00:00Jacob had deceived his father and brother. Even though his father had blessed him too,
00:12Esau was still angry with Jacob. Jacob quickly became a fugitive because of his sin.
00:19As he set out on his journey, both to find a wife and escape his brother's wrath,
00:24his father's parting words confirmed God's blessing and promise.
00:28As he traveled, Jacob reached a certain place and camped for the night. While the place seemed
00:35of no significance initially, it became a holy place for Jacob and his descendant.
00:41It was in this place that Jacob's journey of faith began. God appeared to him in a dream,
00:47revealing himself and his promises. God gave Jacob the same specific promise he had given to his
00:54father and grandfather. He would have many descendants, he would receive the land,
00:59and all the families of the earth would be blessed through him. God promised to be with Jacob,
01:05to protect him and never leave him. As Jacob woke up, he recognized the divine encounter.
01:12He acknowledged God's presence and the holiness of the place. Jacob named the place Bethel.
01:18The place he rested was a town called Luz, but Jacob renamed it. Like many places involved in
01:25God's promise, this place was renamed because it marked a significant turning point in the
01:31fulfillment of the promise. It was here that the Lord became Jacob's God and Jacob vowed to worship
01:37him. Jacob's journey of faith was full of major turning points. Here, God's presence turned a fugitive
01:45into a worshiper. A man of deception became a man of faith. It was not the last time Jacob would have
01:52a midnight encounter with God that would change his life. Jacob vowed to remember this moment and
01:58this place by marking the place with a stone. God's presence filled the place where Jacob was.
02:05Jacob had done nothing to earn God's favor. God chose Jacob and continued to pursue him,
02:11and Jacob responded in worship. When we encounter God's presence through his word, it should lead us
02:18to worship. We do not need to wait for a midnight encounter to experience God's presence.
02:24If we are followers of Christ, we can experience God's presence and the assurance of his promises
02:30every day through his word and his Holy Spirit. He is with us as he was with Jacob. He has given us
02:38incredible promises in his word. May we respond as Jacob did with worship and commitment.
