Jacob was a very tolerant man; in fact, he was so passive it almost cost him his family. He was NOT WHERE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, and because of that he was around people he should not have been around and they were badly influencing his family. His daughter was not well protected, resulting in her being raped in a city God never told Jacob to stay in. So, God said to Jacob, “get up and go up to Bethel and STAY THERE; and make an altar there to Me.” Jacob and his family journeyed, and THE TERROR OF GOD WAS UPON THE CITIES that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.” (Genesis 35:5) Jacob’s family were going from Shechem, through enemy territory to Bethel but God, who can do anything, protected Jacob.
The result of Jacob’s obedience was that God faithfully BROUGHT HIM SAFELY TO BETHEL. As Abraham and Isaac had done before, Jacob built an altar and named it in commemoration of the Lord’s appearing to him there when he left for Haran. Then for a second time Jacob’s name WAS CHANGED TO “ISRAEL.” Obey God and even, “…though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death…
WE WILL FEAR NO EVIL; FOR YOU ARE WITH US…(Psalms 23:4)
-Bill Stockham