Pillows Made from Stones

“And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.” (Genesis 28:16)

Jacob had been running from his brother, Esau, who had sworn to kill him. In his weariness Jacob took stones and made pillows for his head and lay down and went to sleep. He dreamed that a ladder was set up from earth to heaven and angels were ascending and descending on it.

It was here that God spoke to him and assured him that he would be with him and keep him. With that, Jacob awoke and concluded that God was in that place, but he did not know it.

There have been revival meetings and other meetings of God’s people that brought shouts of praise, contrition, weeping, repentance and renewal of vows. People did not want to leave. In that same service there were people unmoved by any of it. The Lord was in that place but they did not know it.

Dry-eyed formalism has been the beginning of the death knell for many churches. The psalmist said, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.” (Psalm 100:4)