The Christian's Journey - 2

Introduction: In comparison to Israel's Journey from Abraham to the Promised Land, Do you ever wish things could go back to how they used to be? Do you ever think of "better days"? Do you ever retreat in your heart and mind to a place from which you can draw strength, encouragement, or even direction? Does this retreat help you move forward in your life?

• Text: Genesis 13:3 "And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai."

1. The Account:
• Genesis 12:8-13:4, 28:10-19, 35:1-15
• Judges 20:18, 31, 21:2, 20:26-28, I Kings 12:28-33, 13:1, Hosea 4:15, 5:8, 10:5, 8, II Kings 17, 28, 29.
2. The Details: Bethel-means "House of God"
• Features: became a house of God as Abraham, and then Jacob met God and built an altar.
• Place where Israel sought counsel in troubled times of judges.
• Ark of covenant kept here under Phinehas.
• After Israel was divided, the golden calf was placed here, turning it into "Bethaven" (house of idols)
• Priests remained in Bethel after Assyrian captivity.
3. The Application: 
• Go to God's house
• Go back to God's house
• Live in God's house
4. The Recommendations:
• Going to God's house means leaving your house, meeting God on His terms (Isaiah 6:5), and being forever affected and changed (Matthew 17:7)
• Going back to God's house means realizing Who God is (Matthew 16:15-17), having a desire to be there (Jonah 6:67-68), and realizing your need for His touch upon your life (Luke 5:31)
• Living in God's house means behaving as if you were at His house all the time (Job 13:15), changing your heart and behavior (Psalms 19:13, Phil 3:14-21), and getting others to His house to meet God (John 4:28-30)

Conclusion:

   At times, God takes us back to a place in our lives so that we may move forward, remembering Him and going things right. That place we go back to most often should be our "Bethel" where we met God and God had an effect on us.

GB Essie