1st.: Jacob’s Vow
Isaac and Rebekah told their son, Jacob, to go to the region called Padanaram to find a wife. (Gen. 28:1-7).
Enroute, Jacob spent the night in a place called Luz (Gen. 28:19).
That night God promised Jacob,
“I am the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac. The land where thou lies, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. … I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” (Gen. 28:12-15).
God’s appearance greatly affected Jacob,
“’Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not.’ And he was afraid, and said, ‘How dreadful is this place.’ … And Jacob vowed a vow to God, ‘If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then shall the Lord God be my God. … And I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” (Gen. 28:16-22).
Jacob was intimidated by, yet sensitive to, God’s presence.
Moreover, Jacob heard the promise, “I will not leave thee.”
Therefore, knowing the dangers in his coming trip, Jacob vowed that if God gets him to Padanaram, and back safely, then Jacob would believe that the God of grandfather, Abraham and his father, Isaac, really was real, and that he was not just dreaming.
A great blessing comes, when we believe God on faith.
“Because thou has seen me, thou has believed. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:20)