The story of Jacob is a journey of learning how to trust the Lord. The text we are going to examine today is from Genesis 28:12-15 where Jacob receives a dream from the Lord. Prior to this dream Jacob had deceived his father Isaac so he could receive the blessing of the first born. His brother Esau was so angry he threatened to kill Jacob, and when his mother heard about this she told him to flee to her brother Laban. Laban lived over 500 miles away so this would provide Jacob with an opportunity to reflect on his life. As he starts his journey the Lord gives him a dream.
12 As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway. 13 At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. 15 What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”
In the midst of Jacob’s immaturity and deception the Lord is still working in his life. The Lord had not given up on Jacob and this dream the Lord reaffirmed the covenant that had been told to Abraham and Isaac.
What does this tell us about God and how he works with us?
God is patient with us and encourages us along our journey. The Lord is long-suffering and loves us more than we know. In addition the Lord wants more for us than we want for ourselves. Like Jacob we have free will and often make selfish decisions. We can be thankful that in the midst of that the Lord is always calling us back to help us to grow in faith and learn to trust in Him.
Where in your life is the Lord calling you to trust him more? How would trusting the Lord more change your life?
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ge 28:12–15). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.