The First Stone becomes a standing stone
The First Stone becomes a standing stone, Jacob’s Dream and the Transformation into a Standing Stone
The Bible’s narrative is filled with symbols that carry deep spiritual significance, and one of the earliest and most profound symbols is the stone. The first mention of a stone in the Bible is found in Genesis 28, in the story of Jacob’s dream at Bethel. This seemingly simple object—initially used as a pillow—undergoes a transformation that marks a pivotal moment in Jacob’s life and in the unfolding story of God’s relationship with His people. The stone Jacob used becomes a standing stone, a lasting memorial to a divine encounter that would shape the destiny of a nation.
1. Jacob’s Journey and the Encounter with God
Jacob, the grandson of Abraham and the son of Isaac, was on a journey that was as much spiritual as it was physical. After deceiving his father and brother to receive the blessing meant for the firstborn, Jacob fled from his brother Esau’s wrath. On his way to his mother’s homeland in Haran, Jacob stopped for the night at a place that would later become known as Bethel.
- Genesis 28:11 (ESV):“And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep.”
In this simple, seemingly insignificant moment, Jacob used a stone as a pillow—a common practice in the ancient Near East where travelers might use stones or other objects to elevate their heads while sleeping outdoors. This stone, however, was about to take on a much greater significance.
2. The Dream
A Vision of Divine Connection
As Jacob slept, he experienced a profound vision. He saw a ladder—or stairway—reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. At the top of the ladder stood the Lord, who spoke to Jacob, reaffirming the covenant promises made to his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac.
- Genesis 28:12-13 (ESV):“And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring.’”
In this dream, God promised Jacob the very land on which he was lying, a vast number of descendants, and His enduring presence and protection. This vision was not just a dream, but a theophany—a direct and personal encounter with God that would alter the course of Jacob’s life.
3. The Stone’s Transformation
From Pillow to Pillar
When Jacob awoke from his dream, he was filled with awe at the realization that he had encountered the presence of God in that place. His first act was to take the stone he had used as a pillow and set it up as a pillar, anointing it with oil as a consecration to God.
- Genesis 28:18-19 (ESV):“So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.”
This act of setting up the stone as a standing stone, or pillar, was deeply symbolic. In the ancient Near East, standing stones (masseboth) were often used to commemorate significant events, mark sacred spaces, or serve as witnesses to covenants. By erecting the stone, Jacob was creating a lasting memorial to his encounter with God, transforming a simple object into a sacred monument.
4. The Standing Stone as a Symbol of Divine Encounter
The standing stone Jacob erected at Bethel became a tangible symbol of his encounter with God. It marked the spot where heaven and earth had met, where Jacob had received a divine promise, and where a new chapter in the story of God’s people began.
A. Memorial of God’s Promise
- Divine Assurance: The stone stood as a physical reminder of the promises God made to Jacob. Whenever Jacob or others passed by this stone, they would be reminded of God’s covenant faithfulness and His ongoing relationship with Jacob and his descendants.
- Bethel: The House of God: Jacob named the place Bethel, which means “House of God,” acknowledging the sacredness of the site. The stone pillar became synonymous with the idea that this place was a gateway to heaven, a place where God’s presence was uniquely encountered.
B. A Foundation for Future Faith
- Personal Commitment: The stone also represented Jacob’s personal commitment to God. After setting up the stone, Jacob made a vow to God, promising that if God would be with him and protect him, then the Lord would be his God, and the stone would be a house of God (Genesis 28:20-22).
- A Spiritual Legacy: The standing stone at Bethel would later become a significant location in the history of Israel. It served as a spiritual marker, not just for Jacob, but for his descendants as well, who would come to recognize Bethel as a place of worship and covenant renewal.
5. The Broader Symbolism of Standing Stones in Scripture
Jacob’s stone at Bethel is the first of many standing stones mentioned in the Bible. These stones often served similar purposes throughout Israel’s history—as memorials, witnesses, and markers of divine encounters.
- Joshua’s Stones at Gilgal: After crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land, Joshua set up twelve stones taken from the riverbed as a memorial of God’s miraculous intervention (Joshua 4:1-9).
- The Stone of Witness at Shechem: In Joshua 24, after renewing the covenant with the Israelites, Joshua set up a large stone under an oak tree at Shechem as a witness to the people’s pledge to serve the Lord (Joshua 24:25-27).
6. The Legacy of Jacob’s Standing Stone
Jacob’s act of transforming a simple stone into a standing stone at Bethel established a pattern of using stones to mark significant spiritual moments. This stone, which began as an ordinary object, became a sacred pillar—a tangible representation of Jacob’s encounter with the divine and the promises he received.
A. A Lasting Memorial
The standing stone at Bethel remained a significant site throughout the history of Israel, serving as a reminder of God’s faithfulness to Jacob and his descendants. It symbolized the enduring nature of God’s promises and the idea that certain places are marked by God’s presence in special ways.
B. A Call to Remember
The story of Jacob’s dream and the standing stone challenges believers to recognize the sacred moments in their own lives, to create spiritual markers that remind them of God’s faithfulness, and to consecrate their lives to God’s purposes.
From Ordinary to Sacred
The story of the first stone in the Bible—Jacob’s stone at Bethel—reminds us that ordinary objects and moments can be transformed into something sacred when they are touched by the divine. The stone that Jacob used as a pillow became a pillar, a standing stone that marked a life-changing encounter with God. This transformation from the ordinary to the sacred is a powerful reminder of how God’s presence can turn even the simplest aspects of our lives into something extraordinary.
As we reflect on Jacob’s dream and the standing stone at Bethel, we are invited to consider the ways in which we can set up our own “standing stones” in our spiritual journey—memorials to God’s faithfulness, markers of divine encounters, and reminders of the promises that shape our faith.
