Angels going up and down – John 1:51
    • There God made him a promise – four things…
      • Bring him back to the land / give him the Promised Land / Many descendants…
      • Through his seed (Jesus) all the nations would be blessed – Galatians 3:16
      • Why did it take 20 years to bring Jacob back to the Land – Jacob had a lot to learn!
      • God has a plan an amazing plan for our lives – every one of us…
      • More often than not our challenge is waiting on the Lord for Him to do that work…
      • We tend to think in terms of minutes or hours – God in terms of months or years…
      • Before God can do a work through us – first He does a work in us!
  • 2^nd – Leading the family… vs. 2-4
    • Put away (hiphil / imperative) your strange gods…
      • By doing so they would purify (hiphil / imperative) themselves…
      • They were to even change clothing (hiphil / imperative) – to prepare themselves…
      • To ARISE / GO (cohortative) to Bethel – to meet the God who had answered Jacob!
      • The COHORTATIVE adds emphasis – Jacob REALLY wanted to go to Bethel!
    • The family gave Jacob their idols – the ones that were in their hands!
      • They were not hiding their false worship from Jacob – it was in the open…
      • Rachel had even stolen the idols of Laban – and lied that she had them!
      • The family of Jacob had NOT been following or worshiping the Lord…
      • For too many years Jacob had been indifferent about the spiritual health of his family…
      • No LONGER – it was time to step up and be the example God called him to be!
      • The movies that are being watched – the video games that are being played…
      • It is so easy to justify the action of our kids – be indifferent about their actions!
      • Too often fathers forget they are to be the spiritual leaders of their homes…
      • It is the example of the father that the family follows…
      • If the father is not interested in following Jesus – his family will follow!
      • Dads have the responsibility – obligation – to teach their kids about Jesus…
      • To lead their family – their wives – to Jesus by their example!
      • Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers… bring [your children] up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
    • They also gave Jacob their earrings…
      • This is not a condemnation to jewelry – it is talking about devotion…
      • It was a common custom of the day to wear a ring as a sign of bondage…
      • A doulos – slave – wore a ring in his ear – Deuteronomy 15:15-17
      • The idea is they were in bondage to their idols – slaves to their sin – Romans 6:16
      • If we are living for the things of this world – money / pleasure / fame…
      • If we think money – possessions are all that matter – we will do anything to get them…
      • We are a slave to those things – and we will show it by how we act (earring) …
      • If we are a slave to this world – then we are not following the Lord…
      • But if we choose to be a slave to the Lord – then we are freed from the sin of this world!
      • Romans 6:18 – “Having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”
    • Jacob buried the idols / earrings – under the Terebinth tree in Shechem…
      • They took their sin – their false idols and slavery – and buried them under the tree…
      • The tree here is a picture of the Cross of Jesus!
      • They left all their sin – their bondage to the world – at the Cross!
      • Colossians 2:14 – “[Jesus] canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” [NLT]
      • The answer to our sin – our bondage – NAIL it to the cross! 
      • The only way to change – the only way to be truly free – is to give it all to Jesus…
      • The world is in bondage to stuff – to sin – to the lusts of this world…
      • But Jesus came to set us free from the bondage of sin – John 8:36
      • He purifies us – I John 1:9 – and gives us robes of righteousness – Revelation 3:5
  • 3^rd – The terror of God was upon the cities all around… vs. 5
    • Jacob feared retaliation for Levi and Simeon – wiping out the men of Shechem…
    • And we might mistakenly assume – Jacob was fleeing from Shechem out of fear…
    • But his motivation was not to run from something – he was running towards God…
    • And as he led his family to worship the Lord – he was also protected by the Lord!
    • And when God is the one protecting us – let us just say we have the advantage…
    • God sent hail to wipe out the armies fighting Israel – Joshua 10:11
    • God sent an angel to wipe out 185k man Assyrian army – Isaiah 37:36
    • Romans 8:31 – “[Since] God is for us, who can be against us.”
