It’s one thing for the child of a believer to acknowledge the God of his or her parents; another thing to come to the knowledge of that God through His proven faithfulness in their own experience.
“And Jacob awoke out of his sleep, and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.’ And he was afraid, and said, ‘How awesome this place is! Surely it is the house of God and the gate of heaven!’” (Genesis 28:16,17)
“And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stones that he had placed for his pillow, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil onto it. Jacob was “born crooked”! His name tagged him as one who would grasp hold of things which he had no right to possess.
When Jacob came to “Bethel” he was “running for his life” from his brother, Esau, who had threatened to kill him. (Genesis 27:41-45) In Jacob’s dream, the angels “ascended and descended” a staircase.
That would have surprised the crooked Jacob, who may have thought that angels “descended” now and then to find out what he was up to, and then “ascended” back into Heaven to report on his questionable behaviour! The reverse was the case, however, and the knowledge that God’s angels were his constant, albeit unseen, companions probably come as a shock!
Jacob’s took his rock “pillow” and turned it into a pillar, a lasting monument to his dream. If you wake up with Heaven on your mind it’s a good idea to dedicate your dream. But Jacob did more than that: he anointed his dream: he poured olive oil on the pillar after having realized the dream’s significance.
Jacob then “vowed a vow” that bound him to Bethel and to the God of “The House of God” – conditional on the LORD’s ongoing presence and protection and a peaceful return to his father’s family.
In the dream, the God of Abraham, and Isaac had made a threefold statement of His divine purpose: “I am with you and will keep you”; “I will bring you back to this land”; and “I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken to you.” (Genesis 28:15)
We now leave Bethel behind for 20 years, during which the crafty Jacob has found an even craftier man in his uncle Laban in Syria, who will switch Jacob’s bride for another of his daughters on the wedding night. (The brides were heavily veiled in those days.) The bride-switch must have reminded Jacob of his own deception in posing as his brother Esau to gain the First Son Blessing from his almost blind father (Genesis 27).
Now, 20 years later, Jacob turns back toward his inheritance and puts away his wives’ idols. He then wrestles a mysterious heavenly Man over God’s unfulfilled promise: “I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken to you.” That promise was as yet not fulfilled, and Jacob would not let go of the Angel of the LORD until he wrestles him, prevails over him, and secures the Promise!
The result is that not only does he receive a much-needed blessing but also a new identity, when the Angel of the LORD renames him Israel: “A Prince of God.”
Then follows a tearful reconciliation with his brother Esau, after which the newly named Israel returns to Bethel, rebuilds the altar, and extends the name to “El Bethel” — “The God of the House of God.”
In adulthood many children born of Christians likewise return to the House of God in recognition of The God of the House of God. This often happens after years of wandering and God’s patient dealings. It is usually an outcome of heartfelt commitments to Christ made in youth. The consequences of their earlier behaviour have worked in them and lasting changes have taken place in them during their absent years.
All the while God has been present, whether acknowledged or not. This is the grace of God. It is also His faithfulness to the prayers of their loving parents.
If you are a child of Christians, you will have observed God’s blessing on your parents and perhaps grandparents. You will have experienced the reality of God’s power during seasons of revival. Almost certainly, you opened your heart to the Lord Jesus sometime during your childhood or in your early teen years.
If so, it’s time you came back to Bethel, back to The House of God. Time you got back into the fellowship of your church. Time you rebuilt that heartfelt memorial of so long ago and dedicated it to El Bethel: The God of the House of God as an acknowledgement that the God of your parents is now your God as well.
Now the time has come for the LORD to be with you as His son of daughter. Through your own personal relationship with Him, rather than through the prayers of your parents and grandparents. You grew up with them in The House of God but now your relationship with God will continue in your own right, with The God of The House of God.
From now on it will not be their story with you in it but your story. It will be what the Lord does through you. No longer History but His Story with you in the lead role. Are you up for it? Of course, you are! You have not come this far for you to end up in anonymity.