The story
Jacob was on a long trip, far from home. When the sun went down, he was all alone. He found a stone, put it under his head, and fell asleep.
Then Jacob had a dream. He saw a stairway that reached from the ground all the way up to heaven! Angels were going up and down, up and down.
At the very top was God. “I am the Lord,” God said. “I am with you. I will keep you safe wherever you go. I will never leave you.”
Jacob woke up with a big gasp. “God is in this place,” he said, “and I didn’t even know it!” He felt full of wonder.
In the morning, Jacob stood his stone pillow up tall, like a little tower. He poured oil on top to remember. He named the place Bethel, House of God.
Jacob made a promise. “God, I will follow you.” Wherever we go, to school or to bed or far away, God is right there with us, too.
