A God Encounter

 Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that was near his head and set it up as a marker. He poured oil on top of it and named the place Bethel, though previously the city was named Luz. Then Jacob made a vow: "if God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, if He provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, and if I return safely to my father's house, then The Lord will be my God. This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God's house, and I will give You a tenth of all you give me." Genesis 28:18-22

In the night Jacob had a dream about a stairway to heaven upon which angels went up and down and The Lord appeared to him and promised him He would bless him, much the same as He had promised Abraham and Isaac. When Jacob awoke he knew that the place was special and therefore set up a marker, poured oil on it and renamed the place Bethel. Jacob was the first thus far to use oil as a significant tool of dedication. Oil was used in annointing throughout time, and still is. Perhaps Jacob instituted this, or perhaps God did and inspired Jacob in the act.

Jacob now determines to make God his God should He care for him on his journey and return him safely to his father's house on his return.

Jacob also offers a tenth of all God gives him. Scripture does not tell us Isaac did this but it does show Abraham giving a tenth to Melchiizdek, the priest of the most high.

These scriptures are full of significance and Jacob encounter with God brought about the deep impact Jacob experiences. An experience with God triggers a reaction, usually good. It causes us to do things that establish the event as an important milestone in our walk with God.

An experience with God can happen out of the blue but also I find it happens more often when I am hungry for God. Amen!

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