Blessed and Kept | Jason Ricafranca | Genesis 28:10-22
A.W. Tozer once wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” What we believe about God shapes how we worship Him, how we see His work in the world, and how we live in relationship with Him. That’s why it’s so important to ground our view of God in Scripture rather than in our own assumptions.
This week at Grace, we’ll be in Genesis 28. After the “birthright heist” and all the deceit that tore his family apart, Jacob is on the run when he has a life-changing encounter with God. In that moment, God reveals His covenant promises and shows Jacob who He truly is.
As we study this passage, we’ll see not only how God met Jacob in his failure, but also how it shapes what should come into our minds when we think about God today.
Looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday at Grace.
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Genesis 28:10-22 | Jacob's Dream
10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 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. 12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder[a] 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! 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it[b] 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. 14 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. 15 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.” 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 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.”
18 So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel,[c] but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20 Then Jacob made 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 clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
Reflection
1. In what ways do you try to “climb” toward God through your actions, performance, duties—and how might faith in Jesus shift that paradigm?
2. What difference does it make to your spiritual life knowing God’s presence is not confined to church buildings or special moments, but is everywhere—even in ordinary, fearful, or wilderness places?