Vayetze - Sovereignty of God

Veyetze - Genesis 28:10-32:2

God is Sovereign over his Promises

In the previous portion, we saw the election of Jacob over Esau to be the one to carry on the covenant of promise that God made with Abraham. And it was not because he was a more moral or upright person. In fact, his deceptive personality would suggest that in some ways he was worse. The reason why is unclear. The best explanation we get is from Paul in Romans 9:11, "not because of works but because of him who calls." In short, just as in Deuteronomy 7, He chose Jacob because He wanted to; and that's it.
In this weeks portion we see this covenant consolidated in the same way it was with his father and grand father.

The portion begins by telling us that after Jacob was at Beersheba, he went out (Vayetze) from there towards Haran. Eventually he came to what the Bible calls 'a certain place' (bammaqom). Because a similar word which shares the same root is used to describe where Abraham went to offer Issac, the sages are unanimous in saying that this is the same place. And because of what happens there, it would be poetic that this location would later become the site for the future temple, which also uses the same word (Deut 14:23 et al.). However, not only is it incidental that this common word is used to describe this location, but also the geography doesn't work out. This is a reminder that when we're reading the bible, or listening to preachers, it is important that we be discerning and not just accept something just because it sounds profound or significant. Because even though it may only be a minor thing, if it is untrue, it would still be an understanding of scripture that is based on an error. I believe that all the two places have in common is that they are both places chosen by God where he would meet with His people. As we will see, it is reference to God's sovereignty over the fulfilment of his plans and purposes.

It was at this place that Jacob has a vision of a ladder (some versions say stairway) upon which angels were ascending and descending. And at the top, God was standing over it and from there, He declared to Jacob that through him, He would fulfil the covenant promises made to his father and grandfather:

I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring.Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.

Here God is giving Jacob a guarantee that he will give him a multitude of descendants, land, and to be a source of blessing to the world. And in response to this, this Jacob was surprised. Which is interesting because his fathers just accepted what they were told. Tim Hegg suggests that the most likely reason for this is his guilt for deceiving his father and stealing his brother's blessing. But as we saw earlier from Romans 9, God's election is based on His will and not our works. 

We see this sovereignty expressed in the way God was standing over the ladder. Some commentators and bible notes say this phrase could actually be understood as God standing next to Jacob. Which again, makes for a nice story. But this phrase, nissab alaw, is also used in verses like 1 Samuel 19:20 to describe Samuel standing 'in authority over' (nissab alehem) the other prophets. So what we have here is a symbolic revelation that God is presiding over this bridge between heaven and earth, to maintain His covenant and bring his promises to fulfilment. 

Jesus would later use this event to explain his identity. When speaking to Nathaniel, He identifies himself as a type of the stairway Jacob saw: "you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man" (John 1:51). In other words, Jesus is the meeting place between heaven and earth. Interestingly, after placing a memorial stone, Jacob appears to vow to build a house for God (Gen 28:22), which was a foreshadowing of the tabernacle and temple that would later be built as a meeting place between God and people. And what the Temple did in part by honouring God and providing Him a dwelling place, was done more greatly through Christ (Matt 12:6). 

As imitators of Christ, we fulfil this role in the way we honour God in our bodies and how He dwells within us (1Cor 3:16). For the lost, we are the meeting place between them and Christ who can save them. This is also true collectively since the church as a temple (Eph 2:21) is united in Christ the cornerstone, having been brought into the covenant established with Abraham, Issac and Jacob.  We see this in how Jesus was also revealing to Nathaniel (which ironically means, 'God has given') that He is the means for the covenant blessing initially given to Abraham over which God was sovereignly reigning. Jesus was the seed through which all nations would be blessed. And His entire life, right until his death and resurrection and His work in the world to this day, has all been orchestrated by the sovereign will of God. Thus we can be assured that God is sovereign to fulfil his promises in our lives. Even when we think we've crossed the line as Jacob did. God saves us not according to our works, but according to His will.

Our next portion is Genesis 32:3-36:43