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14 Your descendants will be as many as there are specks of dust on the earth. You will spread out to the west, east, north, and south. Through your descendants, all the families of the earth will find true blessing. 15 Know I am with you, and I will watch over you no matter where you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done all I have promised you.

Dreams are a bit mysterious. There are many theories about what dreams are and why we dream, but no one knows for sure. What is sure is that at times in the Scriptures God uses dreams to reveal Himself to His covenant partners. Certainly not everyone has revelatory dreams, and not all dreams are revelatory. But sometimes, on special occasions, when it suits God’s purposes, dreams can be a vehicle to see, hear, and experience reality as God knows it. It happens here with Jacob, who has not yet fully embraced the Eternal as his God; and it continues to happen in both testaments with Joseph, Daniel, Peter, and others.

16 The dream ended, and Jacob woke up from his sleep.

Jacob (to himself): There is no doubt in my mind that the Eternal One is in this place—and I didn’t even know it!

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14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you(A) will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.(B) All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.[a](C) 15 I am with you(D) and will watch over you(E) wherever you go,(F) and I will bring you back to this land.(G) I will not leave you(H) until I have done what I have promised you.(I)(J)

16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep,(K) he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 28:14 Or will use your name and the name of your offspring in blessings (see 48:20)