OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS

Genesis 28:10-19a  is the story of Jacob's dream at Bethel in which he sees a ladder extending from heaven to earth, receives the divine promise of progeny, and then responds to it, while Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 is a confession about the breadth of God's presence, which extends from the depths of Sheol to the heights of the heavens.

Genesis 28:10-19a - "Putting Conditions on Visions"
Setting.  This is the second lesson from the Jacob cycle. The trickster Jacob has been living out the meaning of his name for some time now. He has not only tricked his brother, Esau, out of his birthright, but he has also stolen Isaac's blessing that rightfully belonged to Esau. (The blessing is an almost magical gift of prosperity which can only be given once.) In the present story Jacob …