Lesson: Genesis 28:10-22
Golden Text: “And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of” (Genesis 28:15).
INTRODUCTION. In Abraham we saw a man of great faith and belief in the word of God. In Isaac, we saw someone who could be viewed as having less stature as a man of faith when compared with Abraham, but the promise of the covenant still rested on him. In this week’s lesson we see Jacob a man with whom we can more easily identify with, a man of many failings and flaws. However, God continued the blessing of Abraham on Jacob. The land would still belong to him and his descendents, and the promised Messiah would certainly come through his line. In our lesson, God revealed Himself to Jacob and then established a working relationship with him.
II. A MESSAGE TO
JACOB FROM GOD (Genesis 28:10-15).
Background for the
Lesson: The birth
of Esau and Jacob to Isaac began another era, one in which sibling rivalry
reached a new level. Isaac and Ishmael had gone through difficult
times, but they had different mothers. Sending Hagar and Ishmael
away brought their competition to a halt. But the rivalry between
twins, Jacob and Esau was an entirely different situation. This
rivalry was destined to lead to trouble when we read that “Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but
Rebekah loved Jacob” (see Genesis 25:28).
Jacob’s trickery was the immediate cause of this broken
relationship. First he tricked Esau into trading his birthright
for some stew (see Genesis 25:29-34). Sometime afterwards, we
don’t know how long, under the guidance of his mother Rebekah, Jacob stole the
blessing that belonged to the firstborn Esau by tricking his father Isaac into
thinking he was Esau (see Genesis chapter 27). As a result of this
deception, we are told that “Esau hated Jacob
because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his
heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my
brother Jacob” (see Genesis 27:41). However, Isaac’s death was not
as close as Esau thought because Isaac lived more than forty more years (see
Genesis 35:28). When Rebekah learned that Esau planned to kill her
favorite son, she told him to flee to Haran to her brother Laban and wait there
a few days to give Esau enough time to get over his anger (see Genesis
27:43-45). Unfortunately those few days would turn into twenty
years before Jacob returned to Canaan and there is no record that she ever saw
her favorite son again. After advising Jacob to leave, Rebekah
went to Isaac and convinced him to send Jacob to Padan-aram to his uncle Laban
to find a wife (see Genesis 27:46-28:1-5). Padan-aram was the area
in northern Mesopotamia which included Haran where Laban lived.
This is where our lesson begins.
A. Dreaming of heaven
(Genesis 28:10-12).
1. (vs. 10). Isaac and his family were living in Beersheba at this time (see Genesis 26:26-33). Therefore this verse says “And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.” Just as Isaac had directed him, but more importantly to get away from Esau, Jacob left “Beersheba” secretly and by himself heading for “Haran” to find a wife (see Genesis 28:1-2). After leaving Ur of the Chaldees, Abraham spent time in Haran before moving on to Canaan (see Genesis 11:31). The distance between Beersheba and Haran was about 450 miles and Jacob would be travelling alone.
2. (vs. 11). This verse says “And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.” After travelling about fifty miles (the distance between Beersheba and Bethel, the name Jacob would give to this stopping point) Jacob “lighted upon a certain place.” The word “lighted” means “to come to” or “to arrive.” Jacob arrived at a “certain place.” This was the place where God intended Jacob to spend the night. It was more God’s will than the fact that “the sun was set” or that it was getting dark. Having travelled about fifty miles or about two or three days, Jacob probably stopped for the night at least twice to sleep. However, God wanted him at this “certain place” to meet with Jacob. At this particular place, Jacob took some of the stones there and used them “for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.” No doubt Jacob spread some of his garments over the stones for comfort while he slept.
