Today's Journal
JACOB’S LADDER I
Genesis 28 gives the story of Jacob traveling from Beersheba to Haran to find a wife. He is tricked by his corrupt uncle Laban, that has the wife he wants, into working two seven year spans for Laban’s two daughters and six more years tending his flocks… twenty years!On the way to Haran in Genesis 28:10-13, Jacob stopped at Luz to rest and taking a stone for a pillow had a dream of a ladder reaching up to heaven with angels ascending and descending on the ladder. At the top and above the ladder stood the Lord. The Lord promised to give Jacob ‘the land on which you lie’ and to your descendants. Jacob awakened and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” Jacob built an altar and worshipped the Lord and called the place Bethel (which means House of God.” (28:17)
Jacob’s Ladder is a scene of Christ connecting heaven and earth. Angels are always (now) going up and down the ‘Christ ladder’ to connect us to the Father. Jesus coming to earth (the incarnation) was the decent on the ladder. “So, the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” (John 1:14) The bottom of the ladder is his presence on earth. The top of the ladder is his presence in heaven. Our only way to the Father is on this ladder.
This makes it obvious why Jesus prayed for us to be the new Bethel…the House of God when he said:
“May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Jesus