God’s covenant (v. 9a). God in His grace had called Abraham and made a covenant with him (12:1-3), and that covenant was affirmed both to Isaac and to Jacob. It was on the basis of that covenant that Jacob asked God for the help he desperately needed. God’s people today approach the throne of grace through Jesus Christ on the basis of the new covenant that He made through His own blood (Heb. 8:6-13; 12:22-24).