“Then 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 in the way which I have gone” Genesis 35:3, NKJV.

Jacob made a vow to God that He would serve Him, and God had told Jacob to go back to Bethel. He didn’t tell him to go to another town, or stop in another city. Jacob was headed to Bethel, but he decided to stop on the way there and dwell in Shehem. When he did, several things happened to his family, his sons took several lives and his household became defiled. God spoke to him again and reminded him of what he was supposed to do. Then, Jacob told his family we need to arise and go up to Bethel and he got back on track.

Some things may very well be happening in your life because you’ve come short of obeying God. Something took you off course and you are out of His will for your life. Somehow you have found yourself in a rough place and you are wondering why am I going through it. You were on the way, focused and ready to do what God said, but something got you off track. Before you realized it, you have become complacent, stagnant or even slid into turning away from God.

Let go of what’s not of Him and arise. It’s time to go up to Bethel. It means “house of God” and represents a right relationship with Him and being where He wants you to be. You have to recognize how you have disobeyed Him (or even left Him), refocus and revisit His will for you. Pray and go back to the very last thing you remember the Lord instructed you do. Start from there, and like Jacob, God is merciful, gracious and will get you back on track.

Prayer: Father help me. I know why all of this is happening in my life and I see why. I need to rise and go back to my Bethel. I haven’t completely obeyed You and I repent. Show me where I have missed the mark, and help me by Your grace, get back into the center of Your will. You did it for Jacob and I thank You for doing it for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Study: Genesis 28:20-22; 31:3; 35:1-5