Genesis 28 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“And he dreamed: a stairway to heaven was set on the ground with its top reaching to Heaven, and G_d’s angels were ascending and descending upon it. The L_rd was standing there beside him, saying, ‘I Am the L_rd, the G_d of your father Abraham, and the G_d of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land that you are now sleeping on.’” Genesis 28:12-13

Anyone who has been in a music store over the past 30 years is familiar with the opening melody of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven”. They have, no doubt, been privy to countless bad renditions of it, as well!! If they lived in the days of Jacob, perhaps the band would have written “Ladder To Heaven”. (My attempt at humor!)

Interesting, traditionally, the rabbis have taught the “certain place” Jacob stopped to rest would have possibly been Mount Moriah. If so, it would most likely have been the location where Abraham intended to offer Isaac…and where Solomon’s Temple stood.

The description of Jacob’s dream is one of the most vivid Biblical images of the L_rd and His angels, working on the face of the earth. It’s like being privy to the whereabouts of that door where Disney characters enter & exit the theme park! It should be noted that the angels are first mentioned “ascending” the ladder. That observation has cause some scholars to speculate that the angels had been accompanying Jacob on his journey the whole time…and only now were returning to the L_rd. Who knows? The Bible does not say.

It may have been that Jacob was without any human friends; but unseen, there had been angels by his side to protect and encourage him. Isn’t it comforting to know that the L_rd has commanded His angels to watch over His children?

Abraham is mentioned as Jacob’s father, because both Isaac’s blessing and Esau’s birthright now rested with Jacob. Jacob was the direct recipient and “conduit” of G_d’s promises to Abraham.

There is a great lesson concerning G_d’s faithfulness here. G_d’s guarantee of fulfilled promises was dependant upon G_d’s character, not the patriarchs’. Jacob was a deceiver, and G_d would soon test Jacob’s mettle, but the L_rd knew what kind of man Jacob would be…once His work in Jacob’s life was completed.

I hope you are encouraged by this truth: G_d’s love for His children is great enough to lead them through hardships, just to mold them into children who would live-up to the character of His name. If you are suffering through a time of molding and stretching, be encouraged! Asleep or awake, G_d Himself, (as well as His angels) is ever-present, and personally “there” for us, His children.

“…for G_d has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Associate Leader, Worship Leader
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Friday, February 7, 2014