Jacob And The House Of God

by R. Lindsay, Hamilton | Category: Studies In Genesis | Sept 1973

It must have been with a heavy heart that Jacob left his father's household and began the long journey from Canaan to Paddanaram. The deception practised on Isaac, by which Jacob had supplanted Esau in obtaining the blessing of the firstborn, had aroused his brother's anger, and it was to avoid the consequences of this that Rebekah engineered the departure of her younger son. To the casual eye, the entire episode would suggest nothing more than a chance journey hastily embarked on. But the student of Scripture sees in it the guiding hand of God. And, when Jacob "lighted upon a certain place" (Gen. 28:11) we can' have no doubt that, in His development of the life-pattern of one destined to fill a prime role in the unfolding of His purposes, the LORD brought Jacob to this place. Here awaited an experience which would mark the rest of his life, and here God would for the first time reveal certain fundamental principles in His dealings with men.

That night, Jacob slept beneath the stars, "and he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it". What a vision for the lonely traveller! Here was a place in which communion with heaven could be maintained. Most important of all, here was a place in which was the presence of the LORD. "Surely" said Jacob as he awoke, "the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. ... This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven". Thus there came to Jacob the first revelation of a truth which looms large in Scripture - that the mighty Creator of all seeks on earth a dwelling place. "And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of the city was Luz at the first".

Bethel - house of God among men

This truth is one of the precious threads which run through God's dealings with men in all dispensations. The godly have ever marvelled at it. Solomon, in 'his prayer at the dedication of his temple spoke for all generations, "Will God in very deed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; 'how much less this house that I have builded!" (1 Kings 8:27). Yet there can be no doubt that it has ever -been the desire of God's heart to find a dwelling-place among His people. This was true as He brought Israel out of Egypt. When Moses was called to spend forty days in the mount, he was given, in minute detail, the pattern of the house which Israel must prepare for the LORD. "Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them", said God (Exod. 25:8). And as that erring people journeyed through the desert, the token of His presence among them was ever visible in the pillar which hung over the tabernacle - cloud by day and fire by night. We have already mentioned that Solomon built for God a house of unparalleled splendour. Likewise, when the remnant of Israel returned from the captivity in Babylon, part of the divine charge to them was, "Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD" (Haggai 1:8). The tent of skins, the splendid building raised by Solomon, and the structure of remnant days all testify that God delighted to dwell among His people.

Today, He still has this desire. Now, "He, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands" (Acts 17:24). Churches of God, formed according to the New Testament pattern and built together to form a united testimony, provide God's house on earth today. "Each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit" (Eph. 2:21,22).

A dreadful place

The realization that, in Bethel, he was in the presence of God filled Jacob with awe. "He was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place!" Jacob knew the fear of the LORD, and by that fear his conduct in Bethel was thereafter governed. In His later dealings with the nation of Israel, the LORD made clear that the reverence due to His name must 'be shown also to His house, "Ye shall keep My sabbaths, and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD", He said (Lev. 19:30) and so the godly Israelite approached the house of God in a duly reverent manner David gave an example of this. In Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple" (Psa. 5 7) Here surely is a lesson for us Did not Paul write to Timothy That thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God which is the church of the 4iving God"? (1 Tim 3 15) Our reverence for the name of our God must reflect itself in holy behaviour within His house.

Human instrumentality

It is a key principle in divine revelation that the house of God is built by human instrumentality, and in Jacob's activity in Bethel we see the first expression of this principle. For he "rose up early in the morning and took the stone ... and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it". Later, in the building of the tabernacle, this principle was further developed, as the LORD outlined to Moses the part which would be played by men such as Bezalel, alongside whom worked "every wisehearted man, in whom the LORD hath put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all the work for the service of the sanctuary" (Exod. 36:1). Centuries after, "Solomon built Him a house" (Acts 7:47). And when, after the captivity in Babylon, a remnant of God's people were once again in the land, "The LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel... the spirit of Joshua ..., and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God" (Haggai 1:14). Surely, the teaching is clear. The house of God has ever been built and maintained through a God-given exercise of godly men. "Let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them" still points the way to service which is according to His will.

The stone raised up by Jacob was set up to be a pillar - a place of witness. We are reminded again of Paul's comment to Timothy (1 Tim. 3:15), that the house of God is "pillar and ground of the truth". In the last days, so powerfully described by the apostle in 2 Timothy 3, one of the distinguishing characteristics is the failure of men to come to the knowledge of the truth. They "will not endure sound doctrine". Nevertheless, the witness to the truth of God must be maintained with vigilance. Those in His house must "be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching" (2 Tim. 4:2).

Giving to God

At Bethel, too, Jacob made his vow, and covenanted his tithe. Of all he received, he would henceforth give the tenth unto God. Again, the principle is clear. Bethel - the house of God - is the place in which the people of God can exercise the privilege of giving to Him. We need not trace the history of Israel to recognize the outworking of this principle. The Law made clear demands, and, in coming to God's house, the godly Israelite brought both sacrifices and freewill offerings. Still the privilege of giving to the Lord is part of the heritage of God's house. In our collective service on the first day of the week, as a holy priesthood we "offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 2:5). In addition, out of hearts which have themselves been yielded, God's people are able to give to Him of their possessions for the furtherance of the work of His house. The saints in Philippi were particularly commended for their exercise in this matter. Paul described their giving as "an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God" (Phil. 4:18).

A holy place

Years had passed, Jacob had journeyed on from Bethel, and his twenty years of service to Laban lay behind. Once more, the word of the LORD came to him, "Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there" (Gen. 35:1). Here was a clear commandment. In preparing to obey, Jacob was aware of matters within his household which were inconsistent with Bethel. Strange gods were among them; these must be put away and they must purify themselves. "Holiness becometh thine house, 0 LORD, for evermore" (Psa. 93:5), was a principle applicable then as now. The Lord demands a high standard of spiritual integrity of those in His house. We should constantly search ourselves to ensure that we do not defile it.

On his return to Bethel God once more appeared to Jacob, repeating to him the glorious promises concerning his seed and the land. Little wonder that he once more set up a pillar of stone, on which he poured out a drink offering and poured oil thereon. Yet, once again we read that Jacob "journeyed from Bethel" (35:16). One wonders why. Certainly, this departure from Bethel was marked by deep sorrow. For it was as they travelled, his beloved Rachel died. Yet again, "Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder" (35:21). Here again, Jacob faced grief, as his eldest son Reuben lay with Bilhah, his father's concubine - a sin which cost Reuben his birthright and his dying father's blessing. How different things might have been had Jacob dwelt in Bethel, as the Lord had commanded him. For, to those who dwell there with a pure heart, the house of God is a place of blessing, "Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house: they will be still praising Thee" (Psa. 84:4). May it be ours to share in the desire expressed by Jacob's noble descendant, David, who, through all his days had a deep love for the house of God. "One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple" (Psa.27:4).

"Within Thy house, in number few,

We seek Thy grace Thy will to do,

Lord, of ourselves, we're very weak;

Thy help and strength we humbly seek."

R. Lindsay, Hamilton | Sept 1973
Studies In Genesis