Genesis 28:10-22

Jacob was not looking for God. He was looking for a good night’s sleep. However, God had other plans. He was looking to introduce Himself to Jacob. And what God looks for He finds. So He gave Jacob a dream in which he introduced Himself as the God of Abraham and of Isaac. Jacob did not recognize Him because he did not know his father’s God.

Having introduced Himself, God renewed the covenant promise. Jacob I will give you this land, your descendants will be as the dust of the earth, I will travel with you and I will protect you. This promise was not conditional on Jacob acknowledging God. This was a renewal on the promise given to Abraham.

When Jacob woke up, he had an awareness of God’s presence and he was terrified. He  met God, but he had not been changed. He had not acknowledged God as Lord. His first thought was how can I manipulate and put a handle on God. He offered God a deal. He said, God, if you will protect me, clothe me, house me and enrich me, I will let you be my God. And I will even tithe ten percent of everything you give me.

What a fool. God’s love is not for sale. God’s love cannot be earned. God’s love cannot be bargained for. God does not love us because we are worthy. God loves us because he is God. And God is love.