Title [Genesis 28:16-22] Jacob's vow
After Isaac blessed Jacob, Esau's relationship with Jacob deteriorated dramatically. Esau even thought of killing Jacob. When Rebekah knew this, she called Jacob to flee to Haran, and asked her husband Isaac to send her to Haran, which is Paddan Aram, to be Jacob's wife. Isaac followed Rebekah's will and blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan Aram. On the way, Jacob met God at Bethel, received a blessed promise, and made a vow.
1. Jacob met God in his loneliness and loneliness.
2. Jacob made a vow to God.
It is a response to God's promises. God appeared to Jacob and made five promises. First, the descendants will multiply greatly. Second, all peoples will be blessed because of his descendants. Third, he will protect them anytime and anywhere. Fourth, they will bring them back safely. Fourth, they will not leave until the fulfillment of this promise. To this blessed promise of God, Jacob responded with a vow. Like Jacob, I hope that we will respond appropriately when God gives us blessed promises. Jacob is first reaffirming God's promise. He is with them on the way, guarding them, giving them food to eat and clothes to wear, and making them return to their father's house in peace (20). I see you're not too greedy. Jacob made several vows: It should not be easy to make a vow, but sometimes making a firm promise to God and always fulfilling it is a very important response for believers. A vow is a decision, and believers who receive grace through the Word need this determination.
① He said that he would serve the Lord as his God. We also need this vow. It is a vow to serve only God. Nothing in the world can be God. But among us, the things of the world often take the place of God. Let's make a decision to serve only God for the rest of our lives and put it into practice.
② He said that he would make the stone that he had laid to become the temple of God. Jacob later built an altar here. The temple of God is a place to serve God. The life of sacrificing to God, the life of worship, is a life that all believers must practice. We should know that it is our highest duty to worship God in the temple (church). We must never forget that God is looking for worshipers in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). I hope that all of us will become worshipers that God will find and please. A life that values worship, this is the important life of those who have received grace.
③ He promised to pay something. He vowed, “Of all that you have given me, I will surely give to you a tenth” (22). After Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20). Even in the patriarchal era, something was already common. Therefore, the word about tithing naturally came out of Jacob's mouth. Tithing is a reward for the grace (blessings) you have received and at the same time a means for greater blessings. God has promised to those who live tithing that He will bless them so that they have no room to accumulate (Malachi 3:10). Those who receive these promises by faith and put them into practice will surely receive great blessings. But those who do not practice are bound to be cursed because of their unbelief. Just as Jacob made a vow with excitement after meeting God at Bethel and receiving the promise, I hope that all the saints who met God in a lonely and difficult situation and were blessed will make up their minds and practice like Jacob, and enjoy greater blessings .