Genesis 28

Isaac blesses Jacob and sends him away for a wife

Isaac gives Jacob a proper blessing before he dies. He tells Jacob that he does not want him to take a wife from the people nearby but to go and get a wife from the children of his uncle, Rebekah's brother. This is still part of the same people that were a part of Abraham's family. As we know from the book of Judges, mingling with those that have other God's has a heavy price to pay. 

Upon hearing the news that his brother Jacob has been sent away for a wife, Esau decides to make his lot with the descendants of Ishmael.He takes a wife from those people and seems to delight in the doing what is contrary to his parents will and sound advice. Sin will make people do seemingly senseless things. 

As Jacob heads off on his journey, let us not forget that he has to leave anyway because his brother Esau vows to kill him after their father's death.He knows he may never see his parents or brother again. He is lonely, but just as we are without hope, that is when God shows up. Jacob dreams of a ladder ascending up to Heaven and God reaffirms his covenant with him and his forefather Abraham. We have the same promise that if we serve God faithfully, he will never leave us nor forsake us and will give us eternal rest. 

After Jacob wakes up, we takes his stone pillow and makes an alter to God for his covenant. The place is name Bethel, meaning God is in this place, or house of God. From this we have the phrase that Jacob will use later in Genesis saying 'let us go back to Bethel'. We use it now to mean let us return to where we got our first blessing and promise of God.