In our last lesson we learned that Esau was so angry with Jacob that he had decided to kill him. Their mother, Rebekah, learned of this plan and warned Jacob that he must flee. As we pick up the story today, Rebekah goes to Isaac (Gen 27:46) and again misleads him with a complaint about Esau’s wives. What does she tell him? Previously, Rebekah had told Jacob to flee for his life to her brother, Laban, and now she will get Isaac to send him there.
Read Gen 28:1-5. Isaac calls Jacob and sends him to Rebekah’s brother, Laban. He instructs Jacob to find a wife there among his family’s people just as Abraham had instructed when getting a wife for Isaac. Notice that the blessing he gives Jacob resembles closely the covenant promise that God had given to Abraham and to Isaac.
Read verses 6-9. We see that Esau has found out that Isaac sent Jacob away with a blessing to find a non-Canaanite wife. Remember, Esau had married two Canaanite women. They were Hittite women and the Hittites were idol worshippers. Realizing these women were displeasing to his father, Esau went to his uncle, Ishmael, and found one of his daughters to marry. Remember, also, that Esau was godless. He is marrying a third wife, and still not necessarily a God-fearing one. He has not sought Godly counsel from his parents. It is important to note, also, that this passage states specifically that Jacob had obeyed his parents’ instructions.
Read verses 10-11. Now we see Jacob leaving his home to flee Esau and go to Harran. He is in his seventies, just about the same age Abraham was when God asked him to leave Harran and go to Canaan. It is approximately a month’s travel to Harran. The incident we are about to read happened after Jacob was several days into his trip. He is in a place called Luz and he goes to sleep with a stone under his head for a pillow.
Verse 12 tells us what he saw in this dream. It is a ladder (KJV)/stairway (NIV) which sits on the ground on earth and reaches all the way to Heaven. Angels are going back and forth from Heaven and earth on it. Verses 13-15 tell us that Jacob saw God at the top of the ladder. What did God say to Jacob in the dream? Yes, it was the covenant promise He had given to Abraham and Isaac. God was reaffirming to Jacob that he was the one through whom the covenant promise would be fulfilled.
The ladder, in this dream, is a symbol, showing that the covenant promise is something which will bridge the gap between Heaven and earth. Man is unable to reach Heaven because of his sin, but a savior will come from this covenant nation that God will build which will enable man to be saved from his sin. What a marvelous promise this covenant is! In John 1:51, Jesus tells us that He is that ladder. He fulfills the promise that all nations will be blessed through Abraham’s descendants. We know that there is only one way to Heaven and that is through Jesus Christ, our Lord (John 14:6, I Tim 2:5).
In verses 16-17, Jacob wakes from his dream. He tells himself that surely the Lord is in this place. He decides that he must be at the gate of Heaven. In verses 18-19 we see that early the next morning, he takes the stone that he used as a pillow, set it on its end as a pillar, and anointed it with oil. Since Jacob has seen a portal to Heaven, he recognized this as a special place. Sacred stones and pillars were used often in this ancient time for religious purposes and so it is natural that Jacob would do this. He marks this special place and anointing the stone dedicates it to God. Jacob renames the place ‘Bethel’, which means ‘house of God’.
Read verses 20-22. We now see Jacob making a vow to God. A vow is a promise, usually with conditions. What conditions does Jacob expect from God? What does Jacob promise to God in return? This place, Bethel, is a part of that vow. Are we guilty of this? Do we set conditions for honoring God? I will do this IF God does such and such? Should we try to bargain with God? I am amazed sometimes at God’s great patience. Man can be incredibly self-serving, expecting an Almighty God to prove Himself worthy of our love. We must learn to seek God’s goodness and grace in all humility and awe.
Responding to God: Praise God for His majesty and goodness. Thank Him for His plan of salvation and the Savior He sent us. Ask Him to help you trust Him through difficult times. Thank God for the ministry of angels. Pray for God’s help in fleeing from sin. Ask His forgiveness for times you have tried to bargain with Him for His favor. Seek His help in trusting in His care over you.
Further Research: On the internet, search for information concerning Bethel.
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