The Devotional Journey
Bible Reading 19
Yahweh gives Jacob a vision
Read Genesis 28:10–29:14.
Rebekah told Jacob to escape from an angry Esau by going to her brother Laban’s home. And Jacob left in a hurry. It would be a 800 kilometre (500 mile) trek to Haran in Paddan Aram (Genesis 28:6), and he could only rely on the blessing his father said over him.
On the way there, Jacob stopped for the night and slept in the open. When he slept, Yahweh graciously gave Jacob a vision. He saw a ladder or stairway reaching up all the way to heaven. Angels were going up and down the stairway and at the top, there was Yahweh Himself!
The vision showed Jacob that Yahweh was with him. Though he had gone along with his mother’s scheme, God didn’t scold him for what he had done. Instead, Yahweh spoke and reassured Jacob of His continued presence. In the culture of the time, people thought that the false gods they worshipped were only in charge of certain areas and moving away meant leaving the protection of their god. But Yahweh is not like that. He is the true God of all the earth and He would be with His people wherever they were. This would be reassuring to Jacob. It should also be reassuring to us for it shows that God will also be with us wherever we go. He is not limited.
The same God who had cared for his grandfather Abraham and father Isaac and had made them promises was now passing the same promises to Jacob (the promises of land, descendants and that through the family would come a worldwide blessing). He is a faithful, promise-keeping God.
But as we will also learn in the next few readings, while God did forgive Jacob for how he had schemed and lied, as the God of justice and righteousness, He would also let Jacob suffer the consequences of his actions. (God’s forgiveness doesn’t mean He supernaturally removes the consequences of our actions.)
When Jacob woke from his vision, he immediately started to worship Yahweh. How?
He feared Yahweh, meaning that he recognised that Yahweh is great Creator-God whose power is without limit. He had the proper respect for God.
He erected a memorial stone as a sign of God giving him a vision at that place. (It is good to make the effort to remember God acting in one’s life.)
He consecrated the stone by pouring oil over it (to consecrate means “to set something apart” as special).
He named the place Bethel, which means the “house of God”.
He made a vow, expressing his faith in God for the first time.
He promised to give God ten percent of all he had.
The vision God gave Jacob had such a great impact on him!
When Jacob finally arrived at his mother’s home region, he met Rachel, his mother’s brother’s daughter. (In other words, she was his cousin. It was still common during this time to marry relatives). He kissed her because the kissing of relatives was the proper way of greeting. He had made it to Laban’s house as his mother had wanted. Rachel and Laban welcomed Jacob immediately. It was customary to show hospitality to one’s family, even to a member they had just met for the first time.
When Jacob encountered God, he naturally and spontaneously started to worship Him. It was the right and good response to the Creator-Ruler-Owner of the universe. Yahweh deserves all honour and worship!
How do we respond to Yahweh when we think of Him?
Is He of any consequence to us?
Is His word important to us?
Do we ignore Him most of the time?
Or is our heart filled with worship for Him?
Let’s reflect on who God is and on all He has done and thank Him for being all-good and all-loving.