Gospel Light Christian Church Thru-The-Bible Series (20.5)

The Book of Genesis

Genesis Chapter 28:10-22 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

Jacob’s Vision – The Worship at Bethel

v.10 When Jacob departed from Beersheba for Haran, he was thrust from the land he was supposed to inherit according to the promised blessing.  Jacob had obtained the blessing by deception (cf. 27:18-29) but Isaac, who knew he was powerless to change it (cf.27:33, 37), confirmed it again (28:3-4) before sending him away.  While Isaac may not be aware of the real reason for Jacob’s departure (cf. 27:46), Jacob knows fully well that he is fleeing from Esau’s threat of death (cf. 27:41-45).  The question now is ‘Would God’s blessing be Jacob’s as it had been Abraham’s and Isaac’s?’  Nothing less that a sure word from God would ease his doubts and give him confidence for the future.

v.11 Jacob stopped for an evening’s rest on the west side of Jordan in the vicinity of Luz, about 80 kilometres north of Beersheba.  His use of stones for a pillow seems strange but in ancient times a pillow was more of a headrest than what we consider today as a “pillow”.  The account of Jacob’s flight thus unfolds in a casual and ordinary finding of a place to rest with one of the stones but in the darkness of the night the simple and ordinary is transformed into a glorious visitation by the LORD.

v.12 While sleeping on the ground, lone and weary, Jacob “dreamed”.  The 1st thing noticed is the setting – “ladder set on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven”.  The “ladder” is really more of a stairway, as the word is related to a mound thrown up against a walled city (cf. 2 Sam. 20:15).  The “ladder” symbolised the genuine and uninterrupted fellowship between God in heaven and His people on earth.  Here was a place where heaven and earth touch; where there is access to God.  The 2nd item narrowed the focus to the participants – “and behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it”.  The movements indicate the angels’ presence on earth along with their access to heaven, which reflects God’s constant care of His own.  In this vision, the angels of God communicated God’s protection for Jacob, the recipient of the promises. 

v.13-14 The 3rd and central feature of the vision was “the LORD [who] stood above [the stairway]” (v.13).  The LORD identified Himself as the covenant God – “I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac”.  The identification of Abraham as the “father” of Jacob shows Jacob’s continuity with the covenant.  The patriarchal promises to Jacob was confirmed by the LORD with the repetition of the promises of the land, the seed, and the blessing of the earth through him (v.14, cf. 13:14-16; 22:17-18). 

v.15 The second part of the Word of the LORD promised protection for Jacob in his sojourn – “I am with thee…” (v.15).  The promise of Divine Presence carried God’s people through many times of danger and difficulty and assured them that they did not have to accomplish His plan by themselves (cf. Ex.3:12; Ps. 46:7, 11).  The reason is that God’s Presence meant that God “will keep thee,” so that no harm would come to Jacob wherever he should go (cf. 31:24; also Num. 6:24; Josh. 24:17).  The promise of Divine Protection does not exclude conflict and tension but it does guarantee the outcome for the good of the covenant and its recipient (cf. Ro. 8:28-39).  The statement “I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of” need not imply that God will abandon Jacob once He fulfills the blessing.  It simply assures that the promises just made will be fulfilled.

v.16-17 When Jacob awakened, he was overwhelmed with the fact that “the LORD is in this place” (v.16).  He had never imagined that this rather ordinary place could be a holy place – “and I knew it not”.  Believers still have to learn today what Jacob learnt 4000 years ago – the place doesn’t sanctify the LORD; it is the LORD who sanctifies the place.  Gathering at a church building does not automatically make it a place of worship; it is when real worship takes place that a church building becomes a place of worship!  No matter what the surroundings, a place becomes a “sanctuary” when people gather to worship and glorify the LORD, as Jacob proceeds to do.

Jacob realised that this place was holy – “this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven” (v.17).  There is no actual house or gate there but Jacob had met with God in the heavens and so God’s house on earth was the gate to the heavens, where people could find access to God.  Jacob’s fear (“And he was afraid”) is a mixture of terror and adoration, a worshipful fear (cf. Ex. 19:16).  Jacob’s feelings upon awakening were those of grateful wonder mingled with emotions of reverential awe, bordering close upon dread (“How dreadful is this place!”). Truly, it is out of wonder that worship is born; it is out of a deep sense of awe that the believer will bow before God.  The trouble with many of our worship services today is that wonder is “a rare ingredient”.  Why should we wonder about God when we think we know all about God?  We read our study Bibles, take notes on the sermons we hear, read books, listen to sermons in person and by means of cassettes, radio, Internet.  We attend seminars where experts explain what God and the Christian life is all about.  We have outlined the Bible, analysed, defined God’s attributes, and charted the ages.  The church is endangered today by what it thinks it understands.  We’ve contrived descriptions and definitions for everything Biblical and theological, as well as approved pigeonholes assigned for each item.  Everything is so well organised but nothing is wonderful anymore.

True wonder is not a passing emotion or some kind of shallow excitement.  True wonder reaches right into your heart and mind and shakes you up.  It not only has depth, it has value; it enriches your life.  Wonder is not some cheap amusement that only brings a smile to your face.  It is an encounter with the reality of God that brings a reverential awe into your heart.  You’re overwhelmed, like Jacob, with an emotion that is a mixture of gratitude, adoration, reverence, fear – and love.  You are no longer looking for definitions and explanations; you’re lost in the wonder of God and you begin truly to worship.  “Familiarity breeds contempt” only with contemptible people and contemptible things.  A person or a body of believers who thinks that they know all about God and treats Him with an irreverential familiarity only reveals how little they really know God.  We should seek a true knowledge of God that brings wonder and worship into our heart and avoid being satisfied with a mere knowledge about God that leaves us ignorant, cold, and unchanged in our heart.

v.18-22  Early in the morning Jacob arose and stood the stone up a pillar at which he could express his submission through worship.  This pillar would commemorate the vision, recalling the “ladder” to heaven.  Jacob’s offering by the “poured oil upon the top of [the stone]” (v.18) expressed an attitude of making a sacrifice.  His symbolic act of worship demonstrated his devotion to the LORD.  The naming of the place “Bethel” (v.19, i.e. the house of God) transformed an obscure Canaanite town called Luz into God’s house for Jacob and his descendants to use for worship.

Jacob’s promise to worship God at Bethel was solemnised by an oath (v.20-21).  Vows were not made to induce God to do something He was not willing to do.  They were made to bind the worshipper to the performance of some acknowledged duty.  Jacob made his vow on the basis of what God had guaranteed to do.  He was thus taking God at His Word and binding himself to reciprocate with his own dedication – he promised that the spot would be a place of worship and that he would tithe (v.22).  The vow to tithe is the only part of Jacob’s promise that is a concrete action, which expresses his gratitude and submission.

The deceiver, who was fleeing for his life, turned worshipper when God suddenly and unexpectedly broke into his life.  This is the story of the life of many a believer, whom God met and transformed in His kindness and grace, not because of any goodness or fine quality in the person.  The lesson for all believers remain relevant and vitally important – those who fully realise God’s gracious provision; those whom the Word of God has powerfully impressed; those who are lost in an awesome wonder of God, will respond in worship, consecration, and commitment.  Where there is no wonder, there will be no real worship.  Where there is no real worship, there will be no true submission, no true sacrifice, and no true service in a believer’s life.