Genesis 28:20

Jacob vowed,... if God will be with me.

Jacob's vision is followed up properly by. vow. Special privileges and promises make special obligations. God had in the revelation made certain promises. Jacob vows that he will make certain returns, such as were in his power, for what the Lord promised. Some have said that Jacob made. commercial bargain, because he said he would do thus and thus if God did thus and thus. There is nothing of the kind. God had said that he would make Jacob the heir of the covenant made with Abraham and Isaac and give him all that he had promised them. Jacob, not questioning at all the promise, says, "If God does these things that he has promised then," etc. He is not making. condition, but recites the promise as the ground of obligation for his vow. Christ said, "I, if. be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." This expresses no doubt about being lifted up, but means, "As surely as. be lifted," etc. Such is the sense in which Jacob uses "if."