Bible Study Online Article
We now find Jacob doing as his father had instructed him. In which he would leave out from Beersheba and he was now headed towards Syria. Separated from the life that he had grown accustom too, in which he was no longer given the benefits and the privileges that he had while living in his father's great estate. Jacob would find himself all alone and traveling on a path of uncertainty which was designed to bring him face-to-face with simplicity, humility, and a season of difficulty. Soon after the newly appointed promise bearer would arrive at a place that at this time was called Luz which means (an almond tree). This was a place that was located about forty miles out, from whence Jacob had left. It was at this place that Jacob decides to rest for the night, being that the sun had set and the place seemed comfortable and convenient for the promise bearer to rest. Next he would gather up a large stone in which he would use as a pillow to rest his head on while he slept. During his slumber Jacob would have a dream in which he saw a ladder that was set up on the earth, in which its top had reached into heaven. The promise bearer would then see angels ascending and descending upon it. Oh, what a moment of delight and relief for Jacob to be able to have a vision of such at this particular moment in time. Being that he had sown so many bad seeds in his life recently, in which he is now finding himself in what seems like a season of reaping and enduring. Now he has the pleasure of seeing past the natural world and into the spiritual. The ladder that Jacob had seen in this vision was a heavenly confirmation that the gift of God's providence had not left him. This vision would also be a welcoming reassurance that he was not alone as though it seemed. God was still in his life guiding and instructing him, just like the Lord had done with his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac. "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 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," the Lord Almighty told Jacob as He stood at the top of the heavenly ladder. No longer was Jacob isolated and all alone with just the comfort and support of his mother Rebekah. All his life he watched as his brother Esau received and claimed the highest of honors and love when it came to his father Isaac. Now for the first time in his life Jacob had more than his mother's reassurance that he had purpose of great worth. The promise bearer has now received a direct confirmation from the heavenly father Himself, and in such a way that it could never be denied. "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it," Jacob would say as he had awakened from his slumber. After Jacob had fully realized that the Lord was so near to him, a fear came over him. "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." Soon after that day had ended, early the next morning Jacob would take the stone that he had used as a pillow the night before and set it up as monument in honor and respect for the one true God. He would then pour oil on top of the stone monument in which he declared that this place is no longer to be called Luz (an almond tree), but now it shall be known as Bethel which means (the house of God). "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 so that I return safely to my fathers house, then the Lord will be my God 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," Jacob had vowed a vow to the one true God. Jacob, although he did not know what was to await him on his travels, he could now be at peace knowing that he was no longer alone and that nothing but greatness awaits him. Start at: The Introduction of Abraham Start at: The Birth of Isaac Start at: The Birth of Esau & Jacob 43) Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 44) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 46) Jacob - The Love Season of Reaping 50) The Mandrake Plant of Love  CrossDaily.com Web Search where you can VOTE FOR THIS SITE & other great ones. Christian search engine, directory & voting index. You'll find Bible, chat, churches, jobs, music, reviews, software, theology, & more. See the best sites!
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