Isaac was dwelling in Beersheba because this is the place where God meets people and oaths are made. Who would want to leave a place that has such a history with God?
Beersheba is the name of the well at which Abraham and Abimelech took an oath (Genesis 21:31). Later Hagar meets the Angel of YHWH there for the second time (Genesis 21:14 — the first time is at Beer-lahai-roi; Genesis 16:14). Beersheba is also the location where God meets Jacob (Genesis 46:2), Isaac(Genesis 26:24) and Elijah the Tishbite (1 Kings 19:7).
It must have grieved Jacob to have to leave Beersheba and go to Haran. Haran means 'the road' or 'the way' Even though Jacob had to leave Beersheba that had such a rich history of God's glory, God took him to Haran and there he would find the path, God's way for his life.
Genesis 28: 11And he came upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
You see Beersheba was Abraham's place with God, it was Hagar's place with God, later it would be Jacob's place, Elijah and Isaac's place with God. But Jacob came upon a certain place and made a pillow to lay down and rest. And in this place God met him there. There are those of you today just like Jacob you are in a certain place in life. It is your time to have an experience with God. It is your time to have your own relationship with God. Maybe the Baptist or the Methodist experience belonged to your mother or your aunt, or your Father, but God is bringing you into a certain place where you are going to have your own unique experience with God.
Mankind spent a lot of time and effort trying to build a tower up to the heavens. God looked and was displeased and disbursed the people at the tower of Babel. And now God has opened up to Jacob a ladder extending from earth all the way to heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it. Jacob was so shook up that he woke up and was very afraid because of the Holiness and awesomeness of God.
Genesis 28:16And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
IF we want to find our path in God we must first have an experience with God! The spiritual experiences of the past are good foundation for our lives, but each of us must find that certain place where we have that experience with God. Where He speaks to our hearts and blesses us and we in turn make a surrender of our will to Him.
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