Today we are reading Genesis 28. In this chapter we read about Jacob at Bethel. “Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”” Genesis 28:10-17 ESV Jacob had an awesome encounter with God. God is now repeating the promise He made to Abraham and Isaac. It must have been hard to believe the words Jacob heard—but also pretty amazing to see the vision! Have you ever had a powerful encounter with God? Did God give you a special message? Sometimes when I am up all night worried about something God reminds me that He is more powerful than what I am anxious about. Do you Jacob was anxious? I guarantee he was anxious! He was fleeing for his life to a strange land. God is with you whether you have a vision or not. May you be comforted and find rest. Pastor Tim
