Jacob's Ladder

Genesis 28:12 and John 1:51

When we think of the life of Jacob, what do we see? How do we describe Jacob? As his names implies, he is shady, a conniver, one who was not pure of heart, and willing to deceive in order to have his desires met.

He is a classic sinner. I see me. I see more of myself in him than in Abraham. And God is going to use, going to work in and through this sinner, in order to fulfill His promises and bring in the Savior of the world.

This night, we see Providence. Jacob is on the run and has to run for his life after he stole his brother’s blessing and birthright, and he approaches this place at night time. He got to a certain place, got a stone, made a bed, laid down and went to sleep.

And God give Jacob a vision in a dream, one that would have changed his life to some degree, a dream that would have been traumatic.

What did he see? A ladder, set up on the earth and its top reaches into the heavens… and he saw angels of God ascending and descending on it… And he looked and saw a vision of the Lord God above it… and God speaks to him: “I am the Lord God of Abraham and of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants… I will be with you wherever you go… I will do this...

And Jacob woke up… and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it… He was afraid… This is the house of God and this is the gate of heaven...”

And he anointed this place, set a stone, poured oil on it, and calls the place, “Bethel.” This means, “House of God.”

It was here that his grandfather (Gen. 128 and 13:3-4) Abraham offered sacrifices and called upon the name of the Lord, and this place was originally called “Luz,” the “almond tree.”

Many years later, Jacob will return here and build an alter and call the place El-Bethel, or the God of Bethel. This will remain to be a main worship center for Israel. The Ark of the Covenant will be kept here for some time. Prophets will be sent here eventually as this holy place will become a place of idolatry.

But here and now… God is going to reveal Himself to Jacob. Abraham had a revelation of God, spoke to God, and had a relationship with God. Maybe Jacob has heard stories around the camp fire and around the dinner table… but here and now… and he is running for his life and life is uncertain… God gives Jacob a vision and Jacob meets God for the first time.

Proverbs 29:18 -Without vision (revelation/prophetic vision) the people cast off restraint, they run wild; they perish...

In this moment God knew what Jacob needed, he needed a vision and a word of God. God gave the same promises to Jacob that He gave to Abraham… When Jacob had no place to call home and possibly no hope of a future.

He was going into a foreign country to relatives that were just as deceiving as he was… But the Lord says in verse 15 - I am with you and will keep you wherever you go… and I will bring you back to this place.

Now verse 16 - People in this world believe that God has no connection with his or her creation. Deists believe that God put things into motion and left creation to work itself out.

Some folks are atheists, agnostics, and some folks have God or Bible amnesia. This is often caused by pain or great trials, through which we are convinced that God is not with us.

Jacob was going through life, walking through this desert and trial believing that he was alone/by himself.

“I did not know He was here. He is here, in this place… and I did not know it...” God was there, the whole time. God is here, God is connected to earth and He knows me… God has made promises to me, and he will not leave me until all has been fulfilled...”

God is personally involved in our affairs. He is personally involved. Is that for someone today?

Now, getting back to the vision. Jacob is convinced that this is God’s House. This place is the gate. This is where God meets with you.

There is this ladder. It is connecting heaven to earth, earth to heaven. Angels are going up and down.

This is not a Babel scene: Man said, “we will make a tower whose top will reach into heaven… and we ourselves will make a name for ourselves...”

No, God is making a Name for Himself. He Himself will connect heaven to earth. Sinners, mankind cannot do this. Only God can do this. And God does this. He will connect heaven to earth and His heavenly beings/messengers will do His good work.

How? Turn to John 1:51 - “Nathanael, you believe that I am the Son of God and the King of Israel because I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these… Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

The vision that Jacob is receiving is a vision of what God is going to do in and through Christ. Man cannot do this, but in the fullness of time God will come through humanity and redeem humanity from sin and give them eternal life and an eternal Kingdom.

Jesus says He is the Gate - John 10:9. In order to enter in and to have the Kingdom… You must climb onto Jesus and enter into Him through faith.

And it is in and through faith in Christ that you will direct access to the Father, have a relationship with Him forever, and spend eternity with Him.

Your prayers will reach heaven and His Angels will carry you to Him when you breath your last breath.

Jacob’s Ladder has come to us.

Jesus has come to connect us.

Immanuel is with us if we have forgotten and we now have direct access to the Father… through the Son.

God keeps His promises.

God meets us where we are, in the dark, and alone… and gives us a light to lead us home.

Noel, come and see what God has done!