ARTICLES

A Return Trip To Bethel

by Mari Anne Andersen [ February 2008 ]

Jacob's life is one that can parallel our lives in so many ways. Let's take a walk into some of Jacob's life and see if there are some issues that ring true for us today. We know that we all have strengths and weaknesses that rise and fall. And in spite of the failures we know we're chosen and called. There are places in our lives that have been a mixture of good and bad, inconsistent, unjust, or even some places we have chosen not to walk in the Light of truth. Whether it's consciously or unconsciously, we may have turned a deaf ear or hardened our hearts. Proverbs says, "that if you don't listen to a kind messager a cruel one comes along." Have we become self-willed, irresponsible, or deceived in some areas in our lives or allowed our flesh to move into sinfulness, thus hurting ourselves, others, or God?

We know that Jacob was a fighter and a schemer; he was clever, confident, and felt he could do anything. He conned his brother Esau out of his birthright and robbed him of a blessing. He took by force what God meant to give by grace. Are you holding on so tightly through demands and expectations of others, or even God, that you are not able to fully move into your birthright or destiny? Do you feel put upon, unfairly used or misunderstood? Are you still hanging on tightly to the cords of what you think is right? Are you desperately grabbing or firmly holding on to things in your life that have shaped your thinking and have now become your truth? A structured way of thinking, feeling and acting has become your self-fulfilled prophecy. Jacob was now without a home, shelter or protection of family and friends. He was trying in his own strength to get what he felt was "due" him. Where in your life are you on the run or hiding and talking shelter in your sinful self-protective ways?

In Gen. 28:1-22, Jacob's life with God began at Bethel with the discipline of love and promises for his future, even though it was a distressful time. As he pulled up a rock and settled down for sleep, he dreamt of a ladder set up on earth with the top reaching to heaven. "And behold, the Lord stood over and beside him and said, 'I am the Lord the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac; I will give to you and to your descendants the land on which you are lying. And behold I am with you, and will keep (watch over you with care, take of notice of) you wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to the land; for I will not leave you until I have done all of which I have told you.'" How incredibly awesome of God - even after Jacob's lying, cheating and scheming! His God spoke promises; His God had a plan and purpose along with great destiny for Jacob. God was standing beside Jacob on Jacob's ground giving him hope for his future - really, the whole blessing of promise was presented to Jacob right from the beginning. Father God had great confidence in Jacob and knew that sooner or later he would walk out his destiny with honor and nobility. What a loving and kind God for He spoke of great promises, great hope for his future and greatness for him and for his descendants! We serve a God who chose each one of us before birth to prosper and protect us, never to leave us, but to keep watch over us with care, who would bring us back to the place of our beginnings to make peace. And so Jacob's life began again, only this time with God's presence, power, protection and providence to do what was needed to bring life and purpose to Jacob's call and destiny. The dance of destiny was now in full motion.

Through the chapters in Jacob's life after the Bethel meeting, we see him being more of a servant in his uncle's home, working hard under this harsh taskmaster. We also see Jacob reaping some of the consequences of his deception with the very same seed of trickery. Jacob served Laban seven years for the hand of Rachel, his daughter and first love, and then Laban cheated him by giving him Leah, Rachel's older sister instead! We also see during the next seven years he was industrious and worked to get his one true love - Rachel. What we see is how Laban could scheme and plan as well as Jacob. Even Jacob had difficulty in getting the better of him. Jacob spent a total of twenty years in Laban's house, fourteen years for Laban's two daughters and six years for Laban's flock. And Laban changed Jacob's wages ten times.

For many of you, do you feel stuck and captive to the harsh task- masters of life - whether it's that job that you really don't like or the same routine tasks day in and day out. Maybe it's not receiving the promises that you were given by family members, friends, bosses or even God. Do you feel you are spinning your wheels? You know there is something better out there but you just can't seem to grasp it? Are you trying so hard to discover your destiny or make a name for yourself and getting no where?

Jacob, whom I think became saved at Bethel, slowly became subdued, separated and then fully surrendered. Through the breaking and circumsion of his heart by circumstances and time (20 years), he surrendered to the process. Jacob's pilgrimage brought him to the river Jabbok (the place of emptying) and that was the place he dumped all his excess baggage - the extra weight he carried of all those years, the places of planning his own agendas, scheming for his benefits and rights, of losses and disappointments, of fears, insecurities and childish ways and selfish demands, of a wounded and alone heart. This was a day for him to break free from the old Jacob to become the new Jacob, but there still was a wrestling of surrender that had yet to take place. A returning to Bethel was needed. He finally realized at this place, that God was the only one who could handle his unfinished business, and he wrestled with Him until the morning came. Little did Jacob know that during that wrestling match he was being broken of self-recognition, self-promotion and self-will unto restoration. He came into true recognition and repentance of who he really was for Jacob replied to the "The Man," "I am a supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler!" And the Man said, "Your name shall be called no more Jacob (supplanter), but Israel (contender with God); for you have contended and have power with God and with men, and have prevailed." When dawn came Jacob felt like a winner for the first time in his life.
Watchmen Nee writes: "The election of God is the only explanation; there is no other. God wanted to choose a man. We must believe in the choice of God. If he has begun a good work in us He will not leave it half done. He is the First and the Last. The work He has started to do in us He will finish. If we TRUST to the election of God, we can rest in Him."

Jacob did not choose God first - God chose Jacob. We did not first love God but God first loved us. Before our birth like Jacob, we were all chosen. We were destined with purpose and meaning, and we need to recognize God's elective grace to fulfill our God-given destiny of true importance and greatness.

For so many of us like Jacob, we try to scheme, plan and use our human strength to direct the will of God. If we become fearful or protective of our plans, we try to reach out our hand to steady them, and we go into a pattern of thinking and doing to help God along in fulfilling our destiny.

I like so much what Mark Chironna states in his book, Stepping into Greatness, that destiny is not discovered - it's uncovered, and there are hidden treasures to be uncovered within ourselves, life and God as we continue to walk with Him.

May our Father continue to help each one of us come back to "Bethel" as we continue on this journey of life, where we will contend with God and have power with our God and with men, because we have prevailed. May He give us the stamina of Moses, the fortitude of Abraham, the endurance of Joseph, the praises of David and the beauty of Abigail and Esther.