BACK TO BETHEL (40 OF 48)

Back To Bethel (40 of 48)
Series: Creation or Evolution?
Dr. Stan Coffey
Chapter 35
October 11, 1987

INTRODUCTION: We have come now to the last chapter in the story of Jacob's spiritual life. We have seen how God saved Jacob (28), how God subdued Jacob (29-32), how God separated Jacob (33-34), the final chapter tells how God sanctified Jacob. The prominent person in the remainder in the Book of Genesis will be Joseph.

There are three locations in this chapter, Bethel, Ephrath and Mamre. The chapter records four burials and three funerals.

I. JACOB AS A BELIEVING MAN - 35:1-15
A. Renewing Jacob's spiritual vitality - 35:1-4
Beliefs like hinges can get rusty if not kept oiled and used. Jacob's beliefs needed to be revitalized
1. The place of this renewal - vs. la "And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there: and make thee an altar unto God,"
a. At Bethel Abraham first staked his claim to Canaan and built the first altar in the land
b. At Bethel Jacob first met God and saw the ladder to heaven and became a truly believing man
2. The purpose of Jacob's renewal - vs. lb ':dwell there:", "build an altar there"
a. Just as Jacob returned to Bethel believers today need to return to the time when they first committed themselves to the Lord
b. Believers also need to return to Calvary, pitch their tent there to have their faith renewed and their spiritual life revitalized
3. The preparation of Jacob's spiritual renewal - vs. 2-4
a. "Put away the strange gods that are among you."
b. "Be clean, and change your garments:"
c. "And ...

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