Genesis 28:11-22: The Beginning of Jacob's Revival

Genesis 28:11-22: The Beginning of Jacob's Revival

In spite of Jacob's trickery toward his twin brother Esau, God still wishes to bless him.  I can speculate this is because God knows Jacob's heart and knows he will eventually repent of his deceitful ways.  

In Genesis 28:11-22, Jacob falls asleep and dreams a vision of a ladder going to Heaven with angels ascending and descending.  The Lord Himself stands above the ladder and promises to bless Jacob with many children and many generations.  He promises to be with Jacob until all has been fulfilled.

We see the beginning of a revival, so to speak, in Jacob.  He is in awe that God has visited him.  He sets up an altar and vows that he will follow the Lord and make Him God of his life and pursue peace.

We may not have such a dramatic experience as Jacob, but God may still be trying to get our attention.  He wants us to let go of our sinful nature and make Him Lord of our lives.  He will always be with us, encouraging us and guiding us.  May we make the same vow as Jacob, "I come... in peace, then shall the Lord be my God."

(Genesis 28:11-22) 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. 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. 

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; 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. 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."

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, "Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not..."

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. And he called the name of that place Bethel...

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, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house..."