January 10th | Genesis 28

      Jacob was on the run. He had stolen his brother’s birthright and was trekking to his uncle Laban’s house to find safety. Along the way, he stops to sleep for the night and uses a rock as a pillow. Now, this would cause any of us to have a fitful night of sleep! But at this place, God reveals Himself to Jacob in a dream. 

A Reversal of Babel

      Genesis 28:12-13, “And he dreamed, and behold, 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 and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac.” 

      The picture of a ladder to heaven is stunning. Do you remember the last time the people of Earth tried to reach heaven (Genesis 11)? God stopped them and confused their language. In their pride, they attempted to reach God but realized the gap was too far. But this ladder to heaven in Jacob’s dream is a reversal of the tower of Babel. The people weren’t trying to reach God; God was coming to them. 

      This ladder points to Jesus as the one to come and bring us back to God. John 1:51 says, “ 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.” Sound familiar? All these years later, Jesus told them that He was the ladder! Jesus was telling them that belief in Christ gave you access to the God of heaven. 

A Call to Worship

      Once Jacob woke up, he was afraid, and this vision of God led him to worship. Genesis 28:16-17 says, “Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

      Jacob’s increased understanding of God and His grace led him to worship. God showed Jacob his presence and plan to bring salvation to the world. God’s revelation led Jacob to walk in worship. He recognized he was at the gate of heaven. In John 10:9, Jesus said, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” How many people today have heard the name of Jesus but don’t realize they are at the gate of heaven? Take time today to pray for those who don’t see Jesus rightly and ask for boldness to declare His salvation to them. 

      Have you truly grasped the magnitude of Christ’s coming to rescue you? Do you recognize the height of heaven is far too great, and you need a grand ladder to get to God? Remind yourself of God’s great grace and stand firmly on the ladder of Christ today as you worship God.