Back to Bethel: Finding Your Way Home to God
Have you ever wished you could start something over? Maybe you made a mistake and thought, "If only I could turn back the clock and try this again." Whether it's a poor financial decision, a relationship that went wrong, or choices that led you far from God, we all have moments we'd like to do differently.
Jacob found himself in exactly this position. After a devastating chapter in his life where he remained passive while his family fell apart, where God's name wasn't even mentioned, Jacob had made a royal mess of things. But Genesis 35 shows us something beautiful: God still wanted Jacob back.
What Does It Mean to Return to God?
In Genesis 35:1-15, we see God calling Jacob back to Bethel - the place where he first encountered God over 30 years earlier. This wasn't just about returning to a physical location; it was about returning to fellowship with the Almighty.
The contrast between chapters 34 and 35 is striking. In chapter 34, God's name appears nowhere. In chapter 35, God's name appears no less than 18 times. This shows us that no matter how far we've wandered, no matter what mistakes we've made, God is still calling us back to Him.
Is It Ever Too Late to Come Back to God?
The grace of God reaches down to where we are and picks us up. Jacob didn't deserve God's protection after the mess his family had made, but God's grace exceeds our expectations. God doesn't give us what we deserve - we deserve punishment, but instead He offers mercy and grace, always beckoning us to come back to Him.
Your relationship with God isn't determined by your performance or your past mistakes. It's determined by God's unchanging love and the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Four Decisions to Get Back to Bethel
1. Get Rid of Your Idols
Jacob told his household: "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves and change your garments" (Genesis 35:2). These weren't just physical statues - they represented anything that had taken God's rightful place in their hearts.
We may not bow down to carved images, but we all have idols: money, relationships, possessions, status, career, even our children. An idol is simply anything that gets between you and God, anything that takes the place where God ought to reign on the throne of your heart.
You cannot worship God and worship your sin at the same time. Just as marriage vows include "forsaking all others," following Christ means there's no room for any other idol in your heart besides Jesus Christ alone.
2. Make the Journey
Despite his fears about retaliation from neighboring cities, Jacob led his family on the 30-mile journey back to Bethel. As they traveled, "the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob" (Genesis 35:5).
When you start moving in the right direction toward God, He will take care of your fears. You might fear being called a hypocrite, worry about past consequences, or be afraid of what people will think. But you'll never know what protection and provision God has waiting until you take that first step.
Partial obedience is disobedience. God doesn't want you to worship Him from a distance or maintain the status quo. He wants you to come all the way back to Him.
3. Bury Your Past
The death of Deborah, Rebecca's nurse, represents Jacob's final tie to his past being buried. This teaches us that while we should acknowledge our past mistakes and the hurt we've caused, we shouldn't dwell on them or keep bringing them up.
Your past is buried under the tree at Calvary. Stop trying to straddle the fence between your new life in Christ and your old life of sin. Acknowledge the regrets, but bury them. Don't let past failures become excuses to avoid moving forward with God.
4. Embrace Your Future
God reminded Jacob of his new identity: "Your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name" (Genesis 35:10). Despite all of Jacob's failures in chapter 34, God didn't revoke his new name or identity.
Your identity has nothing to do with what you have done or failed to do. It has everything to do with what God says has already been done by Jesus. Even when we mess up, God still says, "You're still my child, you're still forgiven, I still love you."
God also gave Jacob a promise about kings coming from his lineage - ultimately pointing to Jesus Christ. We can look back on the fulfilled promise of Jesus' first coming, but we should also live in light of His promised second coming.
How Do I Start Living for God's Kingdom Today?
God told Jacob to "be fruitful and multiply" - in other words, make God's family bigger. God didn't save you just so you could go to heaven alone. He saved you so you could tell others about Him.
Have you told anyone about Jesus recently? Can anyone point to you and say they're in heaven because you shared the gospel with them? Tell your coworkers, family members, neighbors, and friends that there's a better future waiting for all who believe in Jesus.
Life Application
This week, identify what's keeping you from fully surrendering to God. Is there an idol that has crept into your heart? A step you need to take back toward Him? A past regret you need to finally bury? Or do you need to start living more intentionally for God's kingdom?
Take that first step. Open your Bible for the first time in months. Have an honest conversation with God about what's been holding you back. Fear God more than you fear what other people might think.
Questions for reflection:
What idol in your life needs to be removed so God can have His rightful place on the throne of your heart?
What fear is keeping you from taking the next step toward God, and how might He already be providing protection you can't see?
Is there something from your past that you keep bringing up instead of leaving it buried at the cross?
How can you start living today in light of your eternal future with Christ?
Remember: it's never too late to come back to God. While people might write you off, God never gives up on you. He's calling you back to Bethel - back to that place of intimate fellowship with Him.