Ben Shiller Jacob
18 Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city. 19 And he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. 20 Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel.
Genesis 33:18-20
Jacob came to the city of Shechem and bought a piece of land and lived there with his family. It’s not clear why Jacob settled in Shechem by buying a piece of land which directly shows that Jacob might have been allured by the luxuriant lifestyle of Shechem and its prosperity. Now, Bethel, where Jacob encountered Yahweh and he was fascinated by this gorgeous location, is still far ahead. Indeed, he erected an altar for the Lord in this place and even changed its name from Luz to Bethel. Jacob experienced Yahweh there. Yahweh decided to manifest Himself to Jacob in Bethel other than any other place which makes us to think that there is a significance about Bethel. Bethel has a crucial role to play in Jacob’s life.
What happens if Jacob ignores Bethel, where his life was transformed?
The city, Shechem was a snare which devil used to distract Jacob from his destiny with its beauty, great comfort and extravagant living. Jacob took the bait unlike Jesus our Lord,
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.
Matthew 4:8-10
Jacob didn’t settle down in Shechem as a resting place. If it was the case, he would have bought land in Shechem. He forgot his vision and deviated. In other words, Jacob backslid from Yahweh. Settling in Shechem wasn’t in God’s plan. As a result, Jacob’s furtherance was delayed reaching his destiny that was Bethel. Though Jacob raised an altar there in Shechem, it didn’t do any good because it was not done sincerely. Jacob’s worship became more religious. His praise came from a heart of insincerity and lack of reverence for the Lord because his heart was occupied by the glory of the physical world. During his journey, Yahweh protected him, his family and his possessions this far until Shechem. Jacob’s children stepped out of God’s divine protection by serving other gods of people of Shechem. By serving strange gods, children of Jacob are now exposed to the enemy. Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob, being the weakling, was an easy target of the devil. Later she was raped followed by revenge of her brothers by slaughtering all the men of the city. This caused tension between the people of Shechem and surrounding nations. Jacob was petrified due at this point. He prayed to Yahweh.
1Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.”
Genesis 35:1
We see Yahweh asked Jacob to return to his first love by repenting from sins. Yahweh said what just happened was a result of his children’s waywardness.
2 And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments.”
Gensis 35:2
Yahweh desired Jacob to be in Bethel nowhere else. Bethel is where Yahweh is. Yahweh wants to reveal mysteries to Jacob, His divine revelation of what He planned for his descendants and more. But Jacob should come to the House of God to receive them. Jacob must sit in the presence of God. He must dwell in His presence not some other place where Jacob wants to be.
Shiller’s Takeaway
God is revealing us something very important to the body of Christ. Our first encounter with the Lord must not be omitted from our mind. You came to know Christ Jesus in an intimate level through a person or a friend or a pastor or a church. Whatever it might be, that person or that pastor and that church is your destiny helper. God has invested in your pastor or in your church your spiritual blessings which you need to reach your destiny. So, it is imperative to be submissive and under their guidance all your life. No matter what would be the reason that causes you to detach from them is not from God. Stay connected with the experience God gave when you knew Him for the first time. In our Christian walk, we could be easily settled for little like Jacob did in Shechem, giving up his initial fervency and zeal for the Lord with the things of the world. Having an incessant relationship with Him is what God requires from all. More we get closer in our relationship with Him, the greater will be strength of our foundation of our faith and lives in His righteousness, holiness and justice.
Communion with a Contrite Heart
Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your love and passion showed through our Lord Jesus. Today we pray to be obedient and submissive to You Father and our human authorities with all humility and meekness in Jesus’ name we pray – AMEN!