24_Being known by God Gen 28:10-17 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 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. 12 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! 13 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. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” Let us look at a passionate gardener who knows every plant in his garden. He has nurtured each one day by day. Every plant has received careful tending and the right balance of sun, water, and soil to bring it into fullest bloom. Now, contrast this with a visitor to the garden. The visitor marvels at the beauty, takes pictures, and perhaps even comments on the fragrance of the flowers. Yet, the interaction is short-lived. It lacks a real understanding of the care, effort, and connection with the plants that resulted in the vibrant garden. The gardener represents a true relationship, attained by invested effort. The visitor represents a passing acquaintance. Are we part of the garden of God, where he is the gardener? Or are we just visitors to his garden? The Lord revealed that he was the true vine into which we were to be grafted and in whom we were to live. His Father was the gardener, tending and pruning us. Rather than shallow familiarity, he wants us to recognize his deep and personal care for us. Knowing about him, and even knowing about his work, is not at all the same thing as knowing him. It’s possible to learn facts about Him, yet miss the wonder of His presence. When God knows and acknowledges us, as Paul says, it transforms our lives. Jacob’s story in Genesis 28:10-17 shows us the first steps in Jacob’s experience of this knowing. Jacob grew up in a wealthy family. He was surrounded by stories of God’s promises to his grandfather