The Essentials Of The Bible: Part 20 -- God Chooses A People – Jacob Is Sent To Find A Wife And Has A Dream

Isaac sends Jacob to Haran to find a wife from among his mother’s people; and tells him not to take a wife from among the Canaanite.

Genesis 28:1-2 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.  (2)  Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.

On his way to Haran; where his uncle lived; Jacob stopped in a certain place and had a dream.  In the dream; there was a ladder that was set up on earth that reached heaven and angels were ascending and descending upon it.

Genesis 28:10-12And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.  (11)  And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.  (12)  And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 

Once again, as the birthright to God’s promises to Abraham is passed down to another generation, God personally appears to his chosen and reaffirms the promises made to Abraham:

1. The land of Canaan will be given to Abraham’s descendants.
2. An innumerable multitude of people and nations would come through Abraham’s lineage.
3. All of the nations of the world would be blessed through Abraham’s lineage.

Genesis 28:13-15 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;  (14)  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.  (15)  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Jacob sets up stones to mark the place and calls it Bethel, and pours oil upon the rocks and makes a deal with the LORD.  If he is given safe passage on his journey and returns to his father’s house; then the God of Abraham, the LORD, shall be his God.  He also vows to give a tenth to of all that the LORD gives him.

Genesis 28:18-22 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.  (19)  And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.  (20)  And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,  (21)  So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:  (22)  And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

Prayer:  Loving most merciful Heavenly Father, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and my LORD.  Thank you for your WORD.  Thank you for calling me out of this world.  Help me to live a holy life and to serve you in all that I do.  Lead me to that which you are blessing, in Jesus’ name, Amen.