Jacob
Genesis 28:10-19
Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 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.”
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.
Abraham had a son named Isaac, and Isaac had two sons named Jacob and Esau. When we arrive at Genesis 28, Jacob has stolen the birthright blessing of his brother and is on the run from Esau’s desire for bloody revenge. And there, in the wilderness, Jacob encounters God. Jacob’s dream is a reminder that God is still involved in his life, despite his habits of deceit and theft. In fact, God says that he will keep his covenant with Abraham through Jacob. Jacob’s children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren would become a great nation. Jacob would live again in the land promised to Abraham, and God would bless all of the families of the earth through Jacob. God had kept His promise for three generations, and He would continue to work in many more generations to come!
Jacob’s story reminds us that God still chooses to work through us even in our brokenness. None of us have messed up enough or can run far away enough to escape God’s love and grace. As Jacob says, God is present even when we are not aware of it. Are there things that you think prevent you from being loved or being useful for God’s work? Name them and share them with God today. Then, be reminded of the story of Jacob and of numerous other people throughout Scripture who are part of the story of Christ despite their flaws and failings.
Prayer:
Thank God that He is always present and loving, even when we mess up or run away. Share with God any experiences or characteristics that you think have prevented you from being loved or useful for God’s work. Then, take time to listen for God’s voice of love and grace speaking to you in your brokenness.