Genesis 28:10-19a
Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel,[c] though the city used to be called Luz. Genesis 28:10-19a (NIV)
For me, the book of Genesis is a little… dense. Between all the different stories are the genealogies that end up making my head spin. Having a specific section like this makes it a bit easier to digest and understand. Let’s add some context to Jacob and why he was traveling in the first place.
Jacob was born to Rebecca and Isaac, and the twin brother of Esau. Jacob, being the younger brother, was not supposed to get a lot of the birthright meant for the eldest son. Rebecca, having loved Jacob so much, basically had a plan to steal Esau’s rights, and make sure they went to Jacob. This plan was a success, but caused a rift between the brothers. Jacob was told to go to Harran in order to find a wife. On his travels, he stops at a certain place (which later becomes Bethel) and goes to sleep.
There is a lot of significance in this dream, and in the events that follow. Before this point, a lot of religion was very transactional, where people are encouraged to sacrifice and leave libations on holy ground in order to gain the protection of their gods. In Jacob’s dream, God comes and tells Jacob, much like Abraham and Isaac, that he will be the father of a great nation.
Just like with Jacob, God is with us wherever we go. Through all of our wanderings, we know that God’s plan will always prevail. And also like Jacob, God has a plan for each one of us. The Hebrews believed in a “living God”, which set them apart from other people of their time. Their God was different, because it wasn’t just about a transactional way of thinking, it was about a personal relationship with God. Other gods required libations and sacrifices in order to be appeased. Just as Jacob had a personal relationship with God, we can have one too. We have a relationship with God, not because it’s a transaction, but because God simply loves us and wants us to love them.
Questions for Reflection:
- What are some ways in your life that God has protected you?
- God is with us wherever we go. In what ways have you felt God with you?
Prayer:
Dear God,
May we feel you in the big and small,
And remember the promises to your people.
Help us to remember that you are with us always,
And we are truly never alone,
even in our darkest days.
Amen
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