3. (vs. 12). As Jacob slept, we are told that “he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.” Jacob dreamed and saw a ladder that stretched from earth to heaven with angels going up and down on the ladder. Note: Through the ages there have been many interpretations concerning the significance of the ladder or stairway. No one knows for sure what the ladder and the angels represented, but it is possible that it all symbolized the divide between Jacob and God. Remember that Jacob was running from Esau because of all the wrong he had done. However, God through this vision wanted Jacob to know that only He could bridge the divide between them caused by his sinful actions. The angels could represent the fact that God was about to communicate with Jacob. This seems to be a reasonable interpretation in light of what Jesus said to Nathanael after he confessed Him as the Son of God. Jesus said “Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man (see John 1:51). Christ is the ladder bridging the gulf between a holy God and sinful man.
B. Repeating the covenant (Genesis 28:13-14).
1. (vs. 13). Still referring to the ladder in the dream, this verse says “And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.” The Lord stood at the top of the ladder that reached from heaven to earth. In case Jacob didn’t know who was speaking to him, God identified Himself saying “I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac.” God used His covenant name “Lord” or Jehovah. He used the same name when He reaffirmed His covenant with Abraham (see Genesis 15:7). God identified Himself as the “God of Abraham thy father” who was actually Jacob’s grandfather. The word “father” in Scripture can refer to any forefather. The Lord began to repeat the covenant He had made with both Abraham and Isaac stating that He would give Jacob and his “seed” or descendents, the very land that he was laying on. Even though he had travelled about fifty miles, he was still in the land that had been promised to his grandfather and his father. Jacob would soon be out of the land once he continued his journey, but that didn’t mean it would be taken from him. Wherever Jacob ended up, God would eventually bring him back to Canaan. Note: One might think that Jacob’s previous actions would cause God to withdraw His promises from him, but He didn’t. Remember, this covenant was unconditional meaning that only God had the obligation of keeping it. Neither Abraham Isaac nor Jacob had any responsibility in keeping it. This should also remind us of the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 11:29: “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” In other words, God’s gifts and calling cannot be withdrawn.
2. (vs. 14). From the top of the ladder, the Lord continued to repeat the covenant. He said “And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” The covenant included the fact that Jacob’s descendents “shall be as the dust of the earth” meaning they would be large in number. His descendents would also spread far and wide in every direction from where he was at that moment. In addition, God said “in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” This is a reference to Jesus Christ, the Messiah who would be a descendent of Jacob and whose coming would be a blessing to the whole earth (see Galatians 3:16). If there were any doubts about the blessing Isaac had placed on Jacob (see Genesis 28:3-4), they were erased by this confirmation from God.
C. Promising His presence (Genesis 28:15). God concluded His communication with Jacob by saying “And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” Because of his sinful actions, Jacob was lying there alone, going to a place he had not been to before. However, God reassured him by saying “I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest.” The Lord was with Jacob then and He promised to be with him wherever he went. God also promised that no matter where Jacob found himself, He would bring him back to this land. Then the Lord finished with the most encouraging words: “I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” In other words, God promised to be with Jacob no matter where he went and to accomplish His purposes in him.
III. A RESPONSE
TO GOD FROM JACOB (Genesis 28:16-22)
A.
Jacob’s fear (Genesis 28:16-17).
1. (vs. 16). Now this verse says “And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.” In awe by his dream, once Jacob awoke from it, he realized he had been in the presence of God. He said “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.” Out in the middle of nowhere, God chose to manifest Himself to Jacob.
2. (vs. 17). Realizing that he had been in the presence of God via his dream, this verse says “And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” God was there and it frightened Jacob causing him to say “How dreadful is this place!” Once the sense of excitement began to wear off, he was afraid and declared how “dreadful” or awe-inspiring this place was. After experiencing this sense of awe and reverence, Jacob’s conclusion was “this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” In some way Jacob may have thought that this place was an access point to heaven and a place from which one might speak with God. Note: We should be reminded that the real place where we interact with God is in our hearts. When we are saved, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, and we meet with God in our hearts (see Jeremiah 20:9; II Timothy 3:16).