  • 4^th – Then Jacob came to Bethel… vs. 6-7
    • Bethel – house of God / also called Luz – almond tree…
      • There he built an alter to the Lord – EL Bethel [אֵל בֵּֽית־אֵל]- God of the House of God…
      • But It was not the place that was important – God does not dwell in a house…
      • Acts 7:48 – “The Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands…”
    • It was because Jacob had dedicated HIS house to the Lord…
      • Where he was BECAME – the HOUSE of the Lord!
      • When a Dad dedicates his house to the Lord – it becomes the House of the Lord…
      • A house where the mom and the kids worship and follow the Lord…
      • A place where there is not fear or worry – because they know the Lord!
• 2^nd – The death of Deborah… vs. 8
  • 1^st – Deborah the nurse of Rebekah died there in Bethel…
    • Deborah is only mentioned in one other place in the Bible – Genesis 24:59 
    • No doubt she had helped raise Jacob – her death marked the loss of dear friend!
  • 2^nd – How Deborah ended up in with Jacob…
    • We have no record of the death of Rebekah in the Bible…
    • Hebrew commentaries – Talmud (study) / Mishna (repeated study) / and Midrash (exposition)
    • But according to the Midrash (exposition) tells us Rebekah was actually with Deborah…
    • The names of the Oak where Deborah was buried was called – Allon Bachuth [אַלּוֹן בָּכֽוּת] …
    • The Oak of Weeping (plural) – suggesting perhaps more than one person died!
    • I Thessalonians 4:13 – “I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.”
    • But as believers we never say goodbye – because we have HOPE…
    • When we are leave this body – IMMEDIATLEY we are in the presence of the Lord!
    • When we take our last breath here on earth – we will open our eyes and see Jesus!
    • II Corinthians 5:8 – “To be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”
  • 3^rd – Buried under the Allon tree…
    • The reason for the different kinds of trees – Allon or Terebinth (oak) / Luz (almond) …
    • The purpose was likely just directions – there were no street signs…
    • Much like if you were trying to tell someone how to get to Silay…
    • You would use major LANDMARKS to direct them to a particular location!

• 3^rd – Reconfirming the covenant… vs. 9-15
  • 1^st – God met with Jacob AGAIN at Bethel… vs. 9
    • The first time God met with Jacob He promised to be WITH him – Genesis 28:15
    • But this time as God met him – He blessed (piel – intensive) Jacob…
    • This intensive blessing came in two ways – personal / prophetic!
  • 2^nd – Personal blessing… vs. 10
    • At the Brook Jabbok – Jacob had wrestled with God – Genesis 32:34
    • THE MAN had asked his name – Jacob – dirty / sneaky / thief – heal catcher!
    • You name is NOT (niphal – passive) Jacob – but ISRAEL – Governed by God!
    • Here at Bethel God reconfirms that name!
    • When we believe in Jesus – we become new creations in Christ – II Corinthians 5:7
    • Along with that new nature – comes a new name!
    • Revelation 2:17 – “I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name…”
  • 3^rd – Prophetic blessing… vs. 11-12
    • I am El Shaddai [אֵל שַׁדַּי] – the exact same title God gave to Abraham – Genesis 17:1
      • God makes clear in His title that nothing is impossible for Him…
      • He is about to reconfirm promises to Jacob that are impossible…
      • But that is not a problem because he is the God of the impossible!
      • There is no circumstance to difficult – or problem to overwhelming for God…
      • He turns sinners into saints – the week into the mighty – the lowly into the great…
      • The only thing that limits God – is us WAITING on and TRUSTING in him!
    • Be fruitful (imperative) and multiply…
      • A nation (Israel) and many nations and kings will come from you…
      • The Land promised to Abraham – Isaac – was now promised to Israel!
      • To him and to his descendants (SEED / singular) after him!
      • Then God went up from that place where he had talked (piel) with Israel!
