Genesis Bible Study Guide Rev. John Barnes Week 11: Genesis 28:10-22 The House of God and the Gate of Heaven Review This past week we looked at Jacob and Rebekah deceiving Isaac and Esau. We said the story wasn’t over and God is still at work in their lives. I tried to apply this to our situation as well. Our stories aren’t over; God is at work in our stories. Someone after the sermon suggested that I focus on the cost of getting that blessing. That’s what Michael talked about in his sermon on the passage at 8:30. That’s a legitimate approach. There’s always a danger of using the end to justify the means, which seems to be what Jacob and Rebekah were doing. Context Jacob deceives Isaac and steals Esau’s blessing. (Gen. 27:1-40) Rebekah wants Isaac to send Jacob to Paddan-aram to find a wife (Gen. 27:46-28:1-5) Esau marries a wife from among Ishmael’s daughters. (Gen. 28:6-9). Jacob leaves for Paddan-aram and encounters God. (Gen. 28:10-22) Jacob arrives in Paddan-aram and meets Rachel and lives with Laban. (Gen. 29:1-14) Laban deceives Jacob and marries him to Leah and then to Rachel. (Gen. 29:15-30) Birth of Jacob’s children (Gen. 29:31-30:24) Jacob outwits Laban (Gen. 30:25-43) Jacob flees from Laban (Gen. 31:1-55) Angels meet Jacob and Mahanaim and Peniel (Gen. 32:1-32) Esau and Jacob reconcile (Gen. 33:1-17) Structure Intro: Jacob leaves for Haran and reaches a certain place (vv. 10-11) Jacob dreams (vv.12-15) Stairway from earth to heaven with angels ascending & descending (v.12) God stands beside (or above) Jacob and speaks: I am YHWH, the God of Abraham, Isaac I will give the land to you and your offspring. Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth You will spread W, E, N, & S All the families of the earth will be blessed in you and your offspring I am with you and will keep you wherever you go I will bring you back to this land I will not leave you until I’ve kept these promises Jacob wakes and speaks (vv. 16-22) ‘Surely the LORD is here and I did not know it.’ He was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place–house of God, gate of heaven.’ Jacob rises early and takes stone and makes pillar and pours oil on it. Jacob calls the place Bethel (House of God) Jacob makes a vow: ‘If God will watch over me then YHWH shall be my God This stone shall represent God’s house I will give you a tithe of all you give me.’ Approaching Gen 28:10-22 Just before this passage Isaac blesses Jacob (review by reading Gen. 28:3-4). Now as Jacob begins his journey God shows him a stairway to heaven and speaks to him in a dream and blesses him also (vv. 13- 15). Jacob responds to this blessing with amazement and awe (vv. 16-17) and promises to follow God (vv. 20-22). The main question here, I believe, is how to interpret Jacob’s vow in vv. 20-22. God has taken the initiative with Jacob and how are we to interpret how Jacob is responding? Some see Jacob as still trying to make a deal with God; others see Jacob at least beginning to change. Scripture Narrator: ___; God: ___; Jacob: ___ 10Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. 12And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13And the Lord stood beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; 14and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. 15Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” 17And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” 18So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19He called that place Bethel; but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20Then Jacob made 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 clothing to wear, 21so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, 22and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house; and of all that you give me I will surely give one tenth to you.” Questions 1. Jacob has a dream of a ladder that reaches from the earth to heaven with angels going up and down the ladder (or stairway or ramp) (v. 12). What might it mean that angels are (or can) travel between heaven and earth? In the Bible, what do angels do? What might be the significance of this part of the dream? 2. In the dream God speaks to Jacob (vv. 13-15). What promises does God make to Jacob? Where have we heard something similar before? 3. Many of the promises we’ve heard before. What promises are new? Why are these new promises important for Jacob? 4. Which of these promises are most meaningful to you? 5. Jacob wakes from the dream and realizes the LORD is there with him. Why might he be afraid (v. 17)? What does it mean to you that God can be with you and you don’t even realize it? 6. Jacob takes concrete action when he wakes sets up a stone and pours oil on it. This seems to be a way of memorializing the theophany. He also renames the place ‘House of God.’ What concrete action should you take when God reveals himself to you? Has God revealed himself to you? How did you respond? 7. Jacob also makes a vow (vv. 20-22). He seems to be saying, “If God keeps his promises then I will follow him.” Is that a good vow? Have you made a vow to God? If not, what kind of vow would you make to God? 8. Jacob promises to tithe to God. That may mean he’s make a burnt offering to God at Bethel (or somewhere else). Does it surprise you that Jacob tithes? Do you tithe (now I’m meddling!)? Why or why not? 9. What is the significance of this story for Jacob? Is it a turning point? Is it his acceptance of the God of Abraham and Isaac as his God? What was your turning point? When did the God of your parents or your church become your God? .