The ways of God toward man, however they may vary in form in succeeding dispensations, remain the same in principle. As vividly presented in the Old Testament history, they lay hold of our hearts and command our attention, whereas the doctrines which embody them are often but little apprehended and, alas! are readily set aside as having but little application to our daily life and walk. Besides this, there is the danger of the mind being in exercise with doctrines rather than the heart and conscience. We need to preserve the character of the “little child” who learns at first not by doctrine, but by observation of persons and facts to which his attention is drawn. Hence the importance of the Old Testament, by which we discover how truth is coordinated and in what manner it should affect the heart.
Bethel, the Dreadful Place
Jacob affords an instance of the heart’s workings. He was not a “profane” man, like Esau. In his own way he wanted to be right, and he coveted earnestly the promised blessing, but instead of waiting God’s time, he tried to obtain it for himself, with the result that he had to leave his home and flee to Padan-aram. On his journey, God sent him a wonderful dream, speaking to him from the top of the ladder upon which the angels of God were ascending and descending, affording unmistakable evidence that God would continually minister to his needs. In the morning, on awakening, he called the place “Bethel,” the house of God. He was made conscious of God’s presence, but this was more than he could bear, and he promptly left what to him was a “dreadful” place because it was “the gate of heaven” and continued his journey alone (Gen. 28). In his subsequent history, it is noteworthy how he avoided Bethel. Desirous though he was of obtaining blessing as an heir of promise, he was unprepared to meet God and have to do with Him in a close, personal way. But God’s grace pursued him. Twenty years after he had seen the vision, while still in Padan-aram, God appeared to him, saying, “I am the God of Bethel. . . . Arise, get thee out from this land.”
The Strange Gods
Who would have thought that “strange gods” would be found in Jacob’s household? But so it was. We too have to learn that our hearts are not to be trusted. Unless we are walking with God, our hearts and consciences being brought into the light and judged there, we may find ourselves going on with all kinds of evil things, while at the same time there may be a great deal of outward earnestness, a show of piety, and a seeking after blessing.
We must not trust ourselves. Our only safety is to have everything tested by the light of God’s Word and to walk in nearness to the Lord, in humility and dependence upon Him, that we may learn His mind, know more of communion with Himself, and thus, as kept by Him, escape both the perils and the seductive influences of the scene around us. The Lord give us to take to heart the lessons we see exemplified in Jacob.
W. J. Lowe