在创世记三十五章的时候，雅各必定有一百岁左右。虽然雅各经过了许多事物，但在本章以前，圣经没有告诉我们他作过彻底的清理。反而圣经告诉我们雅各的技巧和抓夺。但我们要看见，当神叫他起来上伯特利去的时候，雅各作了一次彻底的清理。
神第一次向雅各显现是在梦中；（创二八10-20；）在梦中雅各看见天开了，有一个梯子从地通到天，有天使在梯子上上去下来。当雅各从梦中醒来，他得着默示称那地方为伯特利，并且将他用来作枕头的石头立作柱子，浇油在上面。接着他向神许愿说，神若把他平平安安的带回他先祖之地，他所立为柱子的石头，就必作神的殿。（创二八22。）在这梦中，神给雅各恩典的眷临，使他（无疑是在灵里）说到神永远的经纶。如果雅各未受神的灵默示，他这个抓夺者怎能说出启示神永远目的的话来？这是不可能的。神向雅各揭示祂的心愿，就是要得着伯特利。
然而，在伯特利的梦一点没有改变雅各。雅各的生活方式并未受到影响。我们也是这样。在伯特利，雅各奇妙的说豫言，说到神的家；但似乎豫言也回到天上去了。我们很多人和雅各一样有过梦、启示或默示，在其中我们说了豫言，若不是对人说，至少也对天使说。但我们在第二天继续照老样子生活。在创世记三十三章，雅各仍旧是雅各。属天的梦和苦难并没有改变他。但在创世记三十四章有件事发生，摸着了雅各的心。他的独生女受玷污，他的儿子们因杀人并掳掠他们的城，使他受到困扰。这些事件深深摸着了雅各，使他有了根本的转变。这事以后，神来对他说话。
神没有向雅各讲一篇道；反之，因为雅各的心已被摸着，他就豫备好听神的话，因此神只简单的说，“起来，上伯特利去住在那里，要在那里筑一座坛给神，就是你逃避你哥哥以扫的时候向你显现的那位。”（创三五1。）这里我们看见神叫雅各作四件事：起来、上伯特利去、住在那里、为曾向他显现的神筑一座坛。雅各在创世记三十五章的转变，是非常有意义的。
在创世记三十五章，我们看见雅各对神话语的回应。在这章之前，没有记载过一个人行走在神的面光中，并且洁净自己和全家。为着上伯特利这一个目的，雅各并一切与他同在的人，必须作一次彻底的清理，并洁净自己。
信息重点：神再次呼召雅各：起来，上伯特利去，住在那里，并筑坛给神。 为着回到神永远的目的，雅各需要有一次彻底的转变和清理。
应用祷告：主耶稣，感谢你不断提醒我回到你的心意。求你使我起来，离开一切使我停留的事物，回到伯特利，为着你的家而活。阿们。
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God’s Reminder — Return to Bethel — Gen. 35:1
By the time of Genesis chapter 35, Jacob must have been about a hundred years old. Although Jacob had passed through many things, before this chapter the Bible does not tell us that he had ever made a thorough clearance. On the contrary, the Bible tells us of Jacob’s cleverness and grasping. But we need to see that when God called him to arise and go up to Bethel, Jacob made a thorough clearance.
God’s first appearing to Jacob was in a dream (Gen. 28:10-20). In that dream Jacob saw heaven opened, with a ladder set up from earth to heaven, and angels ascending and descending on it. When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he received the insight to call that place Bethel, and he set up as a pillar the stone he had used as a pillow, pouring oil on top of it. Then he made a vow to God, saying that if God would bring him back safely to his father’s land, the stone he had set up as a pillar would be God’s house (Gen. 28:22). In this dream, God gave Jacob a gracious visitation, enabling him — no doubt in his spirit — to speak of God’s eternal economy. Had Jacob not received the inspiration of God’s Spirit, how could this supplanter have spoken words that revealed God’s eternal purpose? This would be impossible. God revealed to Jacob His heart’s desire, which was to gain Bethel.
However, the dream at Bethel did not change Jacob in the least. Jacob’s way of life was not affected. We are the same. At Bethel, Jacob spoke wonderful words concerning God’s house; but it seems that this word of prophecy went back up to heaven as well. Many of us, like Jacob, have had dreams, revelations, or inspirations in which we spoke prophetically — if not to people, then at least to angels. But the very next day we go on living in our old way. In Genesis chapter 33, Jacob was still Jacob. The heavenly dream and his sufferings had not changed him. But in Genesis 34 something happened that touched Jacob’s heart. His only daughter was defiled, and his sons troubled him by killing and plundering a city. These events deeply touched Jacob, bringing about a fundamental turn in him. After this, God came and spoke to him.
God did not preach a message to Jacob; rather, because Jacob’s heart had already been touched, he was ready to hear God’s word. So God simply said, “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” (Gen. 35:1). Here we see God telling Jacob to do four things: arise, go up to Bethel, live there, and build an altar to the God who had appeared to him. Jacob’s turn in Genesis chapter 35 is highly significant.
In Genesis 35, we see Jacob’s response to God’s word. Before this chapter, there is no record of anyone walking in the light of God’s presence and cleansing himself and his whole household. For the purpose of going up to Bethel, Jacob and all who were with him had to make a thorough clearance and cleanse themselves.
Message Main Points: God called Jacob once again: arise, go up to Bethel, live there, and build an altar to God. In order to return to God’s eternal purpose, Jacob needed a thorough turn and clearance.
Today’s Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for continually reminding me to return to Your heart’s desire. Cause me to arise, to leave everything that keeps me lingering, and to return to Bethel, living for Your house. Amen.