        
  • 4^th – Building an altar… vs. 13-14
    • The first time God met with Jacob – he tried to make a DEAL…
    • He set up a pillar – and made a VOW – to give 10% back to the Lord – Genesis 28:22
    • It had been 20 years – and Jacob was a different man – he was now Israel…
    • This time he said NOTHING – instead he just worshiped the Lord – drink offering!
    • II Timothy 4:6 – “I am already being poured out as a drink offering…”
    • He now understood what God had wanted all along – God just wanted Him!
    • And he named the place – AGAIN – Bethel the House of God!
    • God was never looking to see what we could do for Him – give to Him…
    • He does not care about our money – or how much WORK we do for His kingdom…
    • He was always after just one thing – US – He wants to have a relationship with us!
    • When we finally realize that simple truth – we also get to come into Bethel – the house of God!

• 4^th – The death of Rachel… 16-26
  • 1^st – The Birth of Benjamin… vs. 16-20
    • Not far from Bethel – close to Bethlehem (house of bread) – Rachel went into labor…
      • The midwife tried to comfort her – you are going to have a son…
      • The labor was so severe (piel) she did not survive – before she died – she named her son…
      • Ben-Oni (son of my sorrow) but Jacob renamed him Benjamin (son of my right hand) …
      • And set a pillar on her grave – which is the pillar (memorial) of Rachel to this day!
    • The one thing Rachel wanted more than anything else – became her sorrow!
      • Too often we strive our whole life to get what we think will make us happy…
      • Only to find out when we get it – that it is empty – leaving us broken – sad…
      • Money – fame – power – all comes with great promises – but empty results…
      • Like King Solomon – they leave us simply chasing after the wind!
    • Bethlehem was also called Ephrath…
      • Ephrath – 7x in OT as a place – meaning ASH heap – or a place of fruitfulness…
      • It was indeed a place of sorrow – ASHES – Jacob lost the love of his life…
      • But it would also be the place where the Messiah would be born – Micah 5:2
      • So often when people realize the foolishness of chasing after this world…
      • They beat themselves up – because they feel like they have wasted their life…
      • But whatever it takes to come to THE realization life is all about knowing Jesus…
      • Is never a waste – it is the where God brings beauty from ASHES!
      • Isaiah 61:3 – “Give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning…”
  • 2^nd – Reuben and Bilhah… vs. 21-22
    • Israel traveled form Bethlehem to the nearby tower of Eder (sheep) …
      • While there – Reuben had an affair with Bilhah – the wife of Jacob…
      • Jacob had given his house to the Lord – but Reuben had many years of a bad example!
      • If the example our kids saw for years was one that did not honor God…
      • Even if we turn to the Lord – and in the end dedicate our house to follow God…
      • Then there is always a chance they will follow the first example!
    • Israel heard about the affair…
      • Note the change in name to Israel – the Bible goes back and forth…
      • After the change in name – Genesis 32 – Jacob 72x / Israel 41x
      • But Israel did nothing – he just ignored the affair – which is UNFORTUNATE…
      • Should Israel have done something – YES – but why here and not with Dinah…
      • With Dinah it was a matter of forgiving an unbeliever – this is confronting sin in a believer!
      • I Corinthians 5:1 – “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you… that a man has his father’s wife. I indeed… have already judged… deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
    • For the sake of the person who is caught up in the sin…
      • We learned as a child not to touch a flame because when we did we got burned!
      • It is the consequences of our actions that teach us…
      • Better to face consequences now – and learn not to sin…
      • Than to live in sin – never have anyone correct us – then end up in hell!
    • For the sake of the whole church…
      • When sin goes unchecked it encourages others to sin…
      • Just as a LITTLE mud can quickly contaminate – make all the water unclean…
      • A little sin can quickly spread out and infect a whole family or church!
      • I Corinthians 5:6 – “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?”
  • 3^rd – The Nation of Israel… vs. 23-26
    • With the last of sons of Israel born – Benjamin – the nation of Israel was complete!
    • The twelve sons were destined to become the 12 tribes!

