In Question 2 of the Torah portion I began to think that Jacob vowed unnecessarily, that perhaps he was still struggling with recognizing that God was and is with him, why else would God approach Jacob at those different times, it wasn't Jacob approaching God.
It seems God was trying to get his attention. Jacob turned his willing to believe God into something conditional, hence the negotiation, saying he wanted God to prove himself first. Is this what you see or am I thinking wrongly?
I actually love the way you’re thinking through this, because Jacob is in that awkward, beginning-to-walk-with-God phase where everything feels both holy and unfamiliar at the same time.
And yes...you’re right that Jacob’s vow has that conditional tone to it. It reads almost like a negotiation, but I don’t see it as rebellion so much as immaturity. He doesn’t yet have the history or the trust that comes later.
Remember, Jacob has no lifelong walk with God yet. So when God shows up in that dream initiating the relationship, revealing Himself, promising presence and protection, Jacob’s response is very human... “Okay… if You really are who You say You are, and You do what You just promised… then I’m in.”
That sounds conditional, but it’s also the sound of a man who is just beginning to believe.
It’s not that Jacob doubted God’s existence... it’s that he was still learning God’s character. And honestly, most of us start exactly there. We don’t come to God fluent. It takes time to learn His character.
So no, I don’t think you’re thinking wrongly. I think you’re hearing Jacob as a man still forming his faith, still finding his footing. And he meets a God who is patient enough to walk him into maturity.
In Question 2 of the Torah portion I began to think that Jacob vowed unnecessarily, that perhaps he was still struggling with recognizing that God was and is with him, why else would God approach Jacob at those different times, it wasn't Jacob approaching God.
It seems God was trying to get his attention. Jacob turned his willing to believe God into something conditional, hence the negotiation, saying he wanted God to prove himself first. Is this what you see or am I thinking wrongly?
I actually love the way you’re thinking through this, because Jacob is in that awkward, beginning-to-walk-with-God phase where everything feels both holy and unfamiliar at the same time.
And yes...you’re right that Jacob’s vow has that conditional tone to it. It reads almost like a negotiation, but I don’t see it as rebellion so much as immaturity. He doesn’t yet have the history or the trust that comes later.
Remember, Jacob has no lifelong walk with God yet. So when God shows up in that dream initiating the relationship, revealing Himself, promising presence and protection, Jacob’s response is very human... “Okay… if You really are who You say You are, and You do what You just promised… then I’m in.”
That sounds conditional, but it’s also the sound of a man who is just beginning to believe.
It’s not that Jacob doubted God’s existence... it’s that he was still learning God’s character. And honestly, most of us start exactly there. We don’t come to God fluent. It takes time to learn His character.
So no, I don’t think you’re thinking wrongly. I think you’re hearing Jacob as a man still forming his faith, still finding his footing. And he meets a God who is patient enough to walk him into maturity.