B. Jacob’s memorial (Genesis 28:18-19).
1. (vs. 18). Now this verse says “And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.” When Jacob got up early in the morning, he responded with worship. He took the stone that he had used for his pillow “and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.” In other words, he set the stone on its end, and poured oil over it. This was an act of worship, consecration and dedication to mark this spot.
2. (vs. 19). After setting up the memorial to mark this spot, this verse says “And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.” Because of the significant events that occurred in this location, Jacob called the place “Bethel” which means “house of God.” This reflects the comment that Jacob had made earlier (see verse 17). Although there was no actual house of worship there, it was the house of God because Jacob found the Lord there. As a geographical note, the writer tells us that “at the first” or the original name of this location was “Luz” an ancient Canaanite city.
C. Jacob’s vow (Genesis 28:20-22). These final three verses make up Jacob’s complete vow to the Lord.
1. (vs. 20). After setting up the memorial, this verse says “And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on.” The Lord had already made His promises to Jacob, so he was not bargaining with God with these words. The word “if” can also be translated “since” as it should be here. Jacob was confirming that since God was with him, and would keep him in his travels, and would feed him and provide clothes for him, he is making this vow or promise. Note: Making a vow was a serious thing. Vows were to be made (see Leviticus 23:37-38; Numbers 29:39); they were to be voluntary (see Numbers 30:2; Ecclesiastes 5:4-6); and vows were not to be broken (see Leviticus 5:4-12; 22:18-25; Numbers 15:2-16; 30:2-16; Deuteronomy 23:18-20).
2. (vs. 21). Jacob continued his vow saying “So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God.” This verse is a continuation of Jacob’s vow beginning in the previous verse. Part of his vow was confirmation that God had committed to being with him, protecting him and providing for him. And now in this verse, he adds that the Lord will so take care of him that he will return to his father’s house “in peace.” This is a reference to Jacob’s relationship with his brother Esau. Jacob was confident that when he did return home, the Lord would have prepared Esau’s heart to forgive him, thus making peace. This did happen when Jacob returned to Canaan (see Genesis chapter 33). Since God was going to do all these things for Jacob, he determined that the Lord would be his God. Jacob was committing to serve the Lord faithfully as his personal God.
3. (vs. 22). Jacob completed his vow to the Lord saying “And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” Reaffirming that the stone he dedicated represented God’s house, Jacob also added that “of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” In other words, since the Lord had promised to be with Jacob, provide for him, clothe him and return him to his father’s house in peace, as his personal God, Jacob promised to give back to the Lord “the tenth” or the tithe of everything God would give him. Note: The practice of giving one-tenth back to God is seen throughout the Bible as a requirement (see Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30; Malachi 3:8-10; Luke 11:40). However, the church is not required to give the tithe. That should be the very minimum we give back to the Lord. The New Testament teaches giving as God has blessed you (see I Corinthians 16:1-2). In II Corinthians chapters 8-9, the Apostle Paul epitomizes the Christian doctrine of giving. Christian giving may be summarized as follows:
a. Christian giving is a “grace” that is the ability to give is created by the Holy Spirit (see II Corinthians 8:7).
b. The law imposed giving as a divine requirement, but Christian giving is voluntary and a test of sincerity and love (see II Corinthians 8:8-12; 9:1-2, 5, 7).
c. Christian giving is universal according to one’s ability to give whether rich or poor (see II Corinthians 8:1-3, 12-15).
d. Christian giving is to be proportioned to income (see II Corinthians 8:12-14; I Corinthians 16:1-2. The Old Testament proportion was the tithe, a proportion which predates the law (see Genesis 14:20).
IV. Conclusion. God promises us His protection, His blessing, and a future. We should acknowledge that by giving Him our best. In this week’s lesson, God took a deceiver and transformed him into a person who received His greatest blessing. This blessing came in the form of God’s perpetual presence and the promise of His provision and His protection. Jacob responded with worship and the promise to acknowledge God’s presence and His gifts. He initiated that when he recognized Beth-el as the place where God met him. It’s our duty to respond to God’s care just as Jacob did---in true worship.
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