关于神的家这个真理，是种在创世记二十八章。神的家，伯特利，是在给雅各的异象中，十分特别的题到的。首先，雅各作了一个梦，然后这梦在神的默示下解开。雅各在他的梦里，看见天开了，有一个梯子立在地上，从地上通到天上，有神的使者在梯子上，上去下来。他把梦解释得很好，他说，“这地方何等可畏，这不是别的，乃是神的家，也是天的门。”（创二八17，另译。）在创世记三十五章，伯特利的异象再次出现；不过，这次不是仅仅一个梦，乃是一个实际。
在创世记三十五章，雅各经历了重大的改变。雅各回应神叫他起来上伯特利去的嘱咐，有了一次彻底的清理。这次彻底的清理不仅是他作的，也是一切与他同在的人作的。雅各不仅关心他自己，也关心每个与他同在的人。这是有力的证明，他已经有了根本彻底的改变。无疑的，雅各已经被变化。
雅各筑了一座坛给神
雅各来到伯特利，他“和一切与他同在的人…在那里筑了一座坛，就给那地方起名叫伊勒伯特利。”（创三五6-7。）雅各在伯特利所作的第一件事就是筑坛。雅各虽然在示剑筑过坛，但他并没有称那座坛为“伊勒示剑。”他在示剑筑的坛不能使用神的名称。这意思是在示剑的坛没有摸着神的心，那不是神所要的坛。照样，我们可以到处筑坛，却没有筑神所要的坛。乃是当雅各遵行神的话，起来上伯特利去，住在那里，并且筑了一座坛给神时，他所筑的坛才是照着神的愿望，而不是照着他自己的心意。神并没有要他在示剑筑坛，因为那不是神拣选的地方。神的愿望是要把他带回伯特利。雅各在示剑所筑的坛，既不是照着神的愿望，也不是照着神的话。然而，他在伯特利所筑的坛是照着神的话筑的，所以他有胆量称之为“伊勒伯特利。”
祭坛的意义是奉献。筑坛的目的是为着献东西给神。你在进入教会以前，也许已经多次奉献给主，然而一旦进入教会，你深深确信：你需要重新献上自己，这个奉献与以前的奉献有很大的不同。从前的奉献最多是在示剑的祭坛，并不是在伯特利的祭坛。
信息重点：伯特利不再只是雅各从前所看见的异象，而成为实际的经历。雅各来到伯特利，首先筑坛给神。筑坛就是奉献，把自己献给神；真正的奉献乃是照着神的心意，为着神的家。
应用祷告：主耶稣，感谢你把我带到伯特利。求你使我不只看见神家的异象，更把自己重新献给你。愿我的生活不再为着自己，乃是为着你的心意和你家的建造。
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In Bethel — Building the Altar as an Offering — Gen. 35:7
The truth concerning the house of God is sown in Genesis chapter 28. The house of God, Bethel, is mentioned in a very particular way in the vision given to Jacob. First, Jacob had a dream, and then this dream was unveiled by God’s revelation. In his dream Jacob saw heaven opened, with a ladder set up on the earth reaching up to heaven, and the angels of God going up and down on it. He interpreted the dream well, saying, “How fearful is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven” (Gen. 28:17). In Genesis chapter 35, the vision of Bethel appears again; however, this time it is not merely a dream, but an actual experience.
In Genesis chapter 35, Jacob went through a great change. In responding to God’s charge to arise and go up to Bethel, he had a thorough cleansing. This thorough cleansing was not only something he himself did, but also something done by all who were with him. Jacob was concerned not only for himself, but also for every one who was with him. This is a strong proof that he had already undergone a fundamental and thorough change. Without doubt, Jacob had been transformed.
Jacob Built an Altar to God
Jacob came to Bethel, and he, “with all the people who were with him … built an altar there, and called the place El-bethel” (Gen. 35:6-7). The first thing Jacob did at Bethel was to build an altar. Although Jacob had built an altar in Shechem, he did not call that altar “El-Shechem”. The altar he built in Shechem could not bear the name of God. This means that the altar in Shechem did not touch God’s heart; it was not the altar God desired. In like manner, we may build altars everywhere, yet not build the altar God desires. It was only when Jacob obeyed God’s word, arose, went up to Bethel, dwelt there, and built an altar to God, that the altar he built was according to God’s desire, and not according to his own intention. God did not want him to build an altar in Shechem, because that was not the place God had chosen. God’s desire was to bring him back to Bethel. The altar Jacob built in Shechem was neither according to God’s desire nor according to God’s word. But the altar he built in Bethel was built according to God’s word, and therefore he had the boldness to call it “El-bethel”.
The significance of an altar is offering. The purpose of building an altar is to offer something to God. Before entering the church, you may already have offered yourself to the Lord many times; yet once you enter the church, you become deeply convinced that you need to offer yourself anew, and that this offering is very different from your former offerings. Your former offering was, at most, on the altar of Shechem, not on the altar of Bethel.
Message Main Points: Bethel is no longer merely the vision Jacob once saw, but has become an actual experience. Jacob came to Bethel and first built an altar to God. To build an altar is to offer — to offer oneself to God; a genuine offering is one made according to God’s heart, for the sake of God’s house.
Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for bringing me to Bethel. I ask You to cause me not only to see the vision of God’s house, but also to offer myself to You anew. May my life no longer be for myself, but for Your heart’s desire and the building up of Your houses.