October 9, 2024
Jacob's Ladder - Part 3
Genesis 28:13-14
10/09/2024
13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, ``I
am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and
the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will
give to you and to your offspring.
14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the
earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and
to the east and to the north and to the south, and
in you and your offspring shall all the families
of the earth be blessed.'' (ESV)
Jacob had a vision of a ladder stretching from heaven to
earth upon which angels ascended and descended. Jesus spoke of
this vision when He called Nathaniel to be a disciple. ``And he
said to him, `Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven
opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son
of Man.''[1] The ladder is Jesus, who is both true God and true
Man. There is direct communication between heaven and earth, and
the complete reconciliation of sinners to God the Father because
of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
And behold, the LORD stood above [the ladder] and said,
``I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the
God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to
you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be
like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad
to the west and to the east and to the north and to the
south, and in you and your offspring shall all the
families of the earth be blessed.''
God promised Jacob protection and the fulfillment of the
promise once given to Abraham. God spoke of the Messiah, the
Redeemer, through whom all the families of the world are blessed.
That blessing is our redemption from sin and death, our hope of
life everlasting because our sins are forgiven.
Jacob did not earn God's love, neither do we. God's promise
was a gift, God's promise gave hope, and God's promise was
fulfilled. His promise of life is also sure and certain, even if
we are at the moment alone in the wilderness. May our Lord
strengthen us to trust in Him, that His Word and promises are
always fulfilled. Amen.
____________________
1. John 1:51 (ESV)