Having stolen his brother’s birthright, Jacob has to flee from the family home, until the setting sun forces him to stop. Lonely, frightened and uncertain, sleep does not come easily. He finds a smooth stone on which he can rest his head and then sleep and dreaming comes. to him. In his dream he sees a stairway from heaven to earth and angels of God ascending and descending. On waking he knows this is a holy place.
It was no mistake that he should sleep at just this place and use just this smooth stone. God had prepared it all. As Jacob sets up a pillar and names the place Bethel, House of God, he receives a promise from God.
I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you. ‘Genesis 28:15