And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. Genesis 28:16

While I was in bed about to get up I heard, “Surely the Lord is in this place”. After getting up to start my day – Angles encircled me. I stood still praising the Lord. Then I just said, “Yes Lord”.

Today I studied Genesis 28 and these things stuck out.

The Lord is in the place of “Obedience”. The moment I step up to obey the call – I am surrounded by God’s love and promises. The Lord did not nail our feet to the ground in our birth place. How often does God say, “Stay here in this land never to leave? Jacob had to walk out of his father’s promise into his own purpose.

Everything God promised Isaac was on schedule to happened. Part of Isaac’s promise was wrapped up in Jacob’s promise. Jacob had to untie the package and be the gift inside. Obedience is like handing God His Word back.

Isaac spoke the command of the Lord to his son Jacob. Isaac activated Jacob’s blessing by telling him to leave home! When God’s Word, instructions, warnings, or commands are followed – people become fruitful and multiply.

Isaac’s words were precise. He did not say maybe you will receive a blessing. Jacob’s faith was increased by his father’s words. Jacob had an expectation, reason, and assurance – for leaving home. He did not try to stay home and sponge off his father’s inheritance. He left home to build his own empire.

1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother’s brother. 3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; 4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. 5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother. Genesis 28:1-5

Jacob was blessed before he reached the land of promise. He went to sleep and had a dream. God did not just send Angels. He appeared at the head of the ladder. God spoke His promises and reassurances to Jacob. Not only was he fired up about getting a wife – but he experienced the “Glory of God”.

10 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. Genesis 28:10-16

Can you imagine Jacob’s thoughts when Isaac told him to leave home? Maybe he thought about his investments and labor. Perhaps he thought about his other brothers receiving all of their father’s inheritance. Whatever went through his mind, I am imagining him saying – “Yes Lord”. Jacob honored the place of promise. He promised God a portion of His blessing.

And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. Genesis 28:11

16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. 20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee. Genesis 28:16-22

Jacob was birthed from a promise stemming all the way back to Abraham. God promise Abraham that He would make him the “Father of many nations”. Jacob had to leave home to populate the world according to God’s word. We are puzzle pieces accomplishing the Lord’s perfect will.

Jacob did not know he could have a personal encounter with God. He experienced firsthand revelation from God himself. He now had a witness of his own and not just his father’s testimony. Jacob received God’s Amazing Grace.

Now he understands the fear of the Lord and how to fight for his own cause. God showed Jacob what church looked like. The Lord gave him a pattern for worship. The Angels were going up and down the ladder but God stood at the head. God is the object of worship.

How do you respond to God’s call and command? Follow Jacobs example. He honored the place of God’s presence. There is a pathway to Heaven but we can not get there on our own.

17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. Genesis 28:17-19

The true blessing is knowing you are on the right path! Ask the Lord to stand at the top of your situation. This lesson is not telling people to never go back home. Instead it implies – “Make God proud when you do go back”.