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Jacob’s Dream at Bethel

10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “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. 14 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 to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 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.”

16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 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.”

18 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. 19 He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.

20 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 21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD will be my God 22 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.”

 

First of all, let me wish you a Happy New Year!

 

Jacob dreams of God connecting Heaven and Earth with the stairway. Jacob is an unlikely person to receive this vision from God. Jacob was on the run after deceiving his father, Isaac, to steal the birthright of his brother Esau. He was paying for his deception and fleeing from his brother’s anger. He was far from living a Godly life.

 

God sent his angels to Jacob to show the connection between Heaven and earth. God is not a far off, reserved entity who did not concern Himself with our lives. God was connecting with Jacob through grace, not because Jacob earned it. God gives us this same grace. Our lives are a mix of challenges and missteps, God through Jesus helps us back to the path.

 

Dear Lord, Thank you for your grace and loving kindness toward us. Help us to keep trying to live the lives you intend for us. Help us to share your grace with those we meet along our earthly journey. Amen

 

Barry Dougherty

barryd72@aol.com

 

Prayer Concern - For a joyous and prosperous new year.

 

Additional readings - Hebrews 11:13-22 and Psalm 72