Jacobs Dream of a Stairway to Heaven Genesis

Jacob’s Dream of a Stairway to Heaven Genesis 28: 10 -22 Presented by Bob De. Waay July 17, 2005

Jacob is Fleeing from Esau n Genesis 28: 10, 11 Then Jacob departed from Beersheba and went toward Haran. And he came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place.

Structure of the Jacob Narrative Jacob/Esau Conflict n Jacob Leaves Canaan; God Meets Jacob (House of God) n Jacob/Laban Conflict (20 years) n Jacob Leaves Haran; God Meets Jacob (Camp of God & Wrestling Incident) n Back to the Esau Conflict on the way to Canaan n

Jacob’s Ladder (Stairway) n Genesis 28: 12 And he had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

Man’s Stairway to Heaven n Genesis 11: 4 And they said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name; lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth. ”

God’s Stairway to Heaven n John 1: 51 And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you shall see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man. ”

God Reiterates Covenant Promises to Jacob n Genesis 28: 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. ”

God Reiterates Covenant Promises to Jacob n Genesis 28: 14 “Your descendants shall also be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in your descendants shall the families of the earth be blessed. ”

The Promise of God’s Presence and Protection n Genesis 28: 15 “And behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. ”

Reverential