Read Gen. 28:1-22
Isaac called in Jacob and gave him his blessing to leave and go to Padan-aram and find a wife from Laban’s family. For someone who had just deceived him, Isaac didn’t seem too angry at Jacob. I guess he realized he couldn’t out-smart God’s plans. He sent him away with the blessing of Abraham. Esau watched all this and realized that his parents didn’t approve of his choice of wives so he went to Ishmael’s line and found a wife. He just didn’t get it. You don’t go to the cursed and get a blessing. His new wife’s name means “sickness”.
Jacob, obeyed his parents and left for Haran. On his way, he stopped to spend the night under the stars. He took stones and made a pillow and lay down to sleep. He dreamed about a ladder that reached to heaven with angels going up and down on this ladder. The Lord, himself stood at the top and spoke to Jacob saying: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac; the land where you lie, I will give it to you and your seed. Your seed will be as numerous and the dust and you will spread out to the north, south, east, and west and you and your seed will bless the earth. I am with you, and will protect you where ever you go and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you.” (paraphrased) When Jacob woke up he knew he had encountered God and that he had slept under a portal to God’s throne. He took the stone that he had for his pillow and poured oil on it to mark it’s significance. Then he named the place Bethel which means “house of God” and vowed to give God a tenth of all God gave him. It had been called Luz which means “perverseness”. Jacob turned a curse into a blessing. The difference between Esau and Jacob was that Esau was impulsive and tried to do everything his way without asking God. Jacob was submissive and followed God. One of the privileges we have as Christians is to turn curses to blessings, but we must be led to them.
Lord, may we dwell under your portal and see with your eyes.
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