October 7, 2024
Jacob's Ladder - Part 1
Genesis 28:10-11
10/07/2024
10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran.
11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there
that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of
the stones of the place, he put it under his head
and lay down in that place to sleep. (ESV)
There is an old Spiritual which appears in about 100 English
language hymnals which is based on the story of Jacob's Ladder.
This week we will look at the theology of that Spiritual in light
of the story of Jacob, and the meaning of his dream.
As you may remember, Esau and Jacob were the twin sons of
Isaac, one of the Patriarchs of the Jewish people. Jacob, the
younger, tricked Esau out of his birthright and inheritance.
When Isaac was dying, Esau vowed to kill Jacob. Thus Jacob was
fleeing for his life.
Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. And he
came to a certain place and stayed there that night,
because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of
the place, he put it under his head and lay down in
that place to sleep.
Alone, exhausted, with scant supplies, and aware of the
threat posed by his brother, Jacob stopped for the evening.
Lacking any sort of provisions for his own comfort, he lay down
on the ground with a rock for a pillow.
God, in His grace, love, and mercy, had plans for Jacob.
While Jacob lay on the hard, cold ground, our Lord gave him a
vision of the future.
May our Lord give us the faith to trust Him even when we are
in times of distress. Amen.