Today’s Bible reading from the Five Day Bible Reading Plan: Genesis 28-29, Mark 11

“Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it” (Genesis 28:16).

Jacob spoke these words prior to his arrival at Laban’s home. His mother sent him to her brother’s in order to protect him from his brother Esau’s wrath. Jacob secured the birthright. Esau foolishly gave away his blessing for some stew, showing that his immediate hunger for one meal meant more to him than the blessing God gave to him in his lifetime.

Esau also lost the blessing of Abraham through some sneaky maneuvering, giving him the role of progenitor (a role that belonged by birth to the oldest son–in this case, Esau). As a result of this second indignity, Esau was ready to kill his brother. But this was not the first time they would war. This began in the womb. Rebekah asked God why there was such aggressive behavior with her twins en utero.

And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb,
    and two peoples from within you^[a] shall be divided;
the one shall be stronger than the other,
    the older shall serve the younger.”

Genesis 25:23, The Old Testament

So, when Jacob heard from the Lord prior to his arrival to Haran and Laban’s home, God reinforced to Jacob the covenant He made to Abraham (Genesis 28:10). He called that place where he encountered the Lord Bethel. After this, Jacob made a beautiful vow:

“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, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”

Genesis 28:20-22

God was with Him. His covenant stayed true. And with Jesus Christ, our True and Living Way that instituted the covenant, we can rest assured that God will stay true to His Word with us as well.

That’s always been His way!