seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 28:10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it[c] stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.[d] 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Genesis 28:13 Or There beside him
Genesis 28:14 Or will use your name and the name of your offspring in blessings (see 48:20)
Jacob is in a new place in his life. He's away from that dysfunctional family of his. He's on his way to a life he doesn't know. His mind has got to be spinning a mile a minute. Now he has a stone for a pillow.
This comment comes from blueletterbible.org.
In this desolate wilderness, Jacob had a significant dream as he used a stone for a pillow (which would seem to cause strange dreams).
One can only imagine the strange flood of feelings in Jacob at this moment: the fear, the loneliness, the isolation, the excitement, and the anticipation. This was an absolutely strategic time in Jacob's life.
One can only imagine the strange flood of feelings in Jacob at this moment: the fear, the loneliness, the isolation, the excitement, and the anticipation. This was an absolutely strategic time in Jacob's life.
In Jacob's dream, there is now access to heaven. Jacob now knew God was closer than ever and there was real access and interaction between heaven and earth.
Jesus made it clear in John 1:51 that He is the access to heaven. He is the means by which heaven comes down to us and by which we can go to heaven. He is the "ladder." And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." (John 1:51)
Jesus is this way to heaven. He does not show us a way, He is the way. Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
Jesus is this way to heaven. He does not show us a way, He is the way. Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
Here's where God speaks to Jacob.
The land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants: These words are for comfort and hope in the life of Jacob, at this critical crossroads in his life. Essentially, God repeats to Jacob the terms of the covenant He gave to both Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) and Isaac (Genesis 26:2-5).
Before, Isaac told Jacob the covenant was his (Genesis 28:3-4), but now the voice of God Himself confirms it.
The easy English commentary has this to offer.
Jacob was in a place where there were many stones. There was nothing else that he could use as a pillow. He probably chose a flat stone. And probably he folded some clothing and he put that on the stone. If he did that, it would be less hard.
Many Bibles call the staircase a ‘ladder’. But angels went up and other angels came down. They could not do that at the same time on a ladder. We do not know exactly what the Hebrew word means.
God gave the dream about the staircase to Jacob. God showed to Jacob that there is communication between earth and heaven. Therefore Jacob said, ‘This is the gate that leads to heaven.’
‘As the dust that is on the earth.’ God made the same promise to Abraham and he explained it. He said, ‘Nobody can count the dust on the earth and nobody will be able to count your descendants.’ (See Genesis 13:16.) And the end of this verse is like God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3.
Many Bibles call the staircase a ‘ladder’. But angels went up and other angels came down. They could not do that at the same time on a ladder. We do not know exactly what the Hebrew word means.
God gave the dream about the staircase to Jacob. God showed to Jacob that there is communication between earth and heaven. Therefore Jacob said, ‘This is the gate that leads to heaven.’
‘As the dust that is on the earth.’ God made the same promise to Abraham and he explained it. He said, ‘Nobody can count the dust on the earth and nobody will be able to count your descendants.’ (See Genesis 13:16.) And the end of this verse is like God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3.
This is a big deal.... I watched the video of these children sing about it!
[video=youtube;3OQjuzAH2Ys]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OQjuzAH2Ys[/video]
