Jacob pours a drink offering and oil on the pillar of stone at Bethel

Jacob pours a drink offering and oil on the pillar of stone at Bethel

In response to God’s command to and covenant reaffirmation with Jacob, Jacob with reverence sets up a pillar of stone in that place where God had met and communed with him, and poured a drink offering on it, and poured oil upon it. Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel (Genesis 35:13-15).

As a reformed man with the name Israel, Jacob responds with reverence and worships God by setting up a pillar of stone, just as he had done before when he had the dream of angels ascending and descending the ladder between heaven and earth. Even in his first encounter with God, he had poured on the pillar of stone a drink offering and oil upon it and called the name Bethel (Genesis 28:10-19).

In other words, the altar, the drink offering and consecration by oil, and the naming of the place are all repeated. The first time it was by Jacob, the deceiver on his way away from the land that God had promised his fathers, and the second time it was by Jacob the reformed and renamed man as Israel, on his way back into the promised land that God has covenanted to give to his father Issac and grandfather Abraham.

Points to ponder:
Jesus is the stone pillar (a rock) who can be relied upon (Psalm 118:22-23, Daniel 2:34-35, 1 Corinthians 10:3). He is the ladder between God and man (John 1:51), upon whose command, ministering angels (Hebrews 1:14) ascend and descend to carry out God’s work amongst his people. Oil was used to anoint kings (1 Samuel 16:13) and metaphorically, the pouring of oil on top of the pillar of stone is indicative of the kingship of the anointed (the Christ or Messiah). Upon Jesus was the anointing of the Holy Spirit of the Lord (Isaiah 61:1, Acts 10:38) and He is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).

A drink offering is symbolic of a life of utmost dedication and devotion (2 Samuel 23:16) and service (Philippians 2:17) to the Lord. Jesus’ life was poured out as a drink offering for our salvation and in response, we must pour out our life in dedication, devotion, and service to Him.

Have you responded with reverence and do you worship God by consecrating your life by setting Christ the Pillar, the Rock, in your heart? Have you been anointed by the Holy Spirit who is given to everyone who believes in Jesus? Do you worship God by recognizing Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and consecrate your life to Him (as Israel did)!
And if you have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, is your life and mine poured out as a drink offering on Him and for Him?

Genesis 35:13-15 (KJV)
13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.
14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.
15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.