INTRO: How often do we make promises to God and let them slide? Twenty years went by before Jacob returned to Bethel (at God's urging). Did he forget? Was he just too busy? Are we the same way? Do we forget our Bethels? Do we have something in our lives we need to finish for God?

 Now let us see what happened in Jacob's life at Bethel…

 We first see…

1. Jacob's vision of God's desires for his life… - 28:12
1. God had a desire to help him

• Jacob was "heir" to God's promise to Abraham (& offspring)

2. God had as desire to protect him

• Jacob was going to go through an uncertain time
• His vision of the angels show one of God's means of protecting him

3. God had a desire to bless him

• God's plan was to bless him (and us) through Christ (eventually)

2. Jacob's understanding of his responsibility to God - 28:11-

We find…
1. His lack of knowledge of God's ways - 16
2. His fear of God's power - 17
3. His dependence upon God - 20
4. His need to serve God - 21-22

2. God's reminder and Jacob's response to Bethel
1. He is told to go back to Bethel - 35:1

 
2. He commits to God - 3

 
3. He receives His blessings

• Promises given - 9-10
• Tasks given - 11-12

4. He continues on - 16a

Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist Church - 0522800am