Village Schools of the Bible

Genesis: A Devotional Study
by Max Frazier, Jr

Let's continue our travels with Jacob - the Deceiver. And what a journey it will be in the following weeks. Jacob - the Deceiver - becomes deceived himself, and I can tell you he did not like it one bit. But, as you read these chapters in Genesis, please note how God is at work in his life. God had a tough nut to crack in Jacob, but with God nothing is impossible...just ask Jacob.

Genesis 28

Key Words: "I will" (speaking of God first, then of Jacob); "Bethel"

Key Verse: Verse 15 relates the tremendous promise that God made to Jacob. It repeated what God had promised to both Isaac and to Abraham.

Purpose Statement: This chapter relates the Abrahamic covenant being shared with Jacob. It is now God's promise to him.

Outline: Jacob's Dream at Bethel

I. Isaac sends Jacob away (vs. 1-5)
II. Esau still struggles with his parents (vs. 6-9)
III. Jacob's experience at Bethel (vs. 10-22)
A. His dream (vs. 10-12)
B. God's promise (vs. 13-15)
C. Jacob's response (vs. 16-22)

Thoughts to Ponder: Oh how the rebellion of young people grieves the heart of parents. Esau, in his bitterness over his own misfortunes, never could forgive his parents for their blessings upon Jacob. Instead of seeking reconciliation, he sought revenge upon his brother and upon his parents. How much better would world history have been if Esau had sought forgiveness.

I am not certain how much contact Jacob had with God previous to this experience at Bethel. We don't even know if Isaac had shared with his two boys the promises that God had given both to him and to their grandfather. But what is amazing, to me at least, is that God would restate the same promises now to Jacob, to a man whose whole life had been one of cheating and deceiving. But God saw something in Jacob that He could use. Praise God for that great fact. God sees us not for who we are but for what we can become in Him. It would take God awhile to chip away the rough edges of Jacob's life. But doesn't God do the same with us today? Praise the Lord for the Bethels in our lives, those places where God's promises become real to us. We may never see ladders and angels but we can hear the voice of God.

Study Notes: The one thing I find significant is the repetition to Jacob of God's promises first given to Abraham and then to Isaac. The promise had nothing to do with Jacob the person but had everything to do with God. We see that repetition of the phrase "I will" by God. The promises of God are indeed grounded in Him.

#2 - God's promise to Jacob in verse 15 is similar to the one Paul shared in Philippians 1:6 - God will accomplish the purposes He has initiated through us.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: When looking for faults, use a mirror, not a telescope.

Genesis 27 Return to Table of Contents Genesis 29