Genesis 28:17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
The Lord appeared to Jacob in a dream of a ladder reaching into heaven. In this appearance the Lord reaffirmed to Jacob the same Promises of the covenant He had made with Abraham and Isaac, with the addition that He would be with him. Jacob’s first response to the Presence of God was fear. He experienced the awesome glory of the Holiness of the Lord, along with the overwhelming Love of God in meeting him and giving promises to him.
The place where he had lain down to sleep must be dreadful. Dreadful because the holiness of God touched the sinful world. Jacob was afraid because he instinctively became aware of his sin, guilt, and judgment. The Law had done a work in him. It was also dreadful in the positive and powerful sense of awe and majesty, for the Lord’s covenant was full of love and promise. The Gospel had done its work in him.
Jacob’s fear turned into humble worship of God and reverent thanksgiving. ”This place must be the house of God (Beth-El).” It was the meeting-place of God and man. Jesus told Nathanael, ”You will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man [John 1:51].” Jesus is the Bethel, the meeting-place, of God and man. Every time we hear the Gospel, with the Law, we see heaven opened, and that “dreadful” experience strikes us with fear and love. Our response: Worship!