In our previous study we noted that Jacob had a dream, in which the Lord appeared to him and blessed him, promising to be with him, wherever he went. Although the Lord was certainly with Abraham, wherever he went, according to the text, God promised only to be with Isaac, Jacob’s father (Genesis 26:3, 24) prior to his promise to be with Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15). Later, he would promise to be with Moses (Exodus 3:12), Joshua (Joshua 1:5), and Gideon (Judges 6:16). Under the New Covenant the promised Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14) would come as a man named Jesus, and he would be understood by many as God with us, vis-à-vis Immanuel (Matthew 1:23). In other words, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would promise to be with all those, whose trust is in him (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5).
When Jacob awoke from his sleep and considered what he had dreamed, he said to himself: “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not!” (Genesis 28:16). He seems to be utterly astonished that the Lord would appear to him in this manner, especially since he was about to leave the Promised Land. If Jacob had entertained any doubts that he would receive the promises, because of the manner in which he had come to them, or if ever he thought that his being sent out of the Promised Land indicated the Lord had rejected him, those thoughts and feelings were now set aside as false. Jacob was truly amazed to understand that the Lord was with him in this place, and he was unaware, vis-à-vis he didn’t believe such a thing could be true, except for this astonishing dream.
When we come to experience a momentous event, we never forget, where the event occurred. In other words, we’re always cognizant, of where we were, when we heard it or discovered it. I remember exactly where I was 60 years ago when the music, I was listening to, was interrupted with the news that President Kennedy had been shot. At first, I simply couldn’t believe he would die. His persona was that overwhelming. Then, moments later, I remember the announcer disclose that our President was, indeed, dead and the hymn, Ave Maria, which was sung at his and Jacqueline’s wedding, and would be again at President Kennedy’s funeral, was broadcast over the radio. I was stunned, as were all the workers around me in the factory, where we were busy laboring at our jobs. The gentleman who sat immediately ahead of me stopped what he was doing and turned around and looked at me. We didn’t speak. Words failed us.
It was something like this that gripped Jacob in his heart, for he had just experienced a momentous event, and he would never forget that dream, nor where he was, when he experienced it. Jacob was in awe, and gripped with great fear, believing that he was in the house of God and stood in the very gate of heaven, where the business of God was conducted, and where the spirits ascended and descended, passing one another, as they began and finished their missions upon which they were sent by the Lord (Genesis 28:17).
Then Jacob took the stone which he had used for a pillow and stood it up as a pillar of remembrance of his unique experience, and he poured oil over the top of it, sanctifying it and setting it apart as a memorial (Genesis 28:18). Afterward, he called the name of the place, Bethel, meaning the house of God. Originally, the place was known as Luz, meaning almond trees. Earlier, Abraham had built an altar and sacrificed there (Genesis 12:8; 13:3), but it is Jacob who gave the place the name, Bethel (Genesis 28:19).
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