Gen 35:9-13 | KingComments | STEP | When Jacob has put his personal relationship with God in order, God appears to him again in Bethel. That is thirty years after his appearance to him in Bethel, when he fled from Esau ( ; ). Here He confirms Jacob’s new name. In connection with this He blesses him. Jacob responds by setting up a sign. He also had set up a memorial stone at the previous apparition. Then he only poured oil on it ( ). Now he first pours a drink offering of wine on it and then pours oil on it. He thus connects – in picture – to this sign both joy (wine) and the power of the Holy Spirit (oil). The prophet Hosea reminds the people of this speaking of God. Hosea wants to point out the relationship between God and His people. This is reflected in the words “there He spoke with us”, which shows fellowship ( ). It says, “with us ” and not ‘with him’. Jacob represents the whole people. Hosea says, as it were, to the people: ”There He spoke to us through Jacob; what He said to Jacob there also applies to us.” With this Hosea tells the people that a people who long for fellowship with God must remove the idols. That is what happened at Bethel. After Jacob had cleansed his house, he met God in Bethel. What Jacob did – put away the foreign gods – Ephraim and Judah should have done, but they did not. This event must also appeal to us if we desire to live in fellowship with God.

‏ Genesis 35:9-13

God Appears to Jacob Again

When Jacob has put his personal relationship with God in order, God appears to him again in Bethel. That is thirty years after his appearance to him in Bethel, when he fled from Esau (Gen 35:1; Gen 28:12-13). Here He confirms Jacob’s new name. In connection with this He blesses him.

Jacob responds by setting up a sign. He also had set up a memorial stone at the previous apparition. Then he only poured oil on it (Gen 28:18). Now he first pours a drink offering of wine on it and then pours oil on it. He thus connects – in picture – to this sign both joy (wine) and the power of the Holy Spirit (oil).

The prophet Hosea reminds the people of this speaking of God. Hosea wants to point out the relationship between God and His people. This is reflected in the words “there He spoke with us”, which shows fellowship (Hos 12:4b). It says, “with us” and not ‘with him’. Jacob represents the whole people. Hosea says, as it were, to the people: ”There He spoke to us through Jacob; what He said to Jacob there also applies to us.”

With this Hosea tells the people that a people who long for fellowship with God must remove the idols. That is what happened at Bethel. After Jacob had cleansed his house, he met God in Bethel. What Jacob did – put away the foreign gods – Ephraim and Judah should have done, but they did not. This event must also appeal to us if we desire to live in fellowship with God.