Genesis 28:10-22

Jacob

Jacob Makes His Covenant with God

 

28:10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran.

 

11 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.

 

12 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.

 

13 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.

 

14 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.

 

15 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."

 

16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it."

 

17 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."

 

18 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.

 

19 He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.

 

20 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

 

21 so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God

 

22 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."

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This is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change the way that we think, and the way that we live.

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Commentary by Bob Pardue

Jacob has a dream and makes his covenant with God

There are lots of covenants in the Old Testament between God and various people who were called to do God's will.

Abraham had such a covenant with God and God promised that Abraham would be the "father of many nations". This meant that his descendants would form nations and God would bless them.

However, it is not enough that Jacob is Abraham's grandson. God does not have grandchildren; only children.

So, Jacob had to establish his own relationship with God and become one of God's children.

We too have to establish our relationship with God through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

It doesn't matter whether or not our parents were in church every time the doors opened or, like in my case, a grandmother was the oldest member of her church when she passed away.

No, all that matters is that we accept Christ as our personal Savior and make our covenant that we will try and follow Him every day of our lives.

Have you made your commitment to accept Christ as your Savior yet?

Christ has already established His covenant with God when He died in order to save us from eternal death. He made the sacrifice to offer us freely what Jacob had to earn.

We cannot earn our way into heaven. Believing in Jesus Christ is the only way we will enter the kingdom of God.

If you would like more information just go here to see the ABC to salvation and forgiveness.

Love in Christ

- Bob

Comments are welcome. Please email me with any questions or comments you may have.