19. From pillow to pillar

Imagine using a rock for a pillow. In Gen. 28:11, Jacob went to bed with a stone under his head, and then dreamed his famous “ladder to heaven” dream, realizing that he was at the “door to heaven.” When he awoke, he took the same stone that had been his pillow and made it a pillar for an offering to God, saying “Surely, the Lord is in this place and I did not know it.”

What is unusual about this story is not that Jacob made a stone into an altar. He did the same thing later in Gen. 31:45. But using a rock to rest his head? Now that is weird.

Is there something in your life that is bringing a poor comfort to yourself because God wants to use it to worship Him? Specifically, look at the tithe. Jacob was the first person who specifically said he would take one-tenth of his possessions to give to God and the rock pillow was his inspiration. “This stone which I set as a pillar shall be God’s house and all that You give me, I will surely give a tenth to you,” (Gen. 28:22).

Could God use your stone pillow as a pillar for worship? Are you trying to use 100 percent of your income to make your life more comfortable and yet finding yourself restless? Are you giving enough of your time for God? Pastor Randy said yesterday that a tithe of our waking time would be ten hours a week for Him. Like Jacob, we often are unaware we are at the very gateway to God’s presence because we are exchanging what should be a pillar of devotion and making it an uncomfortable pillow!