The Vertical Relationship: Encountering God at Bethel

The Vertical Relationship: Encountering God at Bethel
Genesis 28:12-22 is a profound account of Jacob’s divine encounter, revealing the transformative power of a vertical relationship with God. Through Jacob’s dream, we see the interplay between heaven and earth, where a horizontal experience of life transitions into a vertical alignment with God. This shift is not just symbolic but a necessary step for God to move in our lives, providing purpose, protection, and provision. Let us explore this passage and its deeper implications.
        •        The Dream (Genesis 28:12-15): Jacob saw a stairway set on the ground, reaching to heaven, with angels ascending and descending. This vision symbolized the connection between heaven and earth, showing that God is actively involved in human affairs. Yahweh Himself stood beside Jacob, reaffirming His covenant promises: the inheritance of the land, the multiplication of descendants, and the blessing to all nations through his lineage.
        •        The Realization (Genesis 28:16-17):
The Key of Realization: Recognizing God’s Communication in Dreams
The moment of realization is pivotal in our spiritual journey. When Jacob awoke from his dream in Genesis 28:16-17, he exclaimed, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” This realization was not just an acknowledgment of God’s presence but a transformative recognition of His active involvement in Jacob’s life. It shifted Jacob’s understanding of the ordinary to the extraordinary, leading him to declare the place as “the house of God” and “the gate of heaven.” Similarly, when we come to understand that God communicates with us in profound ways—including through dreams—it can serve as the turning point for breakthroughs and divine alignment in our lives.
Throughout Scripture, dreams are a significant medium through which God communicates. There are 21 recorded dreams in the Bible, each carrying divine guidance, encouragement, or revelation. Examples include Joseph’s dreams of leadership (Genesis 37:5-11), the dreams of Pharaoh interpreted by Joseph (Genesis 41:1-32), and Solomon’s dream where God offered him wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-15). In the New Testament, God continued to speak through dreams, as seen when He warned Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt for safety (Matthew 2:13-15). These dreams were not random; they carried God’s divine plan and instructions. Recognizing and valuing such communication is crucial. When we treat our dreams with reverence, seeking interpretation through prayer and the Word of God, we position ourselves to receive the guidance and breakthroughs they often contain.
The Bible emphasizes that God speaks even when we are at rest. Job 33:14-16 says, “For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it. In a dream, a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber on their beds, He uncovers their ears and terrifies them with warnings.” This reveals that dreams are not only moments of divine communication but also opportunities for correction, encouragement, and preparation for the future. When we realize that God is speaking to us, even in our sleep, we align ourselves to His purposes, and this realization becomes the key to unlocking His plans in our lives. Much like Jacob, who declared Bethel sacred after his dream, our realization of God’s presence and voice can lead to personal transformation and breakthroughs.
2. The Consecration of the Stone
In Genesis 28:18, Jacob took the stone he had used as a pillow, set it up as a marker, and poured oil on it, consecrating it to God. This act was not just a memorial but a declaration of worship and commitment.
        •        Symbolism of the Stone: The stone represents Jacob’s transition from resting in his own strength to relying on God.  setting up stone monuments was customary in biblical times to commemorate divine encounters or significant events. Similar examples include:
        •        Moses setting up twelve stones at Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:4).
        •        Joshua setting up memorial stones at the Jordan River and at Shechem (Joshua 4; Joshua 24:26).
        •        Samuel erecting a stone as a witness to victory over the Philistines (1 Samuel 7:12).
Jacob’s stone was no longer just a part of the horizontal landscape—it became a vertical marker of his covenant with God, signifying divine intervention and a sacred connection.
History of Jacob’s stone:
There is an unfounded tradition that the stone Jacob set up was afterwards brought to Jerusalem, later taken to Spain, then to Ireland and finally to Scotland. On what is supposed to be that very stone, the kings of Scotland sat when crowned. Edward I had it brought to Westminster and placed under the chair on which kings of England were to be crowned.
        •        The Vertical Relationship: When Jacob set the stone upright, it symbolized the shift in his relationship with God. The horizontal stone of rest became the vertical altar of worship. This transformation signifies that God desires to move in our lives when we align ourselves with Him as our ABBA—our loving Father who provides, protects, and leads us.
