Daily a new Bible text for devotion - EZBB

Genesis 28:10-14

On his journey to Haran, Jacob was accompanied only by his staff (32:10) and his thoughts. It would not be difficult to speculate with reasonable accuracy about the content of those thoughts. He surely must have reflected on the wisdom of his actions in deceiving his father. He must have compared his expectations regarding that plan with the actual outcome. He must have felt guilt when thinking about how he had treated his brother and his father. Undoubtedly, he lamented having to leave his mother. He must have wondered what kind of reception he would receive from Laban. He could not ignore the fact that he had nothing to offer Laban as a bride price. What would his wife be like? When could he return home?

Whatever his thoughts were, Jacob had likely finally reached his limit. He realized that he would never prosper based on his own schemes and struggles. This was the ideal moment for God to intervene in his life, for Jacob now knew how much he needed God in order to be blessed.

Night fell, and Jacob looked for a place to sleep; in his sleep, he had an impressive vision (vv. 12–13). The words spoken by God are very similar to the earlier declarations made to Abraham and Isaac.

All of Jacob’s efforts to attain God’s blessing had also been in vain. It was only by entering into a relationship with the covenant God of Abraham and Isaac that Jacob could experience God’s blessings. The foundation for such a relationship was the revealed word of God.

It is interesting that, although Jacob failed to find God through his own efforts, he was found by God while he slept. God is surely trying to tell us something through this. It is by resting in Him and in His Word that we can be blessed. This does not imply an absence of activity on our part; rather, it means that self-effort will always be futile.

Another point is that a profession of faith will not always place us on a bed of roses. After his conversion, Jacob spent twenty years of struggle getting a taste of his own medicine, being deceived by Laban.