With the tension in the family boiling over, Jacob is sent away under the guise of finding a wife, but in reality, he will be on the run for his life. Esau is waiting for the day of his father Isaac’s death, harbouring a fixed resolve to kill Jacob. Rebekah, gripped by the fear of losing both sons urgently convinces Isaac to send Jacob away to her family in Haran. But unlike Abraham’s servant who once travelled to fetch Rebekah with wealth and company, Jacob sets out with nothing. A seventy-seven-year-old man with no escort, no riches, and no inheritance, Jacob leaves home with only a blessing from his father and a cloud of guilt.
May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples.
Genesis 28:3 (NIV)
This blessing is strikingly different from the first. The earlier blessing, won through deceit, was heavy with power and dominion. Here, Isaac finally acknowledges God directly, passing on the covenant of Abraham and aligning himself with God’s plan. It is no longer a blessing stolen; it is a blessing confirmed.
Esau Tries to Please His Father
Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac; so he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had.
Genesis 28:8-9 (NIV)
Meanwhile, Esau recognises his parents’ displeasure over his Canaanite wives and attempts to salvage favour by marrying into Ishmael’s family. But his choice is not born of repentance. It is imitation—a shallow attempt to copy the outward form of obedience without the inward change of heart. Like Esau, we too can fall into the trap of thinking that altering appearances or habits equals transformation, while God seeks surrender of the heart.
The Pharisees taught the people to focus on outward transformations, emphasising strict adherence to the letter of the law rather than drawing near to God. In the same way, Esau, instead of seeking his parents’ guidance and asking what would please them, acted on his own assumptions and drifted further away. Likewise, we too can become absorbed in celebrating traditions, such as pagan festivals or even birthdays of Christ, without pausing to seek what truly pleases God and remembering what He has already spoken to us through His prophets.
Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations —
I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals
I hate with all my being.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
Isaiah 1:13-14 (NIV)
Alone on the Road
Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.
Genesis 28:10-11 (NIV)
Jacob’s journey north would not have been easy. The path to Haran stretched hundreds of miles across wilderness and rugged terrain. Travellers were often at the mercy of raiders, wild animals, and harsh conditions. To camp under the open sky with only a stone for a pillow was not just uncomfortable—it was unsafe. And yet it is in this exposed, lonely state that God chooses to meet Jacob. As Jacob sleeps at Luz, he dreams of a stairway reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending. Above it all, God speaks:
“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Genesis 28:15 (NIV)
For Jacob’s world, this image would have been familiar. The ancient Mesopotamian landscape was dotted with ziggurats—temple towers built to connect heaven and earth. But Jacob’s dream reveals the truth: mankind does not climb to God. Heaven descends to man, on God’s initiative, in God’s way. The same covenant promised to Abraham and Isaac is now given to Jacob personally.
Gate of Heaven
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
Genesis 28:16-17 (NIV)
Jacob awakes trembling. He names the place Bethel—the House of God—and sets up his stone pillow as a memorial pillar, pouring oil over it. This act reflects common practice in his culture, where stones marked sacred events or boundaries. Yet Jacob’s response reveals both awe and immaturity.
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth. ”
Genesis 28:20-22 (NIV)
It is faith mixed with fear more like a negotiation, not complete surrender. Jacob still treats God like every other relationship in his life: transactional, conditional, cautious. God often meets us in the wilderness, as He did with Jacob, who encountered Him not in wealth or safety but in exile and fear. Our connection with God often arises in the hardest stages of our lives, when our hearts are most open to receive His word.
Blessing is not earned but freely given, as Jacob received God’s promise despite his schemes, not because of them. Yet like Jacob, we often bargain with God, saying, “If You… then I will…,” making a quid pro quo our way of speaking to Him. However, true faith grows when it rests on His promises rather than on negotiations.
Our Low Points
While on the run from his brother, Jacob learns that God is not confined to tents, altars, or family inheritance. He is the God who comes down into our wilderness, who speaks promises into our fears, who walks with us even when our faith falters. Similarly, we must recognise that God is not bound to buildings, rituals, or heritage but is present with us in the very places of our weakness, fear, and uncertainty.
When life feels barren and we are running from failure, conflict, or regret, we can be assured that God meets us there, not to condemn but to remind us of His promises. Our wilderness moments can become places of encounter, where His word strengthens us and His presence steadies us. We must trust Him beyond the security of familiar structures and lean on His faithfulness when ours falters.
Discussion Questions
- Why did God choose to appear to Jacob in the wilderness?
- How do we, like Esau, sometimes try to fix spiritual problems with outward solutions?
- How is God inviting us to move from bargaining faith to trusting faith?
The Jordan Valley 
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