GET RID OF THE FOREIGN GODS / GENESIS 35:2

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(KJV) Genesis 35:2

Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

Leaving the “Foreign Gods” Behind: 5 Steps to Spiritual Renewal

After the tragic and chaotic events in Shechem (Genesis 34), Jacob’s family found themselves at a spiritual crossroads. They had drifted, settled into comfort, and allowed the culture around them to seep into their household.

It was in this moment of crisis that God spoke clearly to Jacob: “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God.” (Genesis 35:1)

Bethel was the place of Jacob’s first profound encounter with the Almighty. It was where he should have been all along. Realizing how far his family had drifted from God’s purpose, Jacob gave a decisive command to his household: “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes.” (Genesis 35:2)

Jacob understood that you cannot build a holy altar to a true God while holding onto the idols of a false culture. His family’s journey back to Bethel provides a timeless blueprint for our own spiritual renewal. Here are five elements of that transformation:

1. Removing What Offends God

Renewal begins with an honest inventory. Jacob’s household had literal household idols, but today, “foreign gods” take different shapes. They are the habits, relationships, media, and hidden mindsets we rely on instead of God. True renewal requires us to identify and completely remove anything that competes with God for our affection.

2. Committing to Personal Holiness

Jacob told his family to purify themselves and change their clothes. In scripture, changing garments symbolizes a shift in identity and character. Spiritual renewal is not just about stopping bad behaviors; it is a conscious decision to put on righteousness, choose purity, and live a life set apart for God’s purposes.

3. Renewing Commitments Through True Worship

When Jacob finally arrived at Bethel, he built an altar (Genesis 35:7). He returned to the promises he made to God years prior (Genesis 28:20-22). Worship is our reset button. It aligns our hearts back with the truth of who God is and reminds us of the vows we have made to follow Him.

4. Having Fellowship with God

Once the idols were gone and the altar was built, Genesis 35:9 notes that God appeared to Jacob again. Getting rid of the clutter in our lives clears the communication lines with Heaven. God desires intimate fellowship with us, but He will not share His throne with idols.

5. Living by God’s Word and Spiritual Sacrifice

God reaffirmed Jacob’s new name—Israel—and reminded him of the covenant (Genesis 35:10-15). Jacob responded by pouring out a drink offering and oil (Genesis 35:14). Renewal sticks when we anchor ourselves to God’s Word and remain willing to offer our time, resources, and lives as a living sacrifice.

The Reward of Return

When Jacob took spiritual leadership and cleaned house, everything changed. Genesis 35:5 tells us that “the terror of God fell upon the towns all around them,” protecting them from their enemies.

By burying their foreign gods, Jacob’s family exchanged terror for God’s presence, protection, revelation, and blessing. If you feel distant from God today, take heart. The road to Bethel is always open. All it takes is a willingness to let go of what is holding you back.

A Closing Prayer for Renewal

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today acknowledging that, like Jacob’s family, it is so easy for us to drift. We confess that we have allowed the “foreign gods” of this world—distraction, comfort, compromise, and anxiety—to take up space in our hearts.

Give us the courage to look honestly at our lives today. Help us to identify and bury the things that offend You. We want to clean our hands and purify our hearts. We desire to return to our “Bethel”—the place of true worship, deep fellowship, and complete reliance on Your Word.

We invite Your presence back into the center of our homes, our families, and our minds. Thank You for Your grace that meets us in our messy places and invites us to start fresh. May we walk under Your protection and live to be a blessing to others.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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