Day 21: Genesis 27-29

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2027-29&version=NIV

“He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” Genesis 28:12

Jacob’s ladder. Most of us have heard of the story. But what is the true meaning of Jacob’s ladder? Let’s discuss this today.

In Genesis 28, we read that Jacob was travelling to Haran to find him a wife, in response to Isaac’s command. After travelling for the day, he laid down to sleep. While in his sleep, he had a revelation from God. Let’s read from Scripture about this revelation:

"He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

How great a vision this is. The Lord reaffirms the Abrahamic Covenant with Jacob and the Lord says He will be with him wherever he goes. But how does this relate to us today? Well, let’s look at John 1:51:

“He then added, "I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

Jesus is speaking to Nathaniel. He had just told Nathaniel that he was an Israelite, in whom there is nothing false. (John 1:47) Remember, the name Jacob can mean deceiver and Jesus is telling Nathaniel there is no deceit in him. From this statement and from verse 51 we can see that Jesus is referring to Jacob’s ladder in Genesis 28. Jesus says the ladder is Himself. He has substituted the ladder with the Son of Man in verse 51.

Jesus Christ is now the mediator between God and Man. How we communicate to God is through Jesus Christ. We no longer have to go to places such as Bethel to see God. We can go straight to Jesus. How great is that!!! 1 Timothy 2:5-6 says:

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.”

If we wanted to get symbolic in the interpretation of the ladder, we could look at each of the rungs of it, and apply them to Jesus’ ministry and their significance. For example:Rung #1 – the Incarnanation and its significance, Rung # 2- the Transfiguration and its significance, Rung # 3 – the Crucifixition and its significance, and Rung # 4 – the Resurrection and its significance. More rungs, of course, could be added.

The promise that God gave to Jacob in verse Genesis 28:15, that He would be with Jacob wherever he went, still applies to us today.

“……And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20

Praise be to God that we can go to Him through Jesus. Go to God to day. Submit your life to Him, obey His Word, trust Jesus as your Savior, and He will fulfill another great promise to you.

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

God’s Word is so rich. Study to find the riches of His Word and then apply these riches to your life so that you can honor Him in all that you do.

Solo Deo Gloria (To God alone be the glory)

This post was submitted by Russ Shellhamer