Genesis - Chapter 28

Genesis 28.1 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. Genesis 28.2 Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother’s father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughers of Laban thy mother’s brother. Genesis 28.3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; Genesis 28.4 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. Genesis 28.5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother. Genesis 28.6 When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughers of Canaan; Genesis 28.7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram; Genesis 28.8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; Genesis 28.9 Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife. Genesis 28.10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. Genesis 28.11 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. Genesis 28.12 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. Genesis 28.13 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; Genesis 28.14 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. Genesis 28.15 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. Genesis 28.16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. Genesis 28.17 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. Genesis 28.18 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. Genesis 28.19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. Genesis 28.20 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, Genesis 28.21 So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: Genesis 28.22 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 : Chapter 28

Reflection on Genesis 28: Jacob's Encounter with God

Genesis chapter 28 immerses us in a pivotal moment in Jacob's life, when he flees and experiences a divine encounter at Bethel. This pivotal text illustrates how God reaffirms His covenant with Jacob, establishing promises that resonate through the ages.

The Vision of Jacob's Ladder

In this passage, Jacob experiences an extraordinary vision: a ladder connecting heaven and earth, upon which angels ascend and descend. This powerful image symbolizes the presence of God and the connection between the divine and humanity. God promises Jacob a land and descendants, thus reaffirming His covenant with him and his descendants. This moment represents a spiritual turning point in Jacob's life, marking the beginning of his journey of faith. Jacob's Vow In response to this encounter, Jacob makes a vow to God, committing himself to serve the Lord if His promises come true. This vow testifies to Jacob's budding faith, as he begins to understand the importance of his relationship with the Creator. The themes of divine protection and the accompaniment of the elect are clearly established at Bethel, making this place a symbol of divine encounter.

Five biblical passages that resonate with Genesis 28

We invite you to reflect on five biblical passages that align with the profound themes of this transformative chapter:

John 1:51

"Then he added, 'I tell you the truth: you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.' » - In this verse, Jesus alludes to Jacob's vision, connecting his experience to his own mission as mediator between God and humanity.

Hebrews 11:21

"By faith Jacob, when he was about to die, blessed each of Joseph's sons and worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff. » - This verse emphasizes that Jacob's faith is rooted in the transformative experience he had at Bethel.

Matthew 22:32

"I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living!" - Jesus quotes God's revelation to Jacob to affirm the reality of the resurrection, thus testifying to the continuity of the divine covenant.

Hosea 12:4

"He wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and asked him for a favor. The angel met him at Bethel and spoke to him there." - In this verse, Hosea recalls Jacob's experience at Bethel, highlighting his spiritual struggle and his quest for blessing.

Galatians 3:14

"That the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." - The Apostle Paul connects the promise made to Jacob to the spiritual inheritance that extends to all believers through Christ.

Meditating on these passages, we are invited to consider the importance of our own relationship with God, just as Jacob did at Bethel. May this reflection nourish our faith and strengthen our commitment to the Lord.