The Bethel of Your Soul

by Jennifer Rothschild

www.jenniferrothschild.com/java

In 1851, a group of missionaries to Tierra del Fuego was stranded in bitter cold waiting for their supply ship to arrive. Unfortunately, before the ship arrived, they died of cold and starvation. One of the missionaries, Richard Williams, a surgeon and Methodist lay preacher, recorded his thoughts in his journal. On April 18th he wrote, "Poor and weak though we are, our abode is a very Bethel to our souls, and God we feel and know is here."

The brave and faithful man wrote that the place of his starvation and bleakness was a "Bethel" to him. What an interesting description of a place of physical barrenness. He was a surgeon and knew even more than his companions the horrendous effect of their lack of food and shelter. He knew their demise was imminent. Yet, he called this situation of his soul "Bethel." He knew and felt God was there.

The word Bethel means "house of God." When I imagine a house of God, it is shiny and beautiful, comforting and elegant, vast and warm. Dr. Williams described their setting, their abode, as Bethel...a house of God? There was nothing about that place that was comforting, warm, elegant or beautiful. It was more a desert of suffering--bleak and terrifying. Yet, he called that terrible place Bethel, for he found the comfort of God's presence within his soul, regardless of the conditions that surrounded him.

He likened it to Jacob's encounter with God in a barren place. The story is recounted in Genesis 28:10-19. Though Jacob lied beneath the stars without tent or blanket, he was confident his God made him to dwell in safety. Though the hard ground was his pallet and a cold stone his pillow, he called his place of rest Bethel, for God was with him. He could lie down and sleep upon a stone because he was with God and God was with him. Thus, he rested in Bethel.

Jesus promises to make the address of our soul Bethel, no matter where our body is located. He said, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:23) Your soul is the very dwelling place of God if you trust and follow Jesus. God is there.

A few weeks after that stirring April entry in Williams' diary, on May 7th Dr. Williams wrote, "Should anything prevent my ever adding to this, let all my beloved ones at home rest assured that I was happy beyond description when I wrote these lines and would not have changed situations with any man living."

He wouldn't have traded places with anyone living because he was living in Bethel. He made his abode with God and God made His abode with him. Within his suffering, his soul's residence was Bethel.

Is your soul Bethel? Is your very life the house of God? If so, rest there, even if it is cold and dreary at times--even if you lay your head on a stone rather than a pillow. The house of God is beautiful.

~Dear YaYa Sister, welcome home!