Genesis 35

Genesis 35:1

He was to go thither to build an altar for sacrifice of thanksgiving, for deliverances received, and to strengthen his faith in God’s protection against present fears; chap. xxxiv. 30

Genesis 35:2

Their outward purification was to be attended with internal purification of their heart from idols, or from cruel dispositions

Genesis 35:7

He had formerly called it Bethel, the house of God. Now, to test his experience of God’s fulfilment of his promises, he calls it El-bethel, the God of Beth-el

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXXV.—Alas! how apt are the best of saints to forget their Bethel-enjoyments, and their Bethel-rows, till the Lord by his providence shuts them up, and by his word reminds them of them! and yet how precious are such visits, and how fixed and lasting ought to be our care in maintaining intimate fellowship with God, when once we have attained it. What corruptions and idols have need to be purged from the best hearts and families on earth, especially before solemn approaches to God; for let us always remember, there is no acceptable drawing near to God without having on Jesus’ righteousness and grace, nor with allowed sin in the heart: and sins must be put away with a resolution never to return to them. How much better to pay our vows too late than never! What deaths, what disorders may we expect to meet with on earth! But surely it is a mercy much to be esteemed, that our forgetfulness of God doth not make him forget his kindness or promises to us! he often sweetens our past troubles, and prepares us for future ones, with the manifestations of his favour; and his sweetness never changes, even when the family, the wives, the children, or other created enjoyments, which we have so impatiently desired, prove deathful or distressing to us. Ah! how plainly man’s sins are written on their judgments! and how infatuated they must be who think so little of death, amidst so many births, deaths, and graves, which all warn us of it! May our hearts be set upon our Christ, our family, our house eternal in the heavens! An old age on earth is so filled up with sins and troubles, that it is scarcely worth coveting.—But in the now-deceased Isaac let me behold my Redeemer! How often promised! how earnestly desired! how long expected! how supernatural, and how gladdening to angels and men, was his birth! How maliciously was He, the Father’s only begotten Son, hated, mocked, and persecuted, by his Jewish brethren, at the expence of their ejection from the church of God! With what cheerfulness he assumed our nature, bore our sins and punishments, bore his cross, and laid down his life a ransom for men, that he might render the everlasting covenant a new testament in his blood, and purchase all spiritual blessings for us! being raised from death, he is espoused to a chosen church, chiefly consisting of Gentile sinners; and his blood, his prayers, and his power, produce a most numerous offspring of spiritual and professed seed. But how great is his glory at his Father’s right hand! and he will be glorious in the church below, where he digs the wells of salvation, to give drink to his people, notwithstanding the envy of a carnal world. For a time, what a struggle between his Jewish and Gentile church, till at last the former, rejecting their birthright, and forfeiting their blessing, were cast out, and the latter became the highly favoured, but much afflicted people of God