Genesis: Chapter 28 Jacob goes on a trip

In this chapter Isaac did not want Jacob to take a Canaan wife, and sent him to Paddan-aram, the house of Bethuel to take a wife from his mother’s brother.  (The scripture references the daughters of Laban) Isaac blesses Jacob with the “blessing of Abraham”.

Now Esau, according to the scripture noticed that the daughters of Canaan displeased his father so he married Mahalath. (daughter of Ishmeal, Abraham’s son) I think he did this out of resentment for having his blessings stolen by Jacob.  If you remember in earlier readings Esau gave up his birthright for some food (lentil stew) after a long day in the field.  It seems that Esau does not weigh his decisions carefully to me, but that is just my opinion.

During Jacob’s travel from Berrsheba toward Haran, he spent the night at what the scripture calls a “certain place”.  I don’t know if there was a significance to this place because the scripture also says he spent the night here because the “sun had set”.  While he was dreaming he had a dream.

Genesis 28:12 “He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. 14 Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; fo I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Needless say Jacob was amazed, named this place Bethel and made a vow to the LORD here.  The stone that he slept on he set up as a pillar, poured oil on it, and stated that if God would keep him on his journey, then the LORD would be his God.  At the end of the chapter Jacob made a commitment also to give a tenth of all that God gives him back to God.