By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
NOT ALONE
Genesis 28:10–22
Purpose Revealed (10–15)
As Isaac lifted his hands from Esau’s head and Esau understood that the blessing his father had just bestowed on him was actually an anti-blessing because Jacob had stolen his blessing, a murderous hatred gripped his soul. Rebekah learned of Esau’s desire to kill his brother, so she told Jacob to go to her brother Laban in Haran until his brother’s anger dissipated.
Jacob left Beersheba and began the 550-mile journey to Haran. It was a three-day journey to Bethel. Those three days of travel must have been difficult. He must have wondered if Esau would come after him and try to kill him. He was alone. He was in a dark, howling wasteland full of danger. Exhausted and despondent, Jacob settled for a stone pillow and tried to fall asleep.
As he drifted off to sleep, he remembered Isaac’s blessing about the land and a people. But he is fleeing the land, wifeless and childless. What a mess he had made of his life. Jacob dreamed, and he saw a ladder set up on the earth. Its top reached up to heaven. Angels were ascending and descending on it, and the Lord stood above the ladder. The Lord, the eternal, faithful covenant-keeping God, spoke to Jacob.
The Lord repeated the covenant He had originally made with Abraham. The Lord declared that He would give the land of Canaan to Jacob and his descendants, that He would multiply his descendants, that He would bless all the families of the earth through him and his descendants and that He would be with him, meet his needs and bring him back to the land of Canaan. Although Jacob had made a mess of his life, God’s sovereign purpose for Jacob was still being realized.
This is amazing grace. Jacob was a deceiver. He deserved nothing from God. He was not seeking God. He was fleeing the consequences of his deception. He was not expecting grace, but grace was lavished upon him. Grace had brought him safe thus far, and grace would lead him home.
Presence Realized (16–19)
Jacob awoke from his dream astonished. He was amazed that God was present in this wasteland. He called this place “the house of God” and “the gate of heaven.” He was astonished because he was like most of us who forget that God is present when we are between a rock and a hard place. Surprise, fleeing sinner, God is here. Surprise, evil schemer, God is here. Surprise, faithless one, God is faithful.
Jacob’s declarations were followed by worship. He took the stone that had served as his pillow and poured oil on it. It was a gift he offered to the Lord. It is significant that he did not build an altar. This is an indication that he had not yet fully accepted the Lord as his God. While the practice of setting up pillars was common in Canaanite worship, God prohibits it in Deuteronomy 16:22. Years later, after his life-transforming encounter with God at Peniel, Jacob returned to Bethel in order to build an altar.
Commitment Made (20–22)
The conditional nature of Jacob’s vow revealed that he had mixed emotions about his commitment to the Lord. Although God revealed himself to Jacob at Bethel, it would require another encounter before Jacob fully trusts in the Lord (Gen. 32:22–32).
Faith does not bargain with God. “If” and “then” is not the language of faith. By the grace of God, Jacob is a work in progress who has a long way to go. Grace is truly amazing. It was Jacob’s only hope. Lest we be too hard on Jacob, we must remember that we are all works in progress by God’s amazing grace.
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