WORD OF COVENANT COMMITMENT

“I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I WILL GIVE to you and your descendants” – Genesis 28:13b

GOD visited Jacob at Bethel with His WORD of COVENANT COMMITMENT: “…I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I WILL GIVE to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and WILL KEEP you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I WILL NOT LEAVE you until I have done what I have spoken to you” (Gen.28: 13-15). Jacob awakened to his Covenant Calling. The Lord gave a Covenant Commitment!

Jacob fled from his own home – from the parents’ warm, caring embrace, into the cold night – because his brother Esau was plotting to kill him. He left with only his staff in hand, but also with something very significant: His father’s blessing and directives to find a wife among his relatives in Paddan-Aram (Gen.28:2ff). Over the next twenty years, Jacob would receive along with his father’s blessing, God’s promises that would direct his life in the cov­enant of grace (Gen.31:38). From Beersheba in southern Canaan, Jacob set out on a journey heading north to his relatives at Haran, about 800 ki­lometres away. He “came to a certain place and stayed there all night” (v.11a).

Interestingly, the “certain place” was not named until the end of the story, but the word “place” was used six times in this story. Of course, this place was not a happenstance. The LORD was in full con­trol of the events. The sun had set, and Jacob stopped for the night. This paints a similar picture to what happened with Abraham in Genesis 15, when God appeared to him as a burning torch and smoky oven and made great unconditional promises relating to the central pillars of the same Covenant of Grace.

God consistently reaffirmed two key promises: Land and Seed (descendants). Now, even in such discomforting condition of using a stone as his pillow, Jacob encountered the LORD: “Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it” (v.12). God revealed more of Himself to this fleeing patriarch. The “ladder” or stairway connecting heaven and earth was pictorially similar to the ancient ziggurats – constructed “mountains” having at the top a temple or shrine to gods and goddesses. Priests and worshippers would ascend to the top and down again. Here, angels were moving on the stairs!

Angels are messengers, created beings that inhabit the corridors of heaven, always ready to do God’s Will (Psa.103:20). Here, the angels were likely transmitting revelation and provisions to Jacob on earth. But the Focus of Jacob’s dream was the LORD Himself. He stood at the very top of the stairway. He was standing over Jacob, as He watches over His people, day and night (Psa.121). But God’s Presence is best announced by His Word (vv.13-15). In the short speech, God promised Himself – the “Immanuel” promise, generational covenant relationship, land, countless seeds, global blessing, and protection.

Jacob awoke to divine realities in the covenant of grace. He hallowed God’s Presence that visited him when he wasn’t expecting (v.16). He called the place “Bethel” – “house of God” and “Gate of heaven” (v.17). At Babel, man wanted to make a name for himself, so he built a towering city, a highway to heaven, a stairway to the stars! At Bethel, God reached down to Jacob, so that he might respond in faith. God committed and obli­gated Himself to Jacob, without explicitly demanding anything from him. Jacob responded with both word and works; fear and a vow (vv.17, 20-22). In the Biblical text, this was the first direct encounter between God and Jacob. But it would not be their last meeting!