JACOB AT BETHEL by W. N. G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 4, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 36.

JACOB AT BETHEL.

By W. N. G.

MANY times in the history of this sinful world it has appeared from a human standpoint that the cause of God in the earth would surely fail. But these very emergencies have been occasions when God would demonstrate to His discouraged children that “what He had promised, He was able also to perform.” Rom. 4:21. And this is why the Scriptures were written; “for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Ch. 15:4. So, however discouraging may be the outlook to us at times, however frail may be the human instruments upon whom the destiny of the cause seems to depend for the time, to whatever extent the seeming pillars may weaken, or even fall, we may always know that the structure is based on the promises of God, and therefore can not fail. The trying circumstances, the apparently insurmountable obstacles that confront the children of God, have always been His opportunities for showing the immutability of His Word, and the power of His everlasting Arm. And these emergencies have ever been characterized by manifestations of His love and care for those who put their trust in Him.

In the days of Noah it seemed as if the effort to redeem the earth from sin and its consequences was about to fail. Notwithstanding the piety of the patriarchs, their offspring had married and mingled with the world until the “salt” had well-nigh “lost its savor.” Apostasy was rife, “and God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Gen. 6:5. But this awful condition was the Lord’s opportunity to do a great work through one man whom He found to be righteous even in that wicked generation.

A few centuries passed, and the world was again given up to idolatry. But just when it seemed that all was lost, God called one man to come out from his country, from the evil influences of his kindred and social surroundings. God knew Abraham, that he would prove faithful, and command his children after him; therefore He took him away where he might wield a greater influence for good. He gave to Abraham a great promise of extensive possessions and an innumerable seed. But there came a time when this “father of the faithful” must pass through a trial of faith that would prove an example to all succeeding generations. So when the only son, through whom the promises were to be continued, had attained an age of young manhood, Abraham was commanded to offer him as a burnt-offering. Here was a seeming end to all of Abraham’s hopes, to all prospect of the fulfillment of the promises. To all human logic the requirement was equivalent to a giving up of the divine purpose altogether. As far as human reason can fathom the situation, the Lord hung the whole plan of salvation on the thread of Abraham’s faith. Did He risk anything in so doing?—No; for He knew Abraham, and underneath his frail humanity had placed the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now comes Jacob to Bethel. In Jacob the promises had been vested. Apparently all depended upon Jacob. What was Jacob? and how came he to that “certain place”? Naturally avaricious, cunning, crafty; the younger of twins, yet a usurper of the prerogative of the elder. Fleeing from the wrath of a brother whom he had defrauded, he was now an exile because of his extortionate and deceptive dealings with that irate brother. Had the cause of God come to this in the person of its representative? Surely the horoscope was ominous, and the adversary of souls must have chuckled at the prospect of Jacob’s complete overthrow. But isolation from home and friends, and two days of lonesome, wearisome travel, had given Jacob time for reflection upon his past life and unjust dealings. Tired and discouraged, tho penitent, he lay down upon the ground in that lonely place, with a stone for his pillow, and went to sleep.

“And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.” Gen. 28:12. Think of it; that bed of despondency and that pillow of stone connected by a ladder with heaven! Not only that, but there is opened a line of direct communication by means of heavenly messengers. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Heb. 1:14.

“And, behold, the Lord stood above it,” and gave the comforting assurance, “I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac.” Gen. 28:13. And just when all seemed to be lost, the great promises to Jacob’s fathers are repeated to him: “The land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south; and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” Verses 13, 14.

But all this might seem yet a great way off to Jacob. A hundred and fifty years before, the same promise had been made to Abraham, and now all that was visible of it was a poor despondent tramp, fleeing for refuge to the land and to the people which Abraham had been directed to leave. However, the Lord does not leave him without present comfort and assurance. So he gives the weary traveler this further word: “Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” Verse 15. So just where the human agent would fail, there God is always ready to pick up the apparently waning cause, and demonstrate that His Word “endureth forever.”

When Jacob awoke, He realized that the appearance of the Lord was more than a dream, and that he had surely enjoyed communion with heaven. He said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not. . . . This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” Verses 16, 17. Jacob was greatly encouraged by this visitation. His physical energy was revived, and his faith was renewed; and he did what he could in the way of leaving a memorial of the occasion. He named the place Bethel (house of God), and took the stone he had used for a pillow and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

What was the meaning of this ladder that appeared to Jacob just when all seemed to be lost?—It was a type of Christ, through whom the lowliest sinner may be restored by faith to communion with God. It is the privilege of the humblest penitent to realize that “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Rom. 5:1, 2. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Verse 6.

The lesson of Jacob at Bethel should ever be an assurance to the people of God that, however few their number, however weak each one may feel in

himself, however dark the clouds of unbelief in the world, however bitter the persecutions of the enemy, however weary the journey may seem, the place in which they meet their worst discouragements is the foot of the ladder, Christ Jesus, which connects them with heaven, and communication is kept open night and day by the continuous passage hither and thither of His ministering angels. There is absolutely no legitimate pretext for discouragement; for the work is the Lord’s, and He whose resources are boundless supplies the power and the wisdom. The visible workers are human, and of themselves can do nothing, but they have the assurance that “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Phil. 2:13. W. N. G.