Encounter< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Gen.28:1-22, 34:1-31, 35:1

Jacob encountered God when fleeing from Esau. After that encounter, he named the place < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Bethel. In that encounter, God blessed him with the promises of Abraham. As he continued to move forward, he was also growing in number (wife and children) and became a man with household. He journeyed to Shechem where the Children of Hamor defiled Dinah (JacobÕs daughter). By virtue of deception, Simeon and Levi went and killed Hamor, they slew and plundered the city. Gen35:30, then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Òyou have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since I am few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, my household and I.Ó Jacob knew the consequences of what had taken place. His household was about to put him in jeopardy. He has been far from a land where he encountered God: Bethel, a place of worship. In his journey, he had ended in a land of defilement. He needed a divine intervention. Gen.35:1 then God said to Jacob, ÒArise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.Ó God called him to rise and go up from where the household had caused him to be. In his journey, his household had derailed him. Where are you in your journey? Do not pretend; be sensitive to the spirit of God. Do not spiritualize what needs to be dealt with. Learn from Jacob: let God intervene. The need for you is to rise from where you are and take on your journey back to Bethel (your place of worship). God will not let His people perish if His people will humble themselves enough to acknowledge their ground of offense. Bethel is your dwelling place.