God made an unconditional promise to Jacob. In fact, God repeated the two great promises He had made to Abraham and then to Isaac – promises that Jacob would have many descendants, and that they would indeed inherit the land (Genesis 28:13-14). Moreover, God promised to protect Jacob personally, and to go with him, even though he was leaving the Promised Land for a time (Genesis 28:15). And there are no “ifs” involved in God’s promises. God just said He would do these things, and that was that. That’s what it means to make a covenant.

In contrast, a contract involves promises that are strictly conditional. The parties to a contract say, “I will do this, but only if you do that.” This is the way Jacob spoke: “If God will be with me and protect me and feed me and clothe me and bring me back safely to my father’s house – then He will be my God, and I will worship Him and I will give Him a tenth of my income” (Genesis 28:20-22). And notice that Jacob doesn’t even talk to God – he makes a vow to himself, kind of like a New Year’s resolution.

So, why would Jacob respond to God’s covenant promises with such cold, contractual language? Probably for the reason any of us make contracts – because we’re not sure we completely trust the person with whom we’re making a deal. In an atmosphere of complete trust and love, we make covenants like we do in marriage. When we’re not so sure, we make contracts.

So, I suppose you can settle for a contract with God – that’s what the “Health and Wealth Gospel” preachers want you to do: “Send in your donations and God will give you a Cadillac!” Of course, when the Cadillac doesn’t show up, such contractual faith tends to evaporate. Because, like all contracts, it isn’t really based on trust or love at all.

In contrast, Jesus laid down His life on the cross without any strings attached. No one asked Him to do it, and all His followers abandoned Him because He did it. But He died for them anyway, because He loved them. And that’s still the way He gives Himself to us, the way God gave Himself to Jacob – no questions asked, no conditions made. And just like in a marriage covenant, the only proper response to such a gift is to give ourselves to Him, no questions asked, no conditions made. Will we do that today?

Genesis 28:10-22 (ESV)

10 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.”
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.
19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
20 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,
21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God,
22 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.”