Consecration

God said to Jacob, "get up! Go to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau."
So Jacob said to his family and all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you. Purify yourselves and change your clothes. We must get up and go to Bethel. I will build an altar there to the God who answered me in my day of distress. He has been with me everywhere I have gone."
Then they gave Jacob all their foreign gods and their earrings, and Jacob hid them under the oak near Shechem. When they set out, a terror from God came over the cities around them, and they did not pursue Jacob's sons. Genesis 35:1-5

Isn't it amazing what holiness and obedience can bring about? By rights Jacob's sons were a target from all the inhabitants because of how they slew all the men in Shechem for disgracing their sister Dinah.

The acts of holiness were: putting aside all foreign gods
Purifying themselves and changing their clothes and removing earrings 
Going with Jacob to Bethel
Offering a sacrifice

God knows how to protect His people, a terror came upon all the cities they passed. Now I wonder what that terror was? It would have been good.

What does God want of His people now? The same thing. Set ourselves apart, consecrate ourselves and worship Him. When we do He reveals Himself to us, fellowships with us and protects us.

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