Returning to the place of blessing

Genesis 35:1-5 Then God said to Jacob, "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." So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods which are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments; and let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and has been with me wherever I have gone." So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem. As they journeyed, there was a great terror upon the cities which were around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.

"The Lord intervenes by reminding Jacob of his personal history; he bids him do as he had vowed years ago and go and dwell at Bethel. This blunt advice is good for all fevered souls restless to make the most of life, and scurrying hither and thither to find a sphere large enough for their talents. Our life on earth is but the preparatory school and, vital and decisive though it be, the fullness of life is in heaven. Anything we seem to miss here by keeping to what may seem to be the too-narrow way of the Lord's will, we shall enjoy in much greater fullness and without distraction there.

"The Lord's servant who would fulfil his calling must be prepared to let a lot go by him which he longs to share; but one of his inestimable gains is a true appreciation of pleasure, which is more truly felt for being within the divine pleasure, which is more keenly enjoyed for being a rarer experience. One of the shocks which awaits the sampler of infrequent simple pleasures is the cynicism and boredom of those who indulge without restraint, being not right with God, themselves or their fellows, and therefore in no state to enjoy them. We should train our tastes down here; we shall have ample use of them yonder.

"Before they leave Shechem, Jacob orders the surrender of all superstitious objects. As they travelled, the tribes they passed were struck with fear because God put a supernatural terror of them in their hearts. This is what God can do for those who turn to him with all their hearts, forsaking every other trust. Indeed, there is something awe-inspiring about a faith that has only an invisible means of support, yet prospers visibly. Even in church circles there is a most superstitious awe of this, but at least it affords freedom to those who live by invisible support to get on with their prosperous work unmolested."

from Through the Year with William Still