God made several important promises to Jacob, which are detailed in the Book of Genesis. Here's a breakdown of the key elements:
* Land: God promised Jacob that the land he was lying on would be given to him and his descendants. This land, later known as Canaan and eventually Israel, was a central promise.
* Numerous Descendants: God promised that Jacob's descendants would be numerous, like the dust of the earth, and would spread out in all directions. A great nation (or nations) would come from him.
* Blessing to All Peoples: Through Jacob's offspring, all peoples on earth would be blessed. This promise is often understood in a messianic sense, relating to the coming of Jesus Christ as a descendant of Jacob.
* God's Presence and Protection: God promised to be with Jacob, to protect him wherever he went, and to bring him back to the land. God would not leave him until he had fulfilled his promises.
These promises were first given to Jacob in a dream at Bethel (Genesis 28:13-15) and were later reaffirmed to him at other times, such as after he wrestled with God (Genesis 32:24-30) and when God changed his name to Israel (Genesis 35:9-12).