In Genesis Chapter 28, we follow Jacob as he begins a new part of his life. His father, Isaac, blesses him again and tells him not to marry any of the women around them.
Instead, Isaac sends Jacob to a place called Haran to find a wife from their own family line. Isaac reminds Jacob that the blessing God gave to Abraham is now passed to him. This blessing promises that Jacob’s family will grow and that God will give them the land He promised.
When Jacob’s brother, Esau, sees that his parents do not like the women from Canaan, he tries to fix things by choosing a wife from another family related to Abraham. But Esau is still making choices that do not fully line up with what God wants.
As Jacob travels on his journey, he stops to rest for the night. He lays his head on a stone and falls asleep. While sleeping, Jacob has a powerful dream. He sees a stairway reaching from the earth all the way up to heaven. Angels are going up and down the stairway. At the top, Jacob sees the Lord standing there.
God speaks to Jacob in the dream. He tells Jacob that the same promise given to Abraham and Isaac is now his too. God promises Jacob the land he is lying on and says that Jacob’s family will become large, like dust spreading everywhere. God also promises that all families on earth will be blessed through Jacob’s family. God tells Jacob, “I am with you. I will watch over you everywhere you go. I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you.”
When Jacob wakes up, he is amazed. He says, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I didn’t even know it.” Jacob becomes afraid because he feels the power and glory of God. He says, “This place is the house of God and the gate of heaven.”
Jacob takes the stone he used for a pillow, stands it up, pours oil on it, and names the place Bethel, which means “house of God.”
Then Jacob makes a promise to God. He says that if God stays with him, protects him, gives him food and clothes, and brings him back home safely, then the Lord will be his God. Jacob also says he will give back a tenth of everything God gives him.
This chapter shows Jacob’s first real personal moment with God. It marks the beginning of his walk with Him.
