7.12.06

El-Bethel

The names of God communicate the nature of God. Each name by which God reveals himself to us in the Scriptures tells us something about who he is. When Moses asked for God's name he got a statement: "I AM!" God's eternal nature is revealed to us not just in the past, nor just for the future, but he breaks into our present as the eternal "I AM". What he was in the pages of the Bible, he is today, and ever more shall be. Of course of all the name of God, the name of Jesus is the name above all names, because only in Jesus do we see the fullness of the nature of God revealed. Nevertheless each of the other names by which God reveals himself are still highly significant statements of who he is.

El-Bethel means "The God of the House of God". This name encapsulates the heart of what I have been sharing this week. God is the one who is made manifest in the church, which is his spiritual house.

This name was given by Jacob after two significant encounters with the Lord. The first was his vision at night where he saw the angels of God ascending and descending upon the place where he slept. In an interesting parallel with 1 Corinthians 14:25 he exclaims, "Surely the Lord is in this place!" and he names the place Bethel which means "house of God".

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it." And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."

The church, as the house of God, is thus also the "gate to heaven". When we come together to worship the Lord, not only do we come to Zion, but heaven comes to earth. There is a heavenly and prophetic nature to our corporate gathering whether we perceive this or not. In bowing the knee and confessing Jesus as Lord, heaven and earth overlap and God's kingdom is manifest on earth as it is in heaven in a way that will one day fill the whole earth.

The second encounter occurred at the same place, and was when God made his covenant with Jacob and changed his name to Israel, promising that he would be multiplied to become many nations, producing kings and inheriting all the land. In response Israel renames the place "El-Bethel", "God of the House of God."

It's great to realise that we come to the house of God, but even more important to grasp that when we do we will encounter the God who dwells there. Those who encounter Bethel are impressed and impacted, but it is those who encounter El-Bethel who are truly transformed.

6 comments:

Steven Carr said...

'Then Jacob awoke from his sleep...'

Some late breaking news has just come in. What happens in a dream is not real.

Chris Hamer-Hodges said...

Hi Steven. I'm glad you're still visiting.

I'm sure Jacob was aware of that too. What is clear from this passage, and other places in Scripture, is that not all dreams are equal.

Steven Carr said...

Sorry, but what happens in a dream is not real.

And any religion which says it is, is crazy.

Anonymous said...

Steven... what about those dreams where you dream you are going to the toilet and you wake up and...

Chris - this was the heart of the teaching I did on hospitality last Monday, great minds...?

Chris Hamer-Hodges said...

...are led by the same Spirit.

Matthew, Thanks. I've not read those notes yet, but I will now. :-)

Steven, I care very little what religion says, crazy or otherwise. But I care a lot about what God says, however he chooses to say it!

Anonymous said...

Hello Chris:

I greet U through the Holy Spirit. Your sight is simply amazing. I have bee a minister for more than 15 years, got burnt out because I was ministering and trying to carry everyone and everything, talk abou EGO. Now I have RETURNED TO DO gOD'S WORK WITH FERVOUR BUT WITH GREATER UNDERSTANDING AND INSIGHT. We are planting a new ministry "EL BETHEL TRANSFORMATION MINISTRY" We are a new and upcoming ministry with purpose and inclusive (NON-DENOMINATIONAL). I relate so much to your discourse on Bethel being changed to El Bethel but Jacob was also changed to Israel, great transformation by the grace of God.

GOD blessings upon U and your immediate family and your church family. I will keep in touch.

Pastor CherylAnn Van De Cruize
Toronto Ontario, Canada