This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Genesis 28:10-22, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Jacob was a man who lived a long time ago, and he was the grandson of a man named Abraham.
One night, Jacob was on a journey to a place called Haran. When the sun started to set, he found a spot to rest for the night. He used a rock as a pillow and went to sleep. While he was sleeping, he had a dream. In the dream, he saw a ladder that reached from the earth all the way up to heaven. And he saw angels going up and down the ladder. Then, he saw the Lord standing at the top of the ladder.
The Lord said to Jacob, “I am the God of your father Abraham and your father Isaac. The land where you are sleeping will belong to you and your children after you. Your family will become very large, and all the people in the world will be blessed through your family. I will always be with you, no matter where you go. I will keep my promises to you.”
When Jacob woke up, he realized that God was with him. He was amazed and a little afraid. He said, “This place is special. It is God’s house, and it is the gate to heaven.”
Jacob took the rock he had used as a pillow and stood it up as a pillar. He poured oil on it and made a promise to God. He said, “If you will be with me on my journey and take care of me, and if you will bring me back home safely, then I will serve you as my God. And this place where I had my dream will be your house. I will also give one-tenth of everything you give me back to you.”
Jacob named that place Bethel, which means “house of God.” And he continued on his journey, knowing that God was with him and would take care of him.
Biblical Lessons
- God keeps His promises and is always with us, even in our dreams.
- We can make promises to God and give back to Him as a way to show our love and gratitude.
- We should always be thankful and worship God for everything He does for us.
Related Stories
Must-Read Christian Books
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God
Shows how God's sovereignty in salvation fuels, rather than hinders, faithful evangelism.
View on Amazon
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God
A robust, Scripture-saturated theology of prayer with practical guidance for deepening communion with God.
View on Amazon
Scripture Alone
Explains and defends the authority and sufficiency of Scripture over all human traditions.
View on Amazon
The God Who Is There
Shows how the God of the Bible speaks into modern philosophical and cultural confusion.
View on Amazon
The Discipline of Grace
Shows how God's grace and our disciplined effort work together in sanctification.
View on Amazon
Overcoming Sin and Temptation
A classic Puritan work on mortifying sin and living in the power of the Spirit.
View on Amazon
Don't Waste Your Life
A passionate plea to live for Christ's glory rather than trivial pursuits.
View on Amazon
Biblical Theology
A classic work tracing the progressive revelation of God's redemptive plan in Scripture.
View on Amazon
The Mortification of Sin
A Puritan classic urging believers to put sin to death by the power of the Spirit.
View on Amazon
Spiritual Leadership
Biblical principles for godly leadership in the church, home, and workplace.
View on Amazon
Spurgeon on the Christian Life
A portrait of Charles Spurgeon's Christ-centered theology and joyful piety.
View on Amazon
The Westminster Shorter Catechism
Summarizes key doctrines of Scripture in concise questions and answers.
View on Amazon
Christ-Centered Preaching
A standard textbook on preaching that shows how to proclaim Christ from all of Scripture.
View on Amazon
Christ-Centered Worship
Traces historic worship patterns and shows how to shape Christ-focused services today.
View on Amazon
The Gospel Comes with a House Key
A call to radical, everyday hospitality as a means of gospel witness and discipleship.
View on Amazon
Counterfeit Gods
Exposes modern idols of the heart and points to Christ as our true treasure.
View on Amazon