Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
WELL DIGGERS - LEARNING FROM JACOB’S BETHEL EXPERIENCE 4. BETHEL IS WHERE GOD HAS THE PREEMINENCE
Genesis 2813: “Behold, the Lord stood above it (the ladder), and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac.”
Bethel is a place where God’s preeminence is revealed. It is a place where God speaks to us. Some translations say that God came alongside Jacob or over Jacob. However, most translate the passage as the King James Bible does as “above the ladder.” The Amplified says “And behold, the Lord stood over and beside him and said . . . “
I like the idea that God is preeminent over angels and not in any way compared to, or alongside the angels. Jacob’s faith was not focused on angels. Talking of Christ Hebrews 1:4 states that He is “made so much better than the angels as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:6 says: “And let all the angels of God worship him.”
We rejoice that we have ministering angels. Hebrews 1:14 says: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” However, Jacob’s attention was not centered on the helpful angels, but on the One who was above them and sending them.
Our Bethel is to be a place where there is no doubt that God in Christ is preeminent. Bethel (God’s house) is to be a place where we hear what God says to us. His words have absolute preeminence in our lives. Colossians 1:18 says: “That in all things he might have the preeminence.”
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell
