"Go Up To Bethel Series Two."
Rev. Dr. Charles O. Osueke
Today, when we talk about Bethel, we're talking about the house of God. We're talking about God's tabernacle though God said that He does not dwell in tabernacles made with hands. But what do we then mean by the house of God?
The house of God simply means where the presence of God is real. Where the manifest presence of God is real. Remember that we said that God was just telling Jacob that staying there, looking at his (Jacob's) difficulties, threats and worrying would not pay-off. Instead let him walk into His presence and settle there. Because God's presence was his (Jacob's) only place of safety.
The presence of God is something many Christians unfortunately overlook today. But not a man like Moses. He knew the significance of God's presence. That was why he asked God who would go with him as he (Moses) led the Israelites. And God promptly told him that His presence would go with him and He (God) would also give him rest.
In the presence of God, there's rest. In the presence of God there is peace. There is a sweet assurance that God will fulfil all that He has promised his people. So, God said my presence shall go with you and I will give you rest. Moses told God that if His presence would not go with them, He should not allow them to take the next step.
Unfortunately, there are Christians who today don't even care whether they experience God's presence or not. In fact, there are Christians who will even choose (if it were possible) to stay in a place where the presence of God cannot find them; just because of the way they live. There are some that will even prefer to develop a dark corner where the penetrating eyes of God will not reach. But we already know that it's all illusion.
But Moses was different. He asked God, "if your presence does not go with us, how will these nations know that we are your people? How will they know that we are different, a special people?" That was how important the presence of God was to Moses.
When God told Jacob about going to Bethel (the presence of God), Jacob understood the significance. And good a thing Jacob has been there before. He knew what the demands of Bethel were. If we will go up to Bethel, we must meet certain demands. If we will go up to Bethel, there are some requirements we must meet. The God of Bethel is a jealous God.
And His jealousy will not allow Him to accommodate any other God. The God of Bethel is a holy God. He will also not tolerate the presence of sin in the camp. And because of that Jacob gave his household these instructions - "God has ordered us to go to Bethel (his presence). But for us to go, we must do away with every foreign god in our camp," he told them, "put away all the foreign gods that you have. Then, change your garments, and now come, lets go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who has been with me in all my Journey so far."
Thank God Jacob had a responsible household. The bible informed us that they all responded positively. They surrendered all the foreign goods they had. As they were going from one place to the other, they have been collecting idols, gods, being worshiped in those places. God could not tolerate the presence of such foreign gods, hence he ordered their evacuation.
In other words, for them (Jacob and his household) to enjoy the benefits of Bethel, the presence of God, they must rely wholly on God. All man made, artificial gods must be destroyed. They must worship and serve only the God almighty.
God bless you.