Revelation of God XIX

Cleansing and Renewal

Sunday, September 13, 2026

Pastor William Beck

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Genesis 35:1-7

1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. 2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: 3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. 4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. 5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. 7 And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

 

“Sir, we would see Jesus!”

 

1. God’s Call

 

Genesis 35:1

And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

 

2. Jacob’s Repentance

 

Genesis 35:2-4

2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: 3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. 4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.

 

“The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him.” A.W. Tozer

 

3. God’s Protection

 

Genesis 35:5

And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

 

4. Jacob’s Worship

 

Genesis 35:6-7

6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him. 7 And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.

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“This will never happen, if they keep one another at a distance. Therefore, every opportunity of coming together and enjoying their fellowship in faith and hope must be welcomed and used for mutual encouragement.”

 

5. God’s Promise

 

Genesis 35:9-13

9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. 10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. 11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; 12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. 13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.

 

6. Drink Offering

 

Genesis 35:14-15

14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.

 

Philippians 2:17

Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

 

2 Timothy 4:6-7

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

 

Romans 12:1

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 

Questions

1. What are some common views of God that are improper to have about Him? 

2. Jacob called upon his family to repent of their idolatry. It is shocking that a patriarch of Israel, in fact the very man named Israel, would have idolatry in his family. What are the forms of idolatry that are found in the church today and perhaps in your life.

3. What does it mean that everyone is in need of redemption or renewal? 

4. Why is it so important that we worship God? Because God is worthy and we are enriched whenever we worship Him.

5. Since wonder is the basis of worship, what must we do to increase or sustain our wonder of God? Knowing God through His Word and creation. We must spend our lifetime giving attendance to the teaching, preaching, and exaltation of the Word of God. Personal devotional study is also vital. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (NOTE: Discuss the fact that worship takes time and effort). 

6. The word church means “called out assembly.” Who has called us out and what does it mean? It is God Himself who has called out the church for Himself. The words “called out assembly” mean we gather in a public space to worship God. The New Testament teaches us that this includes the reading and preaching of God’s Word, baptism, observing the Lord’s Supper, prayer, worship God in singing, fellowship, giving and serving. See Acts 2:42, Hebrews 10:24-25. None of this is optional. All of this is mandatory. Believers have no right to sit it out. 

7. Jacob introduced the concept of the drink offering in Genesis 35, where he poured oil on a pillar he setup to commemorate God’s promise. Later, drink offerings of wine or oil would be poured out on a burnt sacrifice. What did this signify? Dedication, devotion, consecration. The Apostle Paul considered His life as a drink offering that He would pour out for Christ. It should also be noted, that Jesus poured Himself out like water and poured out His soul unto death. Our lives are to be an offering to God. See Romans 12:1.