Genesis 35:14

Is it any wonder that Jacob set up a pillar of stone to mark that spot of divine grace? He poured a drink offering and oil upon it. He called its name Bethel with a fullness of honour unknown before.

And now God reveals Himself almighty, as He did with Abraham, and confirms to Jacob the promise He had made to Abraham. Jacob sets up his pillar of stone, and pours his drink offering and oil upon it. He too names the place afresh — Bethel, as if he had never named it before. And he had never named it with understanding.

Jacob has his "Bethel." God had spoken to him from the top of the ladder, but now He comes down… This is not the half-fearing, half-worshipping cry, "How awesome is this place." He had been a "supplanter." His name, as a man, was "Jacob." But God will not give him that name. "Israel" is God's name for him… He has revealed Himself as "God Almighty," and Jacob can name the place "the house of God."

I have long thought the "drink offering" was not so much the sacrifice — it was not a sacrifice at all. It was the divine delight gained as the result of a work done both for the pleasure of God and the blessing of His creature. That is why it always comes in last… Jacob poured out the first "drink offering" ever recorded in Scripture, Gen. 35:14. Here, I gather, it was the result of God's dealings with Jacob. At last he is in full communion with God, and from then on he moves in a way that pleases God… The sacrifice was offered up and so consumed. The "drink offering" was poured out and so remains.

This offering was not usually made on its own, but see Genesis 35:14… The drink offering may picture joy in the Spirit, in the sense of the value of Christ's work done for God's glory.

God makes known the settled disposition of His heart still to bless Jacob. What comes of it is that Jacob puts up a pillar and pours a drink offering upon it, and oil upon it. He learns that God would still bless him, and he responds now to God. God has this in mind for us too. He would not only bless us in our circumstances. He would give us such a sense of Who He is, and that He is for us, that we adore Him as the God Who has shepherded us all our life.

No one will escape this moral distance by doing as Jacob did, and joining him as a bargainer with God, or a vow-maker. We must be receivers, and not givers. We must stay under the new name of Israel (after the wrestling is finished), for we are dead. Then "the fruit of the Spirit" takes the character David gave to his offerings and the offerings of the princes: "Of your own have we given you." Whatever comes from God goes back to Him in the sweet savour of Christ, who produces it in us.

He may set up a pillar, a pillar of stone. He may open his act of worship with an offering of thanksgiving. He may call the place where God spoke with him Bethel. But it comes to nothing. He has no heart, and God no grace, until in Egypt he finds his forerunner, God's Heir.