Show Don't Tell: Genesis 35:1-15

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the rugged terrain, Jacob felt the weight of his past pressing down on him like the heavy cloak of night. God’s voice pierced through his turmoil, commanding him to return to Bethel—the sacred place where he had once encountered the Almighty in a dream, fleeing from the consequences of his own deceit. It was here, under the vastness of the sky, that he had seen a stairway extending to heaven, and felt the presence of God at his back, urging him onward.

With trembling hands, Jacob gathered his family, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and resolve. “We must purify ourselves,” he declared, urgency lacing his voice. “Remove the foreign gods from among us.” In that moment, the air grew thick with anticipation as his household responded. One by one, they stepped forward, shedding the trinkets and talismans that had woven themselves into their lives—tiny idols, glinting earrings, and forgotten tokens of a life lived in disobedience. They piled them beneath an ancient oak tree, a solemn grave for the remnants of their old ways, where the earth swallowed their past, promising a fresh start.

With every step toward Bethel, their fear transformed into awe. The towns they passed fell silent, as if the very air recognized the divine shift happening within Jacob and his family. No one dared pursue them; they were enveloped in a protective shroud of God’s favor.

When they finally arrived at Bethel, Jacob constructed an altar from rough-hewn stones, each one a testament to his commitment. As he knelt in prayer, the heavens opened, and God spoke once more, reaffirming Jacob’s new identity: “You are Israel now.” The promise of his lineage was renewed, and the man who had once met God while running from his fears now stood transformed—steadfast, obedient, and assured of his place in God’s unfolding story. The air crackled with the electricity of redemption, and in that sacred moment, Jacob grasped the profound truth that obedience is not just a return to a place, but a journey into the fullness of life with God.