December 4, 2025 • 11 mins
# 44 - Returning to Bethel - In this episode of The Chosen People we explore Jacob's journey back to the sacred place where he first encountered God, rediscovering faith, identity, and divine promises. This episode reflects on renewal, repentance, and the call to purify our hearts as we step into God's plan for our lives.
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Episode 44 of The Chosen People is inspired by the Book of Genesis.
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Amos 5:4, "Seek Me and live.”
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Previously on the Chosen people.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Go to the land. I have given you the place
where I met you before return Israel to Bethel.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Jacob led his caravan in the direction of Bethel, but
paranoia nagged at him.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
You have enough to dwell in Methyl, isolated from other
clans and trade. What if we fall on hard times?
Speaker 1 (00:26):
God had clearly told Jacob to go to Bethel, but
Jacob wondered if he could delay his obedience a little longer.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Tell me, Dinah, how has your family adjusted to being
this close to the city.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I can imagine it being quite a shock.
Speaker 5 (00:41):
My father enjoys the business connections.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
He plans to gain more wealth through trading until we
settle near Bethel.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I've watched you, Dinah.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
I've watched you come and go.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
I've watched you drop water from the well and dance
under the lanterns. Each moment I don't have you is painful.
I shall be rid of that pain today.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
But please no, Sheckhim ignored Dinah's please for mercy. He
seized her against the jagged stone walls and violated her.
Speaker 6 (01:17):
What are you going to do about what happened to Dinah?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
What can I do? Shechem is the son of the
most powerful man in the region.
Speaker 5 (01:24):
We shouldn't even be here.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
God told you to settle in Bethel.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I know, but I thought we could be here for
a while to regroup. I thought it would be good
for us.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Good for you.
Speaker 6 (01:36):
But you've left the rest of us vulnerable to the city.
Speaker 5 (01:40):
Your daughter was raped, Jacob, We Hebrews aren't perfect. Follow
my father around for a day and you'll realize that
we aren't perfectly upright men.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
But we do have honor.
Speaker 5 (01:54):
That's something that seems so foreign to you Canaanites.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
And your wife and I will pay it.
Speaker 7 (02:01):
The price is a life.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Simeon and Levi returned with Dinah blood still wet on
their faces and tunics. Jacob was waiting for them, his
face a storm of fury and fear.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Foolish boys, what have you done?
Speaker 5 (02:18):
What you should have done?
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Jacob stood alone, fists clenched, teeth grinding. A storm of
emotions wared within him. Shame at his son's greater sense
of honor, terror at the prospect of the city's vengeance,
Guilt for bringing his family into this place of doom
instead of leading them straight to Bethel. He was a
(02:40):
man caught between the duty of a father and the
fear of a leader, and in that moment, the weight
of both threatened to crash in. In that stillness, as
dawn's light crept over the horizon, its warmth brushed Jacob's chest,
(03:04):
stirring something deep within him. He drew in a long,
trembling breath, his heart heavy with the weight of his
son's actions and the unknown consequences they would bring. He
turned inward, seeking solace in the familiar comfort of prayer,
not as a patriarch, but as a child, seeking the
(03:24):
tender guidance of a.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Father, God, God, Most Die.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Help me.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
The warmth of the morning sun began to melt away
the icy grip of his anxiety, and in that sacred moment,
Jacob felt the presence of the Almighty once more, like
an old friend returned. The voice of the Lord was
not a thunderous roar from the heavens, but a quiet command,
intimate and unyielding.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Arise Israel back to Bethel, make an altar there and
worship me as you once did before.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Jacob nodded, stealing himself with the resolve that had carried
him through countless trials. His journey had never been a
straight path. It twisted with moments of triumph and transformation,
only to loop back into valleys of failure and despair. Yet,
like his forefathers, Jacob chose to press onward, ever, seeking
(04:26):
the will of the almighty. He returned to his camp,
his steps heavier now with purpose. He called together his family,
his sons, his servants, and the people who had come
to rely on him for guidance.
Speaker 6 (04:40):
Cleanse yourselves, change your garments, wash, throw away any ardles
you may have, and purify your hearts. A great danger
threatens us, but we will arise to Bethel to seek God,
who has always answered me wherever I go.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
The people obeyed, bringing forth their foreign gods, the idols
that had crept into their lives, and even the rings
from their ears. Jacob gathered them all and buried them
beneath the Terebinth tree near Shechem, a final act of
severance from the old life that had clung to them.
