08/31,2017 THE STAIRS
Genesis 28:12-13 And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven, and behold, the angels of GOD were ascending and descending on it! And behold, the LORD stood above it. [Revised Standard translation]
Genesis 28:15 [And GOD said] Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go…. [Revised Standard translation]
Summary
Jacob was the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, and Rebekah. He was a twin---but not an identical twin---to Esau. Although Esau was born first, Jacob, by his very nature, and one might say, even in his mother’s womb, wanted what he didn’t have. So, Jacob resorted to lying, stealing and cheating to get what he wanted. [Read Genesis Ch. 27 where Jacob lies to his father and eventually tricks him into giving him the blessing of the first-born.] In other words, Jacob, like all of us had some flaws.
Because Jacob was born “grabbing the heel” of this older twin brother, he was given the name “Jacob,” which means “grabber”, “trickster”, “deceiver” or “supplanter.” Although Jacob had flaws, he still had potential because, Jacob more than Esau realized the importance of “a blessings.” [Read Genesis 25 where Esau sells his birthright to Jacob for a meal in a moment of weakness.] Although, Jacob knew a blessing was important, Jacob didn’t realize the responsibility that “a blessing carried” or understood that a blessing made him an instrument of GOD.
Perhaps Jacob thought that getting the first-born’s blessing would make him rich. Maybe he thought grabbing the first-born’s blessing would make him powerful or allow him to finally be in charge. But, what Jacob found was that the blessing came with “a charge,” the same charge GOD gave Abraham. And like Abraham, Jacob was forced to move. Jacob was sent away.
Not being “the hunter” his brother Esau was, and having been “a mommy’s boy,” it must have been a frightening situation for Jacob to find himself far away from home, alone and afraid.
It was then that Jacob had a dream at a place called Bethel. In his dream, Jacob saw angels of GOD going up and down a staircase from earth to heaven. They were going up and down all day and all night long.
As a result of this vision, Jacob would come to tap into his spiritual nature because this vision would emphasize the power of prayer. This vision would provide reassurance to Jacob, that his prayers would not just stay earth bound but that they were being delivered to an ALMIGHTY GOD and that in return GOD was sending spiritual messages back to Jacob, in the form of protection, comfort, companionship. Jacob was having a spiritual vision of prayer in action. He was also receiving a message from GOD that GOD hears and responds to prayer. Jacob’s was on the road to becoming a new person, because his prayers allowed him to connect with GOD and GOD to connect with him.