Genesis 28:18 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. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
Jacob made a solemn vow on this occasion. In this observe, 1. Jacob’s faith. He trusts that God will be with him, and will keep him; he depends upon it. 2. Jacob’s moderation in his desires. He asks not for soft clothing and dainty meat. If God give us much, we are bound to be thankful, and to use it for him; if he gives us but little, we are bound to be content, and cheerfully to enjoy him in it. 3. Jacob’s piety, and his regard to God, appear in what he desired, that God would be with him, and keep him. We need desire no more to make us easy and happy. Also his resolution is, to cleave to the Lord, as his God in covenant. (Henry)
Jacob opens his heart, his home, and his treasure to God. These are the simple elements of a theocracy, a national establishment of the true religion. The spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind, has begun to reign in Jacob. (Barnes)
The principle of giving a tenth to God is established by Jacob. I have to wonder what this meant. There is no established worship or place of worship or ministers or for that matter a place to receive an offering. I imagine that Jacob has set his heart to ever be in the awaked presence of God and ready to give as directed by God for whatever purpose. Our hearts and minds should be set likewise. We should have a generous giving disposition desiring and willing to be directed by God toward being led to give. We should be aware that all we have is God’s. Being ready to give at His direction is a good place to be in heart and mind. Do not think for one minute that we should stop or put a limit on one-tenth. A true heart for God will be willing to be directed with all they have.
