Jacob is Israel.

This claim centers the Genesis story of Jacob (Genesis 25:19-36:43). Jacob remains an individual in his own right, but over the course of the story he becomes Israel. In the end, Jacob is more than an individual and his Genesis story tells a story about the people of Israel. Every Israelite can recognize themselves in this story; as such, it is remarkably honest and unpretentious. Yes: I, the reader, am Jacob/Israel. This story looks like me.

The center of the Jacob story (Genesis 29:31-30:24), with its explosion of God language, speaks of the birth of almost all of the twelve sons (tribes) of Israel (plus Dinah). The four appearances of God to Jacob are scattered across the story (25:23; 28:10-22; 32:22-32; 35:9-15).

The second appearance of God in 28:10-22, often named “Jacob’s Dream at Bethel,” centers the text to be considered here. Inasmuch as this text speaks of the first appearance of Jacob by himself, it can be said to represent a new beginning for the central ...