"Jacob was awed with the deep stillness of the night and with the vivid impression that he was in the immediate presence of God. His heart was full of gratitude that he was not destroyed. There was no more sleep for him that night; gratitude deep and fervent, mingled with holy joy, filled his soul. “And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.” And here he made his solemn vow to God. 4T 466.1"
"And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it."
EGW directly quotes Genesis 28:18 and provides context and interpretation of the event.
"Jacob made his vow while refreshed by the dews of grace and invigorated by the presence and assurance of God. After the divine glory had passed away, he had temptations, like men in our time, but he was faithful to his vow and would not harbor thoughts as to the possibility of being released from the pledge which he had made. He might have reasoned much as men do now, that this revelation was only a dream, that he was unduly excited when he made his vow, and that therefore it need not be kept; but he did not. 4T 466.2"
"If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth."
The EGW passage directly addresses the principle of keeping vows made to God, as outlined in Numbers 30:2. It uses the example of Jacob to illustrate this principle, emphasizing the importance of faithfulness to one's word.
"Long years intervened before Jacob dared to return to his own country, but when he did he faithfully discharged his debt to his Master. He had become a wealthy man, and a very large amount of property passed from his possessions to the treasury of the Lord. 4T 466.3"
"And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth–el, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother."
The EGW passage describes Jacob fulfilling his vow by giving a large amount of property to the Lord's treasury. This aligns with Genesis 35:1, where God instructs Jacob to go to Bethel and build an altar, signifying a fulfillment of his earlier vow (Genesis 28:20-22). Both passages connect Jacob's return to his homeland with fulfilling a commitment to God.
"Many in our day fail where Jacob made a success. Those to whom God has given the greatest amount have the strongest inclination to retain what they have, because they must give a sum proportionate to their property. Jacob gave the tenth of all that he had, and then reckoned the use of the tenth, and gave the Lord the benefit of that which he had used for his own interest during the time he was in a heathen land and could not pay his vow. This was a large amount, but he did not hesitate; that which he had vowed to God he did not regard as his, but as the Lord's. 4T 466.4"
"But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."
The EGW passage directly applies the principle of Luke 12:48, stating that those who have been given more are expected to give more. It uses Jacob's example of tithing and giving back to God to illustrate this principle.