AUGUST 11th
THE FIRST VOW (Continued)
Scripture Reading: Genesis 28:20-22
20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God:
22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
It is the writer’s firm belief that Jacob’s vow was shaped by his dream. One final thought is worth careful consideration before getting into the terms of the vow. Genesis 28:18-19 reads, "And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first." Jacob gave special place to the item he used for his comfort. Notice that pillows is plural. Many but one in purpose. His worldly comfort no longer took the place of preeminence but what symbolizes Christ for us was now given that place. True comfort is from a higher and heavenly position from this point forward. He anointed the stone used for his pillows which is another picture of Christ, the Anointed One and His Body.
Lastly, Jacob called named the place after his new experience. This is the testimony that we should leave after an experience with God. No longer Luz but now Bethel, the house of God. To reaffirm from the previous lesson, Hebrews 3:6 reads, "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we…" Luz means almond tree. The prophet Jeremiah helps one see the spiritual truth unfolding. He said, "The word of the LORD came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" "I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied. The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled." Luz then pictures the Word of God fulfilled. Christ Jesus is the Word fulfilled, and we are His house. Once He and His ministry is fully received, one can obtain his spiritual bearing and realize that in Christ, this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven (Genesis 28:17-18)."
Continued