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QUEST TO UNDERSTAND ELEMENTARY SCRIPTURAL TRUTH

Jacob: The Thief Who Became The Chosen One

Genesis 28:10-22 · Pastor Craig R. Jarvis

 

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1Jacob Sets out for Haran

  • The mention of Haran is intended to begin pointing at Abraham. 28:10-11

    • What is the main reason that Jacob left for Haran?

    • Jacob beds down in the out-of-doors
  • Typically, hospitality would not even make this an option. People stayed with other people Judges 19:11-21
    • Perhaps Jacob was being ?
    • Perhaps Jacob was far from ?
    • He put stones around his head
    • On Jacob’s first night on the run, he was afraid of what might be coming in the night (including his brother), uncertain of his destination, and forced to sleep on the ground outside.
    • Certainly, he must have thought to himself if there was anything at all to the blessing he had stolen only hours earlier.

2Jacob’s Dream

  • Jacob sees a ladder in his dream upon which went up and down. 28:12-15
    • The significance of the ladder
    • This ladder could have been a traditional “ladder”
    • This ladder could have been a “ramp” or “ ”
    • The picture of the ladder linking heaven and earth are specifically important. A picture of the real and uninterrupted fellowship between God in heaven and His people upon the earth (Keil & Delitzsch)
    • The fact that this ladder began with Jacob at the bottom and ended with God at the top is also significant – especially for what is about to come…
    • The significance of the angels
    • Some commentators believe these angels are insignificant, in that they are only included to illustrate the point that the ladder began in
    • Some commentators believe that these angels are to be seen as “ ” of nations. They are included as a picture that the nation promised to Jacob would be protected by the armies of the Living God (Wenham)
    • Some commentators believe the angels are a picture of carrying of humans up to God and bring down the protection and assistance of God to men (Keil & Del.)
    • Some commentators are more specific: they believe that the angels descending represented angels protecting Jacob in the land he was going toward and the angels ascending represented angels protecting the land which he was promised by God. (Rashi)
    • God stood at the top of the ladder as a picture that all things created must ultimately to Him.
    • Notice the regal introduction of God

    • What is the connection with the Yahweh God of Moses?

    • This is a validation of the sovereign hand of the same God to His unbreakable plan

    • This is also the God who is allowed to give great promises – that is the kind of God that He is. What is the name of God to this point indicating that He is the great promise keeper?

3Yahweh’s Promise to Jacob

  • The promise given to Jacob is almost identical to the promise to Abraham in Genesis 13:14-16. (28:13b – 15)
  • The promise given to Jacob continues the blessing to Abraham by God himself
  • descendants are the descendants who will be blessed!
  • is confirmed by God to be the right One in the Chosen Line
  • Notice how the promise ends: “…until all I have done for you all I promised to do for you.”

  • How does this phrase strike you?

  • This is not a typical phrase in the Abrahamic Covenant, yet this is spoken to the Thief
    • Note: It would be before Jacob would return to the land
  • Jacob is the first in the Bible to hear the promise
  • “I am with you…”
  • We have since been promised
  • “Emmanuel”

4Jacob’s Reaction to His First Meeting with God

  • Jacob wakes from his dream in awe and reverence of what he has seen 28:16-19
    • Jacob names the place:
    • Jacob erects a stone
    • He dedicates one of the stones (around, under?) his head as a (Westermann)
    • He dedicates one of the stones (around, under?) his head as a “house of God” – more of a consecrating ritual
    • He poured over the stone – typically seen in a consecrating ritual
    • This would be an object that contained power within itself
    • Contains divine power
    • Represents a power in itself apart from its Creator
    • This is typically a cultic practice to be shunned (Deut.16:21-22; Ex.23:24; 34:13; 1 Kings 14:23)

    • Question: In this context, what is the most likely intention of Jacob regarding this erected stone?

5Jacob’s Promise to Yahweh

  • This vow is mentioned several times in the Jacob cycle 28:20-22
    • Jacob’s prayer is based on the promise already made to him
    • He will the LORD
    • He will consider this place
    • He will offer
    • Here, Jacob mirrors Abraham’s reaction to the goodness of God (IE: Malchezadek – 17:7; 14:20)
    • Jacob is setting the pattern for the nation of Israel to bring their goods to God with grateful hearts
    • Jacob vows to bring a tenth (his tithes) to the God who dwells in this place.

    • Jacob’s promises to God seem to be contingent on God’s actions toward him. How is this like us?

    • Conclusion
    • Jacob is becoming a new man…slowly. Here, he mirrors his grandfather best.
    • The revelation was intended to give a divine stamp of approval on the blessing that Isaac had dismissed Jacob with from his home
    • God is …even in our most embarrassing sin
    • Even in our moments of deepest crisis, God is still with us and his promises are still sure if we trust Him.

© 2026 Craig Jarvis. All rights reserved. Used by permission of the author. Not for resale.