Adonai is in this Place

By Venessa Holtzhausen

Gen 28:16 Jacob woke up from his sleep and said, “Undoubtedly, Adonai is in this place—and I was unaware.”

Jacob understood that God had been where he had slept. But how could he know that he was in the place, then come back and say that he didn’t really know this fact? What we have is an idiom that means that Jacob was not awake. To paraphrase, “Truly, Adonai was in this place, and I, I really wasn’t even conscious!”

The Hebrew construction is emphatic here: “And I, I really wasn’t …” gives the phrase emphasis on his not being aware. Logically, he would have been asleep, as the text notes, “Jacob awoke from his sleep.” So Jacob is admitting he was just unaware.

Also note, how God re-affirm His covenant promise with Abraham to Jacob in verse 14. When God makes a promise, oath, he keeps it.

Num 23:19 God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes his mind! Does He speak and then not do it, or promise and not fulfill it?

We can truly trust Him and rely on His Word.

Amen!