“…and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.” Genesis 28:12
Dear Ones:
It is very amazing that God would give to Jacob, who lied to his father, and stole his brother’s birthright, such wonderful revelations of Himself. Why? The answer lies in the fact that God looks at what a person can become, by the grace of God. Jacob was no different from any of us, born with a sinful, selfish nature. Likewise, he was chosen, as was the Apostle Paul, to show forth the mercy and grace of God to those would believe. Like the Apostle Paul, there would come a day in the life of Jacob when he would say to God: “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto Thy servant.” (Gen. 32:10) Paul would declare himself to be the chief of all sinners, chosen by God, NOT because of any merit of his own, but because God would find in him, as eventually in Jacob, one who would faithfully believe and obey Him. Out of that faith and obedience would come forth the testimony of the grace of God, and the overwhelming eternal blessing revealed through such a life. So, what was the key to the life of Jacob, and the Apostle Paul? What is the key for any of us, that we should be able , by God’s grace, to faithfully obey and follow Christ, believing Him for the same outcome…faithfulness, and the glory of His name? The answer lies in the word, “revelation.”
In the story of Jacob, we find a young man, who at the encouragement of his mother, would deceive and lie to his father, to rob his brother of his father’s blessing. In addition, he would deliberately deceive and rob his brother of his birthright. Forced to flee for his life, he would leave home in search for relatives in Haran. It is during that journey that the life of Jacob changed, for he would receive a revelation from God. He had certainly heard from his father’s lips, the history and teaching, that applied to their family through Abraham. But now, he was brought face to face with a personal revelation form God, of God, and in such a manner, that the entirety of his life would be affected. The place where this would occur would be called Bethel, or “the house of God.” What was the revelation at Bethel that would change everything?
Jacob saw a ladder, or stairway, from the earth extending into heaven, with angels ascending and descending upon it. This would be cause enough to change one’s life. However, it would be the specific revelation of the Lord Himself that would be the key element of the revelation, for upon seeing the Him standing above the ladder, he would hear the words of the Lord to him: “I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon you are lying, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.” (28:13) The Lord would go on to speak of the seed of Jacob, which would be as “the dust of the earth.” He would also make a most remarkable declaration, one that corresponded to the one He had given to Abraham: “…in thy seed shall ALL the families of the earth be blessed.” (v.14) How is this to be accomplished? By the revelation, and realization of God’s promises: “Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all the places where you will go, and will bring you again into this land.” (v.15) About fifteen years would pass before Jacob would return to the “land of promise.” Out of his lineage would be born the Savior of the world, the blessing that God had promised all the families of the earth.
Dear Father, Grant to each of us Your blessed Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You. Give us to say with the Apostle Paul: “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad