None Other Than the House of God!
Genesis 28:16-17 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
How awesome indeed!
Genesis 28:12-13 He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants.
This was not JUST a dream as we would define a dream. This was much more a VISION – an event rather than an imaginary image made up by a mind in a dream world.
When he arrived at this place he did not see – feel – hear – touch anything like this. I believe God purposely waited until the day of travel was over, camp was quiet, and Jacob was in his plan to fulfill the birthright he had stolen from his brother Esau. Yes, he was running away from a twin brother who was a little angry, but he was also intent upon receiving all that his father’s blessing (which the brothers would have heard about their entire life) entitled the receiver to get.
Genesis 17:7-8 (God says) I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant – I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojourning, all the land of Canaan
Jacob was going for the WHOLE TAMALE. However, just like us, (at least me), he was focused on his plan. I don’t think he personally, ran his plan by the Covenant Maker.
This dream/vision, with his head on a rock for a pillow, is the first time we hear of Jacob one on one with God. He was afraid… and impressed – “how awesome is this place!”
It’s church! None other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!
Yes, Jacob, God is speaking to you!
“I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants.
NOW begins the REAL DEAL… God’s plan done God’s way!
Twenty years later he returns to this same spot having been schooled (both by life and inspiration). In Covenant Relationship with the Master, now he PRAYS, and WRESTLES, and SUBMITS to the touch of God in his life.(Genesis 32:1-32)
This time Jacob named the place Peniel – which in Hebrew means “face of God”.
The place where he REFUSED to release God until He (God) blessed him – even after God exploded his hip socket (can we say PAINFUL!).
No longer a cocky young man, enthralled by the BLING of a place where he received his certificate of membership from God, now a trained believer in a very intimate relationship with his God.
Have you found your house of God – your gate of heaven – your ladder – your Peniel, the place where you are face to face with God?
It’s not a place reserved only for Jacob. “I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’ to a nation which did not call on My name. (Isaiah 65:1)
ANY person (ESPECIALLY THE REBELLIOUS among us) is invited. “I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts, (Isaiah 65:2)
Like Jacob, we are presented with God’s covenant to us. Not OUR plan but God’s… Coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5)
Like Jacob, some of us come with the cockiness of youth, thinking (and sometimes being taught) that we OWN THE COVENANT with all the rights, riches and privileges of land barons.
1 Peter 2:9 You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession,
But God… NEVER leaves out the training! So that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
He never leaves out His sanctification! For you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:10)
THEN we may enter our Peniel with confident willingness (we know Him), and wrestling mania (we trust Him), and our breathless determination to be blessed (we believe Him).
NOW… we are at church!
No… now we are the church… Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
I do declare… “How awesome is this place!”
You are… none other than the house of God AND the gate of heaven… Ready to wrestle?
**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.