The Place of Arising

Jacob at Bethel

This weeks portion, Va-yetse, has some of the best-known stories from the Torah. Va-yetse translates as "and he went forth," and at the opening of our reading that is exactly what Jacob is doing. He has left his home and is traveling to his mothers family in search of safety. When Jacob stops to sleep he dreams of a ladder where angels are coming up and down. God appears to Jacob blessing him and promising safe passage. When Jacob resumes his travels he comes upon a well and meets Rachel, Laban's daughter. He is immediately taken with her. Jacob shows off by rolling the rock away from the opening of the well. He returns with Rachel to meet Laban, and agrees to work for Rachel's hand in marriage. Jacob is tricked into marrying Leah, Rachel's older sister, but he loves Rachel so much he agrees to work another 7 years to marry her too. Both wives and maidservants give birth to many children during his time with Laban. However, Jacob desires to return to his father's land. After some difficulties with Laban, they finally part ways and Jacob takes his wives, children, and livestock and begins the journey home.

Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's dream of the ladder is the first recorded encounter with God Jacob has. The word translated here as a ladder can be better translated as stairway or ramp. In Mesopotamia, the temple towers were equipt with a ramp-like incline that led to the top where they believed the deity they worshipped would appear to communicate.  When Jacob see's this "ladder" he would have recognized the symbolism. But unlike the Mesopotamian gods who were "on high", Jacob's God is standing beside him, feet on the ground. This theme of personal intimacy with God is something that started with Abraham and has continued on with his descendants. God is close and tangible.

It is here that the Lord reiterates the blessing given by Issac, and reinforces that the blessing of land and children would come through Jacob. Regardless of how he received the blessing, it was destined to be Jacob all along. God also promises to be with and protect Jacob until he returns to "this land," the land they were standing on. When Jacob wakes up he realizes that the land he is on is holy. He exclaims, " Surely God was in the place and I, I did not know!" Jacob took the stone he had rested his head upon and set it to mark the place. He named it Bethel, meaning the house of God.

The Hebrew word for place is Makom. It derives from the verb kum which means "to arise." Ha Makom is also another name for God. With this in mind, Jacobs exclamation could be read as, "Surely Makom was in this makom and I, I did not know!" The place was in this place! The place that changes everything. Everything is new. My eyes are open.

Have you ever experienced something profound that you didn't expect? It wasn't until the veil was lifted, until something arose, that you realized how something impacted your life. The little i, the I before this moment, has now become the capital I. I am changed. Transformed. This is the revelation that Jacob has. Nothing is the same from that moment on. The rising place can take us by surprise, but I believe it can set us free.

"Surely Makom (God) was in this makom (arising place) and i, I did not know."

The place. The moment you are in is what is important. What happened? What is happening now? Be in the moment. Be. Here. Now. Open your eyes. See what is real. What is in front of you. Allow it to transform you. Allow it to lift you to the next place, and then be there fully. Embrace the place, whatever it is. Even when it is hard. Allow the Makom to wash over you. Allow it to move you. Over and over again. Allow it to renew you. Be. Here. Now.