"Arise, go to
Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God" (Gen. 35:1).
Desolated Shechem
echoed with the sound of emptiness. Two brothers in a camp below retained the
stains of innocent blood upon their hands. And an aged father bowed his face to
the ground in unimaginable sorrow and remorse.
What to do? Where to
go? Jacob was certain that when the surrounding cities and peoples heard of the
massacre at Shechem, a thousand armies would rise against him and his camp and
he would be wiped out for the sins of his sons.
And in his distress,
a loving voice called, filling the void of silence with a breath of Heaven's
air.
"Arise, go to
Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God" (vs. 1).
To Bethel? Leave?
Oh, the fears that must have oppressed Jacob's soul. How vulnerable his little
band would be, traveling through wastelands to Bethel!
God had given three
things for him to do: go to Bethel, live there, and make an altar.
And he obeyed. Even
in the face of his fear. They packed up immediately and left for Bethel.
And arrived there
without being attacked by anyone, save the spectre of death, which first
claimed Rebekah's old nurse, Deborah, and then Rachel herself.
Jacob had presented
his case before the Lord, filled with grief and fear like none others he had
known.
And he had received
counsel. Divine counsel. Good counsel.
"Those who
decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after
presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue. And they will
receive not only wisdom, but strength" (DA, p. 668).
Fears arise in
hearts on this old planet of ours. Fears that seem to choke the very spark of
life and laughter out of us.
And there are times
when we fall with our faces to the ground, crying out, "Lord, what are You
doing? Why? When? What is going on? HELP!"
He has promised over
and over that when we call, He will answer.
And if we have
decided beforehand that we want to do nothing that will displease the Lord or
depart from His will, after bringing out case to Him, we are promised that we
will know just what course to pursue.
We need never be in
doubt as to where to step next.
After all…
"How can I fear? Jesus is near. He ever watches
over me. Worries all cease, He gives me peace: how can I fear with Jesus?"
How indeed?
Lord, take these fears in my heart. Take my life and
let it be…. Show me my next step, and may I rejoice at Your leading….
I really like the prayer at the end of the post. Amen to that!
ReplyDelete~ Lauren