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
Knowing God
A classic that helps believers move from knowing about God to truly knowing Him in a personal and biblical way.
View on Amazon
The Pursuit of God
A heartfelt call to pursue God Himself above all else, with a strong emphasis on holiness and devotion.
View on Amazon
Systematic Theology
A comprehensive, evangelical overview of Christian doctrine with Scripture at every point.
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 Reformed Doctrine of Predestination
Explains and defends the doctrines of grace and God's sovereign election from Scripture.
View on Amazon
Redemption Accomplished and Applied
A concise, biblical study of Christ's atonement and the application of salvation to believers.
View on Amazon
The Bondage of the Will
Luther's classic defense of the Bible's teaching on human sin and God's sovereign grace.
View on Amazon
The Westminster Shorter Catechism
Summarizes key doctrines of Scripture in concise questions and answers.
View on Amazon
The Westminster Confession of Faith
A historic confession that systematically sets forth Reformed theology from Scripture.
View on Amazon
Reformed Dogmatics (Single Volume Abridgement)
A rich, Reformed systematic theology that is deeply biblical and Christ-centered.
View on Amazon
Gentle and Lowly
Meditates on Christ's heart for sinners and sufferers from key biblical texts.
View on Amazon
The Glory of Christ
Calls believers to behold the glory of Christ as the great means of transformation.
View on Amazon
Idols of the Heart
Helps believers identify and repent of heart-idols through the lens of Scripture.
View on Amazon
The Peacemaker
Biblical principles for resolving conflict in a way that honors Christ and reconciles people.
View on Amazon