SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 28
BIBLE VERSES:
“He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (Genesis 28:12-15)
“Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” (Genesis 28:20-21)
After Isaac had blessed Jacob, he gave these instructions:
- Do not marry a Canaanite woman
- Go at once to Paddan Aram where your mother’s father Bethuel live.
- Take a wife among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.
Then he blessed him with increase descendants and possessions of of land. When Esau realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father, he went to marry Ishmael’s daughter, Mahalath.
JACOB’S DREAM AT BETHEL (vs. 10-22)
Jacob left Beersheba and travelled about 70 miles to Bethel. When the sun set, he put a stone under his head and lay down to sleep. He dreamed of seeing a stairway resting on the earth reaching to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. Then the Lord stood there and assured him of the following blessings: land, descendants like dust of the earth, his protection, his presence and his promise to bring him back. When he awoke from his sleep, he set up a pillar and poured oil on it and called that place Bethel. He made a vow that the Lord will be his God. The pillar he set will be God’s house and he will give God a tenth of all he had.
THOUGHTS:
Jacob saw a vision of ladder from heaven to earth. The ladder pictures Jesus Christ as the only way from earth to heaven. As Christ indicated his care and protection to Jacob, he also opens heaven for us and brings heavenly blessings as well.
Jacob set up a pillar and made it into an altar pouring out drink offering for the Lord. He made a vow to give a tenth to the Lord. Tithing is an expression of faith and obedience to the Lord for his guidance, protection and provision. Let us not forget to honor our commitment to the Lord.