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Click below to see readings for the week:

Read Genesis 28:10-19a


Read Genesis 28:10-19a

10 Jacob left Beersheba and started towards Haran. 11At sunset he came to a holy placel and camped there. He lay down to sleep, resting his head on a stone. 12He dreamt that he saw a stairway reaching from earth to heaven, with angels going up and coming down on it. 13And there was the Lord standing beside him.m “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham and Isaac,” he said. “I will give to you and to your descendants this land on which you are lying. 14They will be as numerous as the specks of dust on the earth. They will extend their territory in all directions, and through you and your descendants I will bless all the nations.n 15Remember, I will be with you and protect you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done all that I have promised you.”
16 Jacob woke up and said, “The Lord is here! He is in this place, and I didn’t know it!” 17He was afraid and said, “What a terrifying place this is! It must be the house of God; it must be the gate that opens into heaven.”
18 Jacob got up early next morning, took the stone that was under his head, and set it up as a memorial. Then he poured olive oil on it to dedicate it to God. 19He named the place Bethel.o

Think

Jacob has just tricked his father into blessing him with Esau's birth right.  Remember that Jacob had bought it with a pot of stew - so Esau squandered it.  Esau was angry with Jacob and Jacob ran away to the wilderness, alone he lies down to sleep - with his head on a stone, alone and afraid.

He has a dream.  In the dream he realises that God is with him.

Pray

Sometimes I feel a bit like Jacob, alone in the wilderness with a stone for a pillow. Help me to remember that you are with me.


l a holy place; or a place.
12 28.12: Jn 1:51
13 28.13: Gn 13:14, 15
m beside him; or on it.
14 28.14: Gn 12:3; 22:18
n through you ... nations; or all the nations will ask me to bless them as I have blessed you and your descendants.
o bethel: This name in Hebrew means “house of God”.

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