神吩咐雅各起来上伯特利去之后，雅各立刻嘱咐他的家人除掉外邦神，洁净自己，更换衣裳。更换衣裳表征改变我们的生活方式，就是脱去旧的生活方式，并且穿上新人。神虽然没有叫雅各这样作，在他里面深处，却有个东西这样要求他。如果他受嘱咐要去一个属世的地方，他会觉得无须洁净自己。反之，他会准备更玷污自己。雅各所以有这样根本的改变，是因为他已被摸着来为着伯特利，为着神永远的居所。
彻底的清理之一：除掉偶像
首先，雅各告诉他家中的人，并一切与他同在的人，除掉他们中间的外邦神。（创三五2。）当雅各和他的家人逃离拉班时，拉结拿了家中的神像。（创三一34-35。）在创世记三十五章以前，雅各从未嘱咐拉结把这些除掉。但在神叫他上伯特利去以后，每个人都得放弃他们的外邦神，他们的偶像。这是一个影儿，在整本圣经中发展。按照旧约和新约，为着神居所的缘故，我们首先要除去的，就是我们的偶像。
也许很多人会宣称，他们从未与偶像有过关系。就物质方面说，你没有偶像也许是真的。但就属灵方面说，我们必须知道偶像是甚么。偶像就是顶替神的东西。你的雄心，你的地位，你的名誉，你的愿望和你的企图，甚至你的家人，都会在你的生活中顶替神，因而成为偶像。你如果在这光中看这件事，就必须承认你有过很多外邦神。人为甚么拜偶像？无疑的，是因为撒但的诱惑。但在人这一面也有原因。人拜偶像是为要得着长寿和福乐。福乐包括很多东西：钱财、地位、雄心、名声、名誉、健康。今天人失去了神，就追求外邦神，在偶像身上追求福乐。但神才是我们的福乐。
当神向雅各说到伯特利的时候，雅各得着了关于他一生的启示，认识他在地上的一生不是为着他自己的福乐，他的一生乃是为着伯特利，为着神的家。因此，伯特利成了他的目标，他在地上人生的目的。原先，他的目标是自己的福乐；现在，他的目标和目的更换了。他的目标不再是为着自己，乃是绝对为着神。在示剑，雅各有了一切。但因着他儿子们给他惹的麻烦，他失去了安全和平安。就在那个关头，神似乎说，“雅各，上我家里去。在示剑这里你没有安全和平安，安全和平安是在伯特利。你必须上那里去。”因此，伯特利成了雅各的目标和目的。雅各领悟神家的目标是圣别的，这不是凡俗的事。没有一个人能带着偶像、玷污，穿着老旧、肮脏的衣服进入神的家。因此，雅各嘱咐他的家人并一切与他同在的人，除掉所有的外邦神。
信息重点：为着伯特利，首先必须除掉偶像；凡在我们里面顶替神，成为我们目标、倚靠和追求的，都需要被除去。
应用祷告：主耶稣，求你光照我，除去一切在我里面顶替你的事物和倚靠。愿你自己成为我的目标、满足和福分，使我的生活完全为着你。阿们。
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Jacob’s Response to God (1) — Gen. 35:2
After God told Jacob to arise and go up to Bethel, Jacob immediately instructed his household to put away the foreign gods, cleanse themselves, and change their garments. Changing garments signifies changing our way of life — putting off the old way of living and putting on the new man. Although God did not tell Jacob to do this, deep within him something demanded it of him. Had he been told to go to a worldly place, he would have felt no need to cleanse himself; rather, he would have prepared to defile himself further. Jacob had this kind of fundamental change because he had been touched for the sake of Bethel, for God’s eternal dwelling place.
The First Aspect of the Thorough Clearance: Putting Away Idols
First, Jacob told his household and all who were with him to put away the foreign gods among them (Gen. 35:2). When Jacob and his family fled from Laban, Rachel took the household idols (Gen. 31:34-35). Before Genesis 35, Jacob had never told Rachel to put these away. But after God called him to go up to Bethel, everyone had to give up their foreign gods, their idols. This is a shadow that develops throughout the whole Bible. According to both the Old and New Testaments, for the sake of God’s dwelling place, the first thing we must put away is our idols.
Perhaps many would claim they have never had any connection with idols. Materially speaking, it may be true that you have no idols. But spiritually speaking, we must know what an idol is. An idol is anything that replaces God. Your ambition, your position, your reputation, your desires and schemes, even your family members, can replace God in your life and thereby become idols. If you view the matter in this light, you must admit that you have had many foreign gods. Why do people worship idols? Undoubtedly, it is because of Satan’s temptation. But there is also a reason on man’s side. People worship idols in order to gain longevity and blessing. Blessing includes many things: wealth, position, ambition, fame, reputation, health. Today, having lost God, people pursue foreign gods, seeking blessing from idols. But God alone is our blessing.
When God spoke to Jacob about Bethel, Jacob received a revelation concerning his entire life — he realized that his life on earth was not for his own blessing, but for Bethel, for the house of God. Therefore Bethel became his goal, the purpose of his life on earth. Originally, his goal was his own blessing; now his goal and purpose were exchanged. His aim was no longer for himself, but absolutely for God. At Shechem, Jacob had everything. But because of the trouble caused by his sons, he lost his security and peace. At that critical moment, God seemed to say, “Jacob, go up to My house. Here at Shechem you have no security or peace; security and peace are at Bethel. You must go up there.” Thus Bethel became Jacob’s goal and purpose. Jacob realized that the goal of God’s house is holy — this is not a common matter. No one can bring idols and defilement, wearing old and filthy garments, into the house of God. Therefore Jacob instructed his household and all who were with him to put away all the foreign gods.
Message Main Points: For the sake of Bethel, idols must first be put away; whatever within us replaces God, becoming our goal, our reliance, and our pursuit, must be removed.
Today’s Prayer: Lord Jesus, shine on me and remove everything within me that replaces You, everything I rely on. May You Yourself become my goal, my satisfaction, and my portion, that my life may be wholly for You. Amen.