John Calvin Commentary Genesis 46:1

"And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac." — Genesis 46:1 (ASV)

And Israel took his journey. Because the holy man is compelled to leave the land of Canaan and go elsewhere, he offers, on his departure, a sacrifice to the Lord, for the purpose of testifying that the covenant which God had made with his fathers was confirmed and ratified to himself.

For, though he was accustomed to practice the external worship of God, there was yet a special reason for this sacrifice. And, doubtless, he then had a special need of support, lest his faith should fail: for he was about to be deprived of the inheritance promised to him and of the sight of that land which was the type and the pledge of the heavenly country.

Might it not come into his mind that he had until now been deluded with a vain hope? Therefore, by renewing the memory of the divine covenant, he applies a suitable remedy against falling from the faith. For this reason, he offers a sacrifice on the very boundaries of that land, as I have just said; that we might know it to be something more than usual.

And he presents this worship to the God of his fathers, to testify that, although he is departing from that land, into which Abraham had been called; yet he does not thereby cut himself off from the God in whose worship he had been educated.

It was truly a remarkable proof of constancy that when cast out by famine into another region, so that he might not even be permitted to sojourn in the land of which he was the lawful lord; he yet retains, deeply impressed on his mind, the hope of his hidden right.

It was not without subjecting himself to odium that he differed openly from other nations by worshipping the God of his fathers. But what profit was there in having a religion different from all others?

Since, then, he does not repent of having worshipped the God of his fathers, and now also perseveres in fear and reverence towards him; from this we infer how deeply he was rooted in true piety.

By offering a sacrifice, he both increases his own strength and makes profession of his faith; because, although piety is not bound to external symbols, yet he will not neglect those helps, the use of which he has found to be, by no means, superfluous.