Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 35:1-8.
“Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and live there, and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves and change your garments; 3 and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears, and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem.
5 As they journeyed, there was a great terror upon the cities which were around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. 7 He built an altar there, and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed Himself to him when he fled from his brother. 8 Now Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Bethel under the oak; it was named Allon-bacuth.” Genesis 35:1-8.
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Despite the fact that the sons of Jacob acted so unjustly in their deception and killing every male of the city of Hamor and Shechem in revenge for the rape of their sister Dinah, and despite the fact that Jacob had good reason to fear the repercussion, God delivered Jacob and his household. (See Genesis Chapter 34 for the actions of the sons of Jacob.)
Despite the fact that Jacob acted so unjustly in his deception and in his stealing the blessing away from Esau, and despite the fact that Jacob had good reason to fear the repercussion, God delivered Jacob. (See Genesis Chapter 27 for the actions of Jacob.)
Jacob’s actions and his son’s actions remind us of “Total Depravity”. God’s actions remind us of “Unconditional Election”.
“Just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.” Romans 9:13-14.
Today’s Scripture also remind us of what happened at Bethel. Let us look at God’s promises to Jacob at Bethel.
“He (Jacob) had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28:12-15.
These promises of God are unconditional. God did not say to Jacob: “If you do not deceive and act justly, then I will bless you.” God promised: “I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
And, Jacob realized it in today’s Scripture. Jacob said: “and let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” Verse 3.
Oh saints, how do we want to live our lives? Do we want to trust ourselves and our alleged free-will, our alleged goodness, and our alleged wisdom and strength? Or, do we want to cling to the unconditional promises of God?
“for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Romans 11:29.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 