Gen. 28:16-22 (text: vv. 20-22)
With the advice of his mother, Rebekah, Jacob deceived his father Issac in order to get the blessing of the firstborn, the birthright, that usually went to the oldest son (in this case, Esau, Jacob’s twin). God had already promised the birthright to Jacob while the brothers were still in their mother’s womb - “the older shall serve the younger” (25:23). When Rebekah heard that Esau planned to kill Jacob, she advised Jacob to flee to her relatives who lived in Pandan Aram (ancient Syria). He left and on his way there, he arrived in Luz which he changed to Bethel (“House of God”). While there, the Lord assured Jacob that he would inherit Abraham’s promise (28:13-15).
Three things Jacob did after that:
He recognized God’s presence v. 16
He renamed the place v. 19
He made an unnecessary vow v. 20-22
Vows are voluntary, never required in Scripture. They are especially unnecessary when made after God has already promised to fulfill the conditions of a vow like Jacob’s. God gave Jacob a promise, but Jacob gave God requirements - “then the Lord will be my God” (v. 21). With or without Jacob’s vow, God was Jacob’s God because of His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Believers don’t have generational promises, but each is promised that nothing will separate him/her from “the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38-39) and that God “is able to protect you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy” (Jude 24). Therefore, God doesn’t need a vow from us but wants us to believe His promises, especially Hebrews 13:5 - “…I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you.”
Blessings!
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