Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 28:10-15

"And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set. And he took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed. And behold, a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, Jehovah stood above it, and said, I am Jehovah, the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. And in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee, whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land. For I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of." — Genesis 28:10-15 (ASV)

Jacob's conduct until now, as recorded, was not that of one who simply feared and trusted in God. But now in trouble, obliged to flee, he looked only to God to make him dwell in safety, and he could lie down and sleep in the open air with his head upon a stone. Any true believer would be willing to accept Jacob's pillow, provided he might have Jacob's vision. God's time to visit His people with His comforts is when they are most destitute of other comforts and comforters. Jacob saw a ladder which reached from earth to heaven, the angels going up and coming down, and God Himself at the head of it. This represents:

1. The providence of God, by which an ongoing interaction is maintained between heaven and earth. This let Jacob know that he had both a good guide and a good guard.

2. The mediation of Christ. He is this ladder; the foot on earth in His human nature, the top in heaven in His Divine nature.

Christ is the Way; all God's favors come to us, and all our services go to Him, by Christ (John 1:51). By this way, sinners draw near to the throne of grace with acceptance. By faith we perceive this way, and in prayer we approach by it. In answer to prayer we receive all necessary blessings of providence and grace.

We have no way of getting to heaven but by Christ. And when the soul, by faith, can see these things, then every place will become pleasant, and every prospect joyful. He will never leave us, until His last promise is accomplished in our everlasting happiness. God now spoke comfortably to Jacob.

He spoke from the head of the ladder. All the glad tidings we receive from heaven come through Jesus Christ. The Messiah should come from Jacob. Christ is the great blessing of the world. All that are blessed, are blessed in Him, and none of any family are shut out from blessedness in Him, but those that shut out themselves.

Jacob had to fear danger from his brother Esau; but God promises to keep him. He had a long journey before him, to an unknown country; but, Behold, I am with thee, and God promises to bring him back again to this land. He seemed to be forsaken by all his friends; but God gives him this assurance, I will not leave thee.

Whom God loves, He never leaves.