Genesis 28
Esau was very angry that Jacob had cheated him and said he would kill him. His mother heard this and wanted Jacob to go away, so she said, “Arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran, and tarry with him a few days.” But I fear she never saw Jacob again! Having blessed Jacob, Isaac sent him away to his mother’s old home, to seek a bride. Abraham did not let his son return there, but Isaac had forgotten this.
It was a long journey. There was no train or boat. He had to walk. At night there was no house. He had no pillow, so he took a stone instead, lay down on the ground, and slept. That night he had a wonderful dream. He saw a ladder set up on the earth, with the top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God going up and down. “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; 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. 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” (Gen. 28:13-1513And, 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; 14And 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. 15And, 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 28:13‑15)).
God did not say, “If you repent and never deceive again, then I will do this for you.” God did not once say, “If.” All was wonderful kindness, grace beyond men’s thoughts. But Jacob was very much afraid. He said, “How dreadful is this place! This is the house of God, and this is the gate of Heaven.” Jacob did not believe these promises, so he said, “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, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God” (Gen. 28:20-2120And 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, 21So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: (Genesis 28:20‑21)). Jacob arose, and took the stone pillow and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it, and he called the name of that place Bethel (“House of God”), and promised saying, “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 a tenth unto thee.” Oh! Jacob! God did not say “If” to you, why did you say “If” to Him? Why did you not believe God’s true word, and say ‘Thank God’?
God’s grace is very great; Jacob knew what a sinner he was; he also knew he had deserved much suffering; but instead God gave him a promise. Are we like Jacob? He saw a ladder to heaven. So God also made for you and me a way to heaven. The veil of the temple had closed the way to God for many years, but when the Lord Jesus died, that veil was at once torn in two. The way to heaven has been opened. God waits for you. Jesus says, “Come unto Me.” But are you like Jacob or not? Have you deceived others? Have you told lies? Are you a great sinner?
Have you said, “Others may have a way from earth to heaven, but I have not, because I am so great a sinner!” God says, “He that believeth” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)). No matter whether a great sinner or a small sinner, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47)). Do you believe His Son? Perhaps you say, “If God gives me everlasting life, I shall ... ” Stop! God has not said “If”; “The gift of God is eternal life” (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). God’s grace is greater than your sins. Today God gives you “forgiveness of sins”, “everlasting life”, and “eternal blessing”. Please do not say “If” but say “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:1515Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15)).
“Lo, I am with thee, safely guarding thee in all the way, wherever thou mayest go; and I will bring thee back unto this land, because I will never, never let thee down, until I have done all things that I said unto thee” (Gen. 28.15: From the Greek Old Testament).
“Lo, I am ever with thee!”
With me, whose name is “Cheater”?
O Lord, That could not be!
With Isaac, Yes, my Father!
But never, Lord, with me!
Yes, “I am ever with thee!”
“I’ll always guard thee safely!”
Guard me, who robbed my brother?
Who now for life doth flee!
Guard me, they call “Deceiver”?
Thou’lt never, Lord, guard me!
Yes, “I will guard thee safely!”
“And to thy home I’ll bring thee!”
Bring me, ‘the worm called Jacob’?
O Lord, that this might be!
And give me food and raiment!
Then GOD Thou’lt be to me!
Yes, “To thy home I’ll bring thee!”
“For ‘let thee down’ I’ll never!
Nor ever thee forsake!
I’m Jacob’s God forever!”
Those blessings each may take,
I say to each believer—
“No, let thee down, I’ll never!”