Set up a pillar— For a monument and an altar, which he consecrated with the usual form, by pouring wine and oil upon it. Thus he dedicated the place to God, and, no doubt, performed all that he had vowed, ch. 28:
Some one, speaking of Jacob's vow, excellently observes, "Though God always gives when he receives, and more and better than he receives; and though he is content to make conditions with us, that if we will through his grace do our part, perform our duty to him, he will give us all those blessings which he hath promised, or we can expect; yet we may not presume to make conditions with him, that if he will first bestow such and such favours upon us, we will then serve him, and put our trust in him, to which Jacob's form of prayer seems to incite us: If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, &c. then shall the Lord be my God, &c. Genesis 28:20; Genesis 28:22. Jacob was no stranger to God when he made this vow; he had newly had a vision of him, God is in this place, &c. This is no other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven, &c. He had newly erected an altar to him, and consecrated it; and then he prayed, and made his vow, in confidence, not in doubt, if the Lord will be with me, &c. and what did he pray for? Nothing, but that he would keep him in the way that he went, give him bread to eat, and raiment to put on, &c. When God hath given us that evidence of his care of us which he did to Jacob, and we have given him that evidence of our dependence upon him which Jacob did, he will not take any (if) in our prayers or vows to him, to be a condition or a doubt of him, but an expression of our confidence in him, and dependence upon him, as it was in Jacob."
REFLECTIONS.—We have in the foregoing verses,
1. Jacob's preparation for his journey: better late than never. And as his abode must be at Beth-el, his family must go with him: but first they must get ready for the worship there to be performed, (1.) By putting away their idols. Note; There is no drawing near God with any prospect of acceptance, with allowed sin in the heart. (2.) By washing their garments, typical of that spiritual purity which becomes the worshippers of Jehovah. Note; We must have the fine linen white and clean, which is the righteousness of the saints, or our services cannot please God.
2. Their obedience. It was strange, that such idol vanities should be found in Jacob's family: but it was happy that they so readily consented to part with them. Had he commanded it before, he might have succeeded. Note; much might be done, yea, more than we imagine, if we had a greater zeal for God. All now are given up, even to their ear-rings, stampt with idol images, and worn as charms, and they are buried that they may never be found. Note; When we part with our sins, it must be with full purpose of heart never to return to them.
Having thus made the needful preparations, they journey in safety. Though justly incensed, God puts his fear upon the nations around. And as Jacob's family had now put away their idols, and were going to God's altar, none shall hurt them. Note; When we are about God's work, we are under his special care. And now they arrive,
1. He builds an altar, and with his family worships the God of Beth-el. It is our comfort in the church of God, to enjoy the presence and communion of the God of the church.
2. Rebekah's nurse is buried with respect and sorrow. Note; An old and faithful servant in a family deserves respect, and should, when lost, be lamented as a friend or a brother.
We have in the next place,
1. God's appearance to Jacob again in Beth-el. When we are found waiting upon God, he will not fail to meet us in his ways. God now confirms his name of Israel, as a new support against the fear of the Canaanites, and renews his covenant with him respecting the land and the seed to inherit it, as the Almighty God, able to fulfil his promises to the uttermost. Note; God hath given us Christ the Seed, and promised us heaven as the land. May we with Jacob rejoice in hope!
2. No sooner is the appearance of God's glory gone up from over him, than Jacob erects a noble memorial of the favour, and confirms the name of Beth-el to the place. How little did Jacob think, that this house of God should one day become Bethaven, a house of iniquity, and one of Jeroboam's calves be fixed upon this very pillar? Note; How many a church, when the faithful Jacob, the pastor, is gone, hath experienced this awful change!