Genesis 28:10 records the journey of Jacob toward Haran. When it was late, Jacob laid down with a stone under his head to rest. That night, Jacob had a dream. Through that dream, God promised Jacob land, a prosperous family, and a blessing to all the earth through them. Genesis 28:16 continues: “Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.’”
Jacob had been thinking of God as being bound by earthly borders and landmarks, as men are. Only after his God-given dream was he beginning to understand that God is not in one place only. Later, David would write Psalm 139 by inspiration, asking rhetorical questions of God in verse 7, saying, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” Through those questions, David teaches the truth: there is no place where God is not!
Jacob was amazed to discover that God was in Luz, and so he called it “Bethel,” which translates to “the house of God” (Genesis 28:19). The truth, however, is that God is not limited to specific earthly locations. He is in all places, knows all things, and holds authority over all things because He created them (Genesis 1:31-2:2; Acts 7:48-50; 17:24-28).
The great blessing brought to all people through the line of Jacob is Jesus, the Son of God who died for all our sins (Galatians 3:14). He saves those who obey His gospel (Galatians 3:26-27). Respond in faith by repenting and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins by the authority of Jesus. Then continue in submission to His word, and you will find comfort, as Jacob did, no matter where you lay your head.
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