Title: Rise up and go up to Bethel
Content This new year is even better because the first day of the year is a Sunday. The original Sunday is the first day. It is the first day of recycling and the first day of life. Let us serve God well from day one.
- There is this poem by Cowman.
“I stood at the entrance of the new year and said
‘Give me the light/ so that I can travel safely to the unknown’//
The man replied/ 'Go out into the dark/
Put your hand in God's hand/
It's better for you/ than light'//
- When Jacob went to Haran 20 years ago, he promised to return to Bethel to serve God. He returned with great refusal, but could not go up to Bethel. A new year is a good gift from God to start over.
I. Why couldn't Jacob go up to Bethel?
- Let's read Genesis 33:17. “Jacob built a house for himself in Succoth, and a barn for his cattle… ”
- ‘Bethel’ - the house of God. Why couldn't he go up to Bethel? for a lot of wealth. Many property management is easy to draw away from God.
- There was no plan for God.
- He eventually served property (beast) rather than God.
- Human calculation took precedence. I wanted a wide flat land rather than a mountainous area.
II. Why did Jacob go up to Bethel?
1. The failure of the Jacob family
- Let's read Gen 34:7. My only daughter, Dina, was sexually assaulted.
- Let's read Gen 34:30. The sons took revenge, killing all the men and taking their possessions.
- I couldn't live there. Life in Succoth was a complete failure.
2. It is a command from God.
- Let's read verse 1. “God … Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there...”
Even when we fail, God comes to us.
Ⅲ. How did Jacob prepare to go up to Bethel?
1. I decided to obey and stood up.
2. Started sanctification work. Let's read verses 2 and 3.
- He gathered all the foreign gods and buried them in the ground.
- He cleansed himself and changed his clothes.
3. The father built a pillar of faith.
- Let's read verse 3. “Let us rise and go up to Bethel… ”
If the head of the household firmly establishes the faith, the family will come to life.
What was the result? Let's read verse 5. God has absolutely protected you. If you surrender yourself to God, then God will guide you.
Let's read 11-12. He made Jacob the father of the nation and promised great blessings.
- The important thing is that, like the Jacob family, in this new year, you must rise up in faith and make a decision to start anew.