20 There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel. Genesis 33
We saw yesterday after Esau (Type of the Carnal man, operating in the Flesh) and Jacob had parted that Jacob stopped in two places. We also noted that though Jacob and Esau were reconciled they didn’t walk or journey together.
17 Jacob, however, went to Sukkoth, where HE BUILT A PLACE ‘FOR HIMSELF’ AND MADE SHELTERS FOR HIS LIVESTOCK.
19 For a hundred pieces of silver, he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of ground WHERE HE PITCHED HIS TENT. 20 THERE HE SET UP AN ALTAR and called it El Elohe Israel.
At Sukkoth he erected Shelters For Himself and his livestock, but at Shechem, after he’d settled his camp, he built an Altar to the God of Israel. Jacob worshipped God at Shechem in the land of Canaan. There was AN ADDED DIMENSION to his life in Canaan, the land of Promise and Inheritance. We too, need to establish an altar of worship to inherit the promises of God over our own lives.
34 Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land. 2 When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the ruler of that area, saw her, he took her and raped her. 3 His heart was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob; he loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. Genesis 34
Jacob and his family soon experienced trouble from the other people living in the land, an assault on their sister. The people of Shechem then sought peace with Jacob and his sons but Simeon and Levi eventually destroyed them in revenge for the attack on Dinah.
27 The sons of Jacob came upon the dead bodies and looted the city where their sister had been defiled. 28 They seized their flocks and herds and donkeys and everything else of theirs in the city and out in the fields. 29 They carried off all their wealth and all their women and children, taking as plunder everything in the houses. Genesis 34
The Israelites carried off everything of value in Shechem. I believe Derek Prince once said, ‘You’ll never get the better of Jacob’. God watches over His Covenant people to this day.
30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “YOU HAVE BROUGHT TROUBLE ON ME by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land. We are few in number, and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.” Genesis 34
Jacob knew they had won the battle, but they could still lose the war if the enemy returned with greater force. TROUBLE IS NOT ALWAYS OF OUR OWN MAKING, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
35 Then God said to Jacob, “GO UP TO BETHEL (Move away) and settle there, AND BUILD AN ALTAR THERE TO GOD, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.” Genesis 35
God told Jacob to move to another place, where He’d previously met with him and BUILD AN ALTAR THERE. Settle there and worship God at Bethel, which means the House of God.
Immanuel, God is with us.