There is plenty to talk about and write about when it comes to Genesis 28.
Genesis 28:15-22: “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.” When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 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.” 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. He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. 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 so that I return safely to my father’s household, 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.”
While there is much to write, the purpose of this post is to simply point out three points taken from this passage that was impressed upon me when I read this portion as a part of my devotions.
We like Jacob have a divine promise of God’s presence.
God gave Jacob a promise. The promise was God would watch over Jacob wherever he went, and that God would never leave him until the promise was fulfilled. We have an everlasting promise of God’s presence in our lives. Whether if you are in the middle of a crisis, or on top of a mountain, we have a divine promise of the presence of God.
Jacob recognized the superiority of God and acknowledged Him as Lord.
If you want God to move in your life, move out of the way. This is something I must tell myself often. I am continually getting in the way of God. Jacob recognized that God was superior and acknowledged Him as Lord. We must on a daily basis acknowledge Him as Lord of our lives and put our trust in Him. His way is superior.
Jacob vowed to give to God.
This is not a post on tithing, but what we see here is an instance of the principle of the tithe (tenth) given to God. This predates the giving of the law…but that is for another post. Jacob received the promise of God and had a personal revelation of God; God is awesome, faithful, and His presence true. He was moved by God and understood that God was his source. He vowed to give him a tenth of everything that he received.
Takeaways
1. Walk in the promise which is the presence of God.
2. Get a personal revelation of who God is and acknowledge Him as Lord.
3. Know that God is our source.
4. Become a giver to God.