The Horizontal to Vertical Transformation
Jacob’s journey was initially horizontal—he was fleeing from his brother Esau and seeking refuge. Exhausted, he laid his head on a stone, unaware of the sacred nature of the place. The stone was merely a resting place, but after his dream, Jacob erected it as a monument to God.
This transformation illustrates a key principle: until our horizontal relationships—our earthly endeavors, connections, and pursuits—are realigned into a vertical relationship with God, we cannot experience His full movement in our lives. Jacob’s horizontal experience of life transitioned to a vertical encounter with God, marked by a realization of God’s presence and a consecration of the stone.
From Rest to Revelation: The Foundation of God’s Design
Rest is central to God’s design for humanity, as it reflects His divine order and purpose. When God completed creation, He rested on the seventh day and declared it holy (Genesis 2:2-3). This act was not because God needed rest, but to establish a principle: rest comes before work. Man was created on the sixth day, and his first experience was entering into God’s rest on the seventh. This divine sequence shows that rest is foundational to human purpose and productivity. It is in the place of rest that we find revelation, alignment, and the strength to fulfill God’s call. Without rest, our horizontal relationships—our work, connections, and endeavors—cannot flourish because they lack the vertical alignment with God that rest establishes.
Hebrews emphasizes the importance of entering God’s rest. Hebrews 4:9-11 declares, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest.” This rest is not merely physical but spiritual—a trust in God’s completed work through Christ. Without this rest, we strive in our strength, leading to frustration and disconnection. True rest is found in a vertical relationship with God, where we cease from our labors and allow Him to work in us and through us. Jesus Himself invites us into this rest, saying, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). From this place of rest, we gain clarity, revelation, and the ability to establish healthy horizontal relationships, fulfilling God’s purpose with peace and joy.
3. Jacob’s Vow to God
Jacob’s response to this encounter was to make a solemn vow:
        •        “If God will be with me…” (Genesis 28:20): This should not be read as a statement of doubt but rather a confirmation of God’s promise in Genesis 28:13-15. Jacob’s vow reflects his trust that God would fulfill His word to protect and provide for him on his journey.
        •        Significance of the Vow: This is the first recorded vow in Scripture.  Vows to God were to be voluntary but not taken lightly (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6). Jacob’s vow set a precedent for others in Scripture, including:
        •        Hannah’s vow to dedicate her son to God (1 Samuel 1:11).
        •        David’s vow to find a dwelling place for God (Psalm 132:2).
        •        Jonah’s vow of thanksgiving after being delivered (Jonah 2:9).
Jacob’s vow also included a promise to give a tenth of all he received from God, establishing a principle of tithing as an act of worship and gratitude.
4. The Sacredness of Bethel
Jacob renamed the place Bethel, meaning “house of God,” signifying its sacred nature. Previously known as Luz, it became a place of divine encounter and worship.
        •        Bethel as a Sacred Place: Jacob returned to Bethel about thirty years later to renew his covenant with God (Genesis 35:14), highlighting the lasting significance of this encounter. Bethel became a location of spiritual transformation, not only for Jacob but also as a symbolic place for future generations.
5. Lessons for Today
Jacob’s encounter at Bethel provides timeless principles for believers:
        1.        Recognize God’s Presence: Like Jacob, we often fail to recognize God’s presence in our lives. However, when we become aware of Him, our ordinary circumstances are transformed into sacred encounters.
        2.        Consecrate Your Life to God: Just as Jacob consecrated the stone, we are called to dedicate our lives to God. This act of consecration requires shifting from a horizontal focus on earthly concerns to a vertical alignment with God’s purposes.
        3.        Fulfill Your Vows to God: Jacob’s vow was a declaration of trust and commitment. When we make promises to God, we must honor them with sincerity and faithfulness.
        4.        Live in Covenant Relationship: Jacob’s encounter reminds us of God’s covenant faithfulness. His promises are eternal, and He remains with us, guiding and providing for us wherever we go.
Jacob’s encounter at Bethel demonstrates the transformative power of a vertical relationship with God. When we shift from a horizontal focus on earthly matters to a vertical alignment with God, we open the door for His blessings, guidance, and provision. Like Jacob, may we recognize God’s presence, consecrate our lives to Him, and live in faithful covenant with our loving ABBA Father.

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