Story 9: God’s Plan for Israel
(Jacob’s Dream)

Genesis 28:11-22

The Bridge: Jacob fled from Esau’s anger and traveled toward Haran in Canaan where Rebekah’s brother Laban lived. “He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place” (Genesis 28:11).

The Story:

• As Jacob slept, “He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, ‘I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants’” (Genesis 28:12-13).
• The Lord promised to take care of Jacob and bless him. God let him know that it would be through him that the Lord would carry on the promise He made to Abraham and that he would be the father of many peoples (Genesis 28:14-15).
• “Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it” (Genesis 28:16).
• Jacob called that place “Bethel” meaning ―”God is in this place” (Genesis 28:19).
• Then Jacob made a vow; “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the LORD will be my God. This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You” (Genesis 28:20-22).

What was revealed in Jacob’s dream?