JACOB'S LADDER

He had a dream, and behold a ladder was set on the earth

with its top reaching to the heaven;

and behold the angels of God

were ascending and descending on it.  

Genesis. 28:12

When I was 8 years old I was taught a song with the first line being "We are climbing Jacob's ladder." I enjoyed the song but didn't understand it's meaning until 12 years later. Jacob had to flee from his twin brother Esau who wanted to kill him. The cover story was that he was returning to Rebekah's people in Paddan-aram to seek a wife. He had never been to this country and he was travelling alone. It was a lot of change and could be very dangerous. Trying to sleep with a rock for a pillow, he dreamt of a ladder or stairway from earth to heaven. It was a very unique and godly stairway because angels were using it. The Lord stood above it and promised to give the land to Jacob's descendants. Jacob called that place the Bethel or the House of God. Jacob had seen the way to heaven. This carried him through the next 21 years until he returned to the land. Nearly, 2,000 years later, when Jesus was calling Nathanael, He exclaimed, "Truly, truly...you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man" (John1:51). Jesus is Jacob's ladder! How much Jacob understood of his dream and the ladder being the Christ isn't certain, but for any of us to get to heaven we must realize that Jesus is the bridge, the way, the ladder/stairway to heaven. I thank God that little 8 year boy now understands who Jacob's ladder is, and I hope you do, too. 

Russ Simpson