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Jacob’s Flight and Exile
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to Abraham and to Isaac, and now it was renewed to Jacob. Then
words of comfort and encouragement were spoken: “Behold, I am
with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you
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back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I
have spoken to you.”
The Lord in mercy opened up the future before the repentant
fugitive so he might be prepared to resist the temptations that would
come to him when alone among idolaters and schemers. The knowl-
edge that the purpose of God was reaching its accomplishment
through him would constantly prompt him to faithfulness.
In this vision Jacob saw the parts of the plan of redemption that
were essential to him at that time. The mystic ladder revealed in his
dream was the same to which Christ referred in His conversation
with Nathanael: “You shall see heaven open, and the angels of God
ascending and descending upon the Son of Man” (
John 1:51
). The
sin of Adam and Eve separated earth from heaven so that human
beings could not have communion with their Maker, yet the world
was not left in hopelessness. The ladder represents Jesus, the ap-
pointed way of communication. Christ connects us in our weakness
and helplessness with the source of infinite power.
All this was revealed to Jacob in his dream. Although his mind
at once grasped a part of the revelation, its great and mysterious
truths were the study of his lifetime, unfolding to his understanding
more and more.
Jacob awoke in the deep stillness of night. The vision had disap-
peared, only the dim outline of lonely hills and the heavens bright
with stars now met his gaze. But he had a solemn sense that God
was with him. “Surely the Lord is in this place,” he said, “and I did
not know it. ... This is none other than the house of God, and this is
the gate of heaven!”
“Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that
he had put at his head, and set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top
of it.” He called the place Bethel, or “the house of God.” Then he
made the solemn vow, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this
way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put
on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord
shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be