Genesis 28:9-15 New International Version (NIV)
9 so he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had.
Jacob’s Dream at Bethel
10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Ishmael and Isaac were half brothers. Isaac’s mother was Sarah. Ishmael’s mother was Hagar. Sarah was the wife of Isaac, and Hagar was the maidservant of Sarah. Esau married two foreign girls from the family of Ishmael. He did this to please his mother and father, Sarah and Isaac. Esau was working to please his earthly father. Then, Jacob was offered God’s covenant promise that had been offered to Abraham and Isaac. It was not enough to be Abraham’s grandson or Isaac’s son, Jacob had to establish his own relationship with God. Each person must have a personal relationship with God. It is not enough to hear stories and be in a Christian family. You need to become part of the story yourself. Are you looking to please your earthly father or are you looking to please your Heavenly Father? Look to please your Heavenly Father and establish your relationship with the Lord. You belong to God and God belongs to you.