• 5^th – The death of Isaac… vs. 27-29
  • 1^st – Jacob came to Mamre near… vs. 27
    • Kirjath Arba – the City of Four – later known for its giants…
    • Arba was the father of Anak – the giants of Canaan – Joshua 21:11
    • Called Hebron – also called the Terabinth trees of Mamre – Genesis 13:18
    • Where Abraham met with God before Sodom and Gomorrah – Genesis 18:1
    • Also where Abraham and Sarah were buried – Genesis 23:19 / 25:9
  • 2^nd – Isaac had moved there from Beersheba…
    • Isaac lived to be the ripe old age of 180… vs. 28-29
      • The last time we saw Isaac he was 100 years old – Genesis 27:1
      • He was blind and assumed he would die soon – yet he had another 80 years to go!
      • We never know how many years – or months / days – God has given to us…
      • We should ALWAYS live our lives like we will see Jesus today…
      • But be wise and plan our lives as though God had given us many years!
    • He died – there are two words used here to describe the death of Isaac…
      • Breathed his last – [גָּוַע] – meaning to give up the breath of life (spirit leaving the body) …
      • Died (sequential) – [מוּת] – emphasizing the death of his physical body (not spirit) … 
      • He was buried by Abraham and Sarah – along with Rebekah – Genesis 49:31
      • Isaac – like Abraham before him – had no people in the land of Canaan…
      • Yet we are told he was gathered to his people – not on EARTH…
      • Gathered to his people refers to – Abraham going to be with other BELIEVERS!
      • OT men were saved by faith – looking forward to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross…
      • Today we are saved by faith – looking backwards at the sacrifice of Jesus…
      • It has always been – and still is – by FAITH in Jesus that we receive the promise!

• 6^th – The history of Esau… vs. 1-9
  • 1^st – The wives of Esau… vs. 1-5
    • There is a problem with the list we are given of the wives of Esau…
    • According to Genesis 26/28 – Judith (Beeri) / Basemath (Elon) / Mahalath (Ishmael)
    • According to this account – Aholibamah (Anah) / Adah (Elon) / Basemath (Ishmael)
    • There are three common solutions to the is apparent contradiction…
    • SIX wives – the two lists are unique with SIX different women (2 sets of sisters) …
    • FOUR wives – as there are only FOUR fathers mentioned (some wives had 2 names) …
    • THREE wives – the lists are identical – but all THREE women (and one father) had 2 names…
    • Having more than one name was a common practice – much as it is today!
  • 2^nd – The land of Esau… vs. 6-9
    • Esau took all of his wives / children / and possessions and went to a FAR country…
    • Because between him and Jacob – their possessions were too much for the land to support…
    • So he relocated to the south – near the Red Sea – in Mount Seir (harry) in Edom (red)!
    • The question should be asked – why Esau moved and NOT Jacob…
    • After all Esau had been there for 40 years – while Jacob was in Haran!
    • Because Esau did NOT care about the Land – he did NOT care about the PROMISE of God!
    • Hebrews 12:16 – “Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau. He traded his birthright as the oldest son for a single meal…”
    • It is not hard to see where our priorities lie – just look where we spend our time…
    • If we only focus on the world – like Esau – we will miss the blessing of Jesus…
    • Missing out on the riches of heaven for the sake of this world!

• 7^th – The Genealogy of Esau… vs. 10-43
  • 1^st – Who wrote the genealogy…
    • Likely when Esau and Jacob buried Isaac – they caught up on kids and grandkids…
    • They were both 120 years old at this time…
    • Enough time for Esau to not only have 5 sons – but also 10 grandsons!
    • Jacob who likely first wrote the section from Genesis 25:19 – Genesis 37:1
    • Here included the genealogy of his brother Esau!
  • 2^nd – The FIVE Sons and TEN Grandsons of Esau… vs. 10-19
    • The one son of Adah – Eliphaz – whose name means my God is GOLD…
      • And SIX grandsons – Teman / Omar / Zepho / Gatam / Kenaz / Amalek…
      • The one son of Basemath – Reuel – whose name means friend of God…
      • And FOUR grandsons – Nahath / Zerah / Shammah / and Mizzah…
      • Finally the THREE sons of Aholibamah – Jeush – Jaalam – Korah!
