Surely the Lord Is in This Place

Genesis 28 begins with Isaac blessing Jacob knowingly this time, praying that God Almighty would give him the blessing of Abraham. Jacob sets out toward Haran as a fugitive, alone, with nothing but a staff (Genesis 32:10). Esau, seeing his parents' displeasure, marries a daughter of Ishmael, still trying to win approval without understanding God's ways.

At an ordinary place, Jacob sleeps under the open sky. God gives him a dream of a stairway (or ladder) set on earth and reaching heaven, with angels ascending and descending. The Lord stands above it and speaks the covenant promises to Jacob for the first time: land, offspring like the dust of the earth, and blessing for all families of the earth. Then come personal promises: I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you.

Jacob awakens in awe: How awesome this place is! This is none other than God's house, and this is the gate of heaven. He sets up his stone as a pillar, anoints it with oil, and renames Luz Bethel. His vow is sincere but still immature, with if God will be with me conditions. God had already promised all of it unconditionally. In the New Testament, Jesus uses this picture of Himself (John 1:51).