Hear, Follow, Receive, Worship

Introduction

Completion: Jacob back home, Esau to Laben to Esau

Correction: Household needed to be cleansed, Reuban

Have you ever completed a difficult time in your life in which you came out for the better? How did that make you feel?

What corrections had to be made to get you to that point?

How did it feel to celebrate?

Jacob hears the command of God (35:1)

Arise: get up, stand up (cf. Gen 13:17)

Go up to Bethel: place where Jacob had his first encounter with God and saw the vision of the ladder. (cf. Gen 28)

Dwell there: to stay, inhabit (cf. Ps 37:29)

Make an altar: act of worship, stone altar (cf. Abram in , Isaac in )

God calls Jacob:

To follow

Fellowship

To worship

God is still calling His people to follow and worship.

In the recent days, how has God called you to follow?

Jacob follows the command of God (35:2-4,6)

Purify yourselves: Jacob started by cleansing his household. He literally called for a purge of his camp.

Let us arise and go: no hesitation, let’s go!

So I may make an altar: establish worship of the true God, not your false gods.

So they gave to Jacob: household obeyed Jacob’s command.

What are some of the idols we need to rid ourselves of?

Jacob receives the blessings of God (35:5,9-12)

God almighty: El Shaddai, assurance

A terror from God: supernatural protection, Dinah

Be fruitful and multiply: points to God’s supply and ability to supply, get it done for I have you covered

Israel shall be your name: proof of the promise, seal, new beginning

A nation shall come from you: Abrahamic

Kings shall come from you: Davidic, new covenant, shadow of Christ

How do God’s blessings make you feel?

Jacob worships God (35:7,14-15)

Built an altar

Set up a pillar of stone

Poured out a drink offering: libation, pouring of wine or water as a ritualistic offering, sacrifice

Poured oil on it: costly offering, Mary’s alabaster box

Name the place Bethel (house of God): established as a place of worship

Does worship cost us

Conclusion

We need to hear God

We need to follow God

We should expect God’s blessings

We need to worship God

English Standard Version Chapter 12

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and wsin which clings so closely, and xlet us run ywith endurance the race that is zset before us,

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, awho for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising bthe shame, and cis seated at the right hand of the throne of God.