Their journey was a hurried one, driven by the fear
(05:17):
of retribution that lingered in their hearts. Yet as they
left the region behind, Jacob marveled at the absence of pursuit.
He sent scouts to the surrounding cities, and they returned
with word of chaos.
Speaker 7 (05:31):
Lord Jacob, the city of Shechem is in disarray, men
vying for power, wildfires and all sorts of terror us.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Do you knowledge? Does anyone plan to pursue us?
Speaker 7 (05:43):
Doubtful, my Lord. Every city and village is in complete disaster.
They'll take months, if not years, to recover. God has
moved a lob behalf pres on. We can move without fear.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
And so Jacob led his family through the Negev, across jagged,
arid landscapes and uprolling verdant hills. The journey was long
and hard, but with each step they drew closer to
the place where Heaven had once touched the earth before
Jacob's eyes. Finally, they arrived at the base of a
(06:17):
great hill overlooking the land of Canaan, and there stood Bethel,
the sacred place where Jacob had first encountered the Almighty.
The wind picked up as they ascended, whistling against Jacob's
weathered cheeks. The sun cast a crimson glow across the sky,
(06:38):
painting the clouds with fiery hues. Jacob felt the pull
of that place, as if it beckoned him to return
to remember, his family followed close behind their steps, echoing
the journey he had once taken alone. God did not
part the heavens this time, nor did he send angels
to descend on a ladder from the sky. Instead, he
(07:02):
spoke softly in the recesses of Jacob's heart, reminding him
of who he was and who he would become.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
I am the Lord God Almighty, Be fruitful and multiply.
A nation and a company of nations shall come from you,
and kings will come from among you. The land that
I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give to you,
(07:31):
and I will give the land to your off spring
after you.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Jacob stood at the summit and gazed upon the lash,
vibrant land below. He was where his father Isaac had stood,
where Abraham before him had once walked or filled him.
Or that a man as flawed and broken as he
could be chosen by the creator of Awe. He knew
he was not done failing. His journey was far from over.
(07:59):
Yet the face of all his imperfections, God blessed him,
blessed his family, the people of Israel, and Jacob knew
with a certainty that settled into his bones that the
Lord would not abandon them, no matter what trials awaited them.
He turned to his family, gesturing toward the stones he
(08:21):
had stagged so long ago as a monument.
Speaker 8 (08:23):
Each of you gather a stone and add it to
this monument. We will build an altar here and make
a sacrifice unto our God. It will be called El Bethel.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
As Jacob limped forward, his hand instinctively rubbing the old
wound on his hip, still sore from that night he
wrestled with God, he came upon a mound of dirt.
He closed his eyes, and a single tear slipped down
his weathered cheek, falling on to the earth that held
profound memories. In that moment, God spoke to him once more.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
No longer shall your name be Jacob. From this day forward,
Israel shall be your name. A he Am, God Almighty,
Be fruitful and multiply in this land. A nation and
a company of nations shall come from you, and kings
shall come from your own body. The land that I
(09:21):
gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give to you,
and I will give the land to your off spring
after you.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Jacob. Now Israel set up a pillar in the place
where God had spoken to him. He poured out a drink,
offering upon it, followed by oil, sanctifying the spot as holy.
As he worked, his mind drifted to the long path
he had walked to arrive at this moment. The wrong turns,
(09:51):
the missteps, the half measures, all of it let him
hear and through it all God had been with him
before and beh cleaning up his messes and paving the
way forward. He looked back at his sons, the future
of the people who would bear his new name. He
thought about the path ahead of them, the countless mistakes
(10:13):
they would inevitably make on their way to becoming a
great nation. He knew he could not shield them from
the trials and tribulations that awaited them, just as he
had not been shielded, But he did not pray for
their path to be perfect. Instead, he prayed for them
to have the strength to endure, to wrestle as he had,
(10:33):
to be bruised and broken, but to rise in the end,
sharing in the victory of their God. Such was the
path of Isaac and Abraham before him, and such would
be the path of Israel, a nation of broken people
chosen by God for greatness. This prey dot com production
(11:02):
is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents.
Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Schllabager and Ben Gammon are
the executive producers of The Chosen People. Narrated by Paul Coltofianu.
Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz,
Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher,
(11:27):
and Mitch Leshinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by
Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. You can hear
more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot Com app,
available on the Apple App Store and Google play Store.
If you enjoyed The Chosen People, please rate and leave
a review,
Previously on the Chosen people.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Go to the land. I have given you the place
where I met you before return Israel to Bethel.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Jacob led his caravan in the direction of Bethel, but
paranoia nagged at him.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
You have enough to dwell in Methyl, isolated from other
clans and trade. What if we fall on hard times?
Speaker 1 (00:26):
God had clearly told Jacob to go to Bethel, but
Jacob wondered if he could delay his obedience a little longer.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Tell me, Dinah, how has your family adjusted to being
this close to the city.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I can imagine it being quite a shock.
Speaker 5 (00:41):
My father enjoys the business connections.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
He plans to gain more wealth through trading until we
settle near Bethel.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I've watched you, Dinah.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
I've watched you come and go.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
I've watched you drop water from the well and dance
under the lanterns. Each moment I don't have you is painful.
I shall be rid of that pain today.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
But please no, Sheckhim ignored Dinah's please for mercy. He
seized her against the jagged stone walls and violated her.
Speaker 6 (01:17):
What are you going to do about what happened to Dinah?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
What can I do? Shechem is the son of the
most powerful man in the region.
Speaker 5 (01:24):
We shouldn't even be here.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
God told you to settle in Bethel.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I know, but I thought we could be here for
a while to regroup. I thought it would be good
for us.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Good for you.
Speaker 6 (01:36):
But you've left the rest of us vulnerable to the city.
Speaker 5 (01:40):
Your daughter was raped, Jacob, We Hebrews aren't perfect. Follow
my father around for a day and you'll realize that
we aren't perfectly upright men.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
But we do have honor.
Speaker 5 (01:54):
That's something that seems so foreign to you Canaanites.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
And your wife and I will pay it.
Speaker 7 (02:01):
The price is a life.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Simeon and Levi returned with Dinah blood still wet on
their faces and tunics. Jacob was waiting for them, his
face a storm of fury and fear.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Foolish boys, what have you done?
Speaker 5 (02:18):
What you should have done?
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Jacob stood alone, fists clenched, teeth grinding. A storm of
emotions wared within him. Shame at his son's greater sense
of honor, terror at the prospect of the city's vengeance,
Guilt for bringing his family into this place of doom
instead of leading them straight to Bethel. He was a
(02:40):
man caught between the duty of a father and the
fear of a leader, and in that moment, the weight
of both threatened to crash in. In that stillness, as
dawn's light crept over the horizon, its warmth brushed Jacob's chest,
(03:04):
stirring something deep within him. He drew in a long,
trembling breath, his heart heavy with the weight of his
son's actions and the unknown consequences they would bring. He
turned inward, seeking solace in the familiar comfort of prayer,
not as a patriarch, but as a child, seeking the
(03:24):
tender guidance of a.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Father, God, God, Most Die.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Help me.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
The warmth of the morning sun began to melt away
the icy grip of his anxiety, and in that sacred moment,
Jacob felt the presence of the Almighty once more, like
an old friend returned. The voice of the Lord was
not a thunderous roar from the heavens, but a quiet command,
intimate and unyielding.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Arise Israel back to Bethel, make an altar there and
worship me as you once did before.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Jacob nodded, stealing himself with the resolve that had carried
him through countless trials. His journey had never been a
straight path. It twisted with moments of triumph and transformation,
only to loop back into valleys of failure and despair. Yet,
like his forefathers, Jacob chose to press onward, ever, seeking
(04:26):
the will of the almighty. He returned to his camp,
his steps heavier now with purpose. He called together his family,
his sons, his servants, and the people who had come
to rely on him for guidance.
Speaker 6 (04:40):
Cleanse yourselves, change your garments, wash, throw away any ardles
you may have, and purify your hearts. A great danger
threatens us, but we will arise to Bethel to seek God,
who has always answered me wherever I go.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
The people obeyed, bringing forth their foreign gods, the idols
that had crept into their lives, and even the rings
from their ears. Jacob gathered them all and buried them
beneath the Terebinth tree near Shechem, a final act of
severance from the old life that had clung to them.
Their journey was a hurried one, driven by the fear
(05:17):
of retribution that lingered in their hearts. Yet as they
left the region behind, Jacob marveled at the absence of pursuit.
