(Genesis 29)
There was not even a hint of a noble purpose to this journey. No thoughts of a mighty task, no comissioning from God except for a stolen blessing.
One objective: survival.
He had to get away from his very angry brother.
Then, at a "certain place" he stops for rest, and it happened.
He encountered God.
Heaven.
Inspiration.
Visions.
Dreams.
Jacob's plan? Disconnection: as far away as he can get.
God's plan? Connection: as close as he can get.
So Jacob, the fugitive, has a thought " This place is going to be called Bethel" (Bet - house El - God. House of God)
He calls it a name which means that God hangs about here, and that meant it was the gateway to heaven.
And so it was, that the place was renamed. Whatever it was before (Luz) was no longer important, because now it was God's house.
His resting place became God's resting place. Your house is where you rest, isn't it?
God spoke to Jacob - and God could, because it was his place now.
"Everything I promised you I will do"
We are always at a "certain place" aren't we?.
We are always on a journey, not always with a noble ideal.
Sometimes as fugitives, escaping from something or someone.
Or chasing a promise that we think God has forgotten about.
And most of the time we are unaware of how much God wants to meet us at our "certain place", whatever we percieve that place to be.
Along The Way.
If we rest, he can turn it into Bethel for us.