    • The CHIEFS of the sons of Esau…
      • CHIEF – [אַלּוּפֵי] – used to describe a leader or the head of a family…
      • All of the grandsons of Esau became leaders in their own rights – heads of families…
      • NOTE – Korah is mentioned twice – once as the son of Eliphaz…
      • This is a textual error in the Masoretic text – not found in other Hebrew texts!
    • Among the list there is one grandson of Esau we want to bring attention to…
      • The son of Eliphaz (by his concubine Timna) was Amalek…
      • Timna means RESTRAINED – so she might have been an unwilling captive of Eliphaz…
      • Amalek was the father of the Amalekite people – who hated the Jewish…
      • The Amalekites tried to keep Israel from Mount Sanai – hear form God – Exodus 17:8
      • King Saul was told to kill ALL Amalekites – but disobeyed – I Samuel 15:2
      • And years later it was an Amalekite who killed him – II Samuel 1:8-12
      • Many years later an Amalekite – Haman – tried to wipe out all Jews – Ester 3:12-13
      • In the Bible Amalek becomes a picture of our sinful nature – our flesh…
      • Our sinful nature that wants to keep us from hearing the Word…
      • The only solution to our sinful nature – it to wipe it out – Galatians 2:20
      • If we do not – then it can come back and destroy our walk with Jesus!
  • 3^rd – The Sons and Grandsons of Seir… vs. 20-30
    • The Horites (cave dweller) already dwelt in Mount Seir before Esau arrived…
      • We first read of them when Chedorlaomer (Babylon) conquered them – Genesis 14:6
      • We do not know who Seir was descended from – we assume Ham – Canaanite tribe!
    • Seir had SEVEN sons – all of whom were also CHEIFS…
      • Those SEVEN sons – had a total of NINETEEN sons (grandchildren of Seir) …
      • When Esau arrived – he was able to conquer them – and take their land!
      • Deuteronomy 2:12 – “The Horites formerly dwelt in Seir, but the descendants of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them… and dwelt in their place.”
    • Esau did not wipe them out – they intermarried with them…
      • The concubine of Eliphaz – Timna – was the granddaughter of Seir – Genesis 36:22
      • Even Aholibamah – one of the wives of Esau – was a granddaughter of Seir – Genesis 36:25
      • So Esau and his decedents intermarried with another godless people…
      • As a result Esau – the son of Isaac – the son of the promise – became a worldly nation!
      • If we do not like what we see in our children – look in the mirror…
      • Our kids are a reflection of us – they follow in our footsteps!
      • They are going to grow up to be just like – for good or for bad!
  • 4^th – The Kings of Edom… vs. 31-39
    • We are given a list of EIGHT kings who ruled over Edom…
      • This could not have been written by Jacob (as the Genealogies likely were)
      • Thought to have been perhaps added by Moses at the time of the writing of the Law…
      • Not all were Kings at once – thought to be a list of Kings from the time of Jacob to Moses…
      • It was not a dynasty (like King David) – new King – new family!
    • These kings ruled BEFORE there were kings in Israel…
      • Perhaps added to emphasize that Israel did not have a man as their king…
      • Israel was a Theocracy – they were governed by God
      • Showing the contrast – the godless kings of Edom – and the Theocracy of Israel!
  • 5^th – The Chiefs of Edom… vs. 40-43
    • A list of 11 men who were leaders along with the Kings of Edom…
    • This list of Kings and Chiefs is again included in – I Chronicles 1:35-54
    • Why would the Holy Spirit give us all these names – much less give them twice!
    • An encouragement – or warning – to us who read about these two sons..
    • Both Jacob and Esau were the sons of Isaac – both had godly parents…
    • Only one went on to be a Godly nation – a nation ruled by God…
    • Only Israel – who gave his house to the Lord – became a nation that served the Lord!