He sent scouts to the surrounding cities, and they returned
with word of chaos.
Speaker 7 (05:31):
Lord Jacob, the city of Shechem is in disarray, men
vying for power, wildfires and all sorts of terror us.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Do you knowledge? Does anyone plan to pursue us?
Speaker 7 (05:43):
Doubtful, my Lord. Every city and village is in complete disaster.
They'll take months, if not years, to recover. God has
moved a lob behalf pres on. We can move without fear.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
And so Jacob led his family through the Negev, across jagged,
arid landscapes and uprolling verdant hills. The journey was long
and hard, but with each step they drew closer to
the place where Heaven had once touched the earth before
Jacob's eyes. Finally, they arrived at the base of a
(06:17):
great hill overlooking the land of Canaan, and there stood Bethel,
the sacred place where Jacob had first encountered the Almighty.
The wind picked up as they ascended, whistling against Jacob's
weathered cheeks. The sun cast a crimson glow across the sky,
(06:38):
painting the clouds with fiery hues. Jacob felt the pull
of that place, as if it beckoned him to return
to remember, his family followed close behind their steps, echoing
the journey he had once taken alone. God did not
part the heavens this time, nor did he send angels
to descend on a ladder from the sky. Instead, he
(07:02):
spoke softly in the recesses of Jacob's heart, reminding him
of who he was and who he would become.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
I am the Lord God Almighty, Be fruitful and multiply.
A nation and a company of nations shall come from you,
and kings will come from among you. The land that
I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give to you,
(07:31):
and I will give the land to your off spring
after you.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
Jacob stood at the summit and gazed upon the lash,
vibrant land below. He was where his father Isaac had stood,
where Abraham before him had once walked or filled him.
Or that a man as flawed and broken as he
could be chosen by the creator of Awe. He knew
he was not done failing. His journey was far from over.
(07:59):
Yet the face of all his imperfections, God blessed him,
blessed his family, the people of Israel, and Jacob knew
with a certainty that settled into his bones that the
Lord would not abandon them, no matter what trials awaited them.
He turned to his family, gesturing toward the stones he
(08:21):
had stagged so long ago as a monument.
Speaker 8 (08:23):
Each of you gather a stone and add it to
this monument. We will build an altar here and make
a sacrifice unto our God. It will be called El Bethel.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
As Jacob limped forward, his hand instinctively rubbing the old
wound on his hip, still sore from that night he
wrestled with God, he came upon a mound of dirt.
He closed his eyes, and a single tear slipped down
his weathered cheek, falling on to the earth that held
profound memories. In that moment, God spoke to him once more.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
No longer shall your name be Jacob. From this day forward,
Israel shall be your name. A he Am, God Almighty,
Be fruitful and multiply in this land. A nation and
a company of nations shall come from you, and kings
shall come from your own body. The land that I
(09:21):
gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give to you,
and I will give the land to your off spring
after you.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Jacob. Now Israel set up a pillar in the place
where God had spoken to him. He poured out a drink,
offering upon it, followed by oil, sanctifying the spot as holy.
As he worked, his mind drifted to the long path
he had walked to arrive at this moment. The wrong turns,
(09:51):
the missteps, the half measures, all of it let him
hear and through it all God had been with him
before and beh cleaning up his messes and paving the
way forward. He looked back at his sons, the future
of the people who would bear his new name. He
thought about the path ahead of them, the countless mistakes
(10:13):
they would inevitably make on their way to becoming a
great nation. He knew he could not shield them from
the trials and tribulations that awaited them, just as he
had not been shielded, But he did not pray for
their path to be perfect. Instead, he prayed for them
to have the strength to endure, to wrestle as he had,
(10:33):
to be bruised and broken, but to rise in the end,
sharing in the victory of their God. Such was the
path of Isaac and Abraham before him, and such would
be the path of Israel, a nation of broken people
chosen by God for greatness. This prey dot com production
(11:02):
is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents.
Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Schllabager and Ben Gammon are
the executive producers of The Chosen People. Narrated by Paul Coltofianu.
Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz,
Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher,
(11:27):
and Mitch Leshinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by
Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. You can hear
more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot Com app,
available on the Apple App Store and Google play Store.
If you enjoyed The Chosen People, please rate and leave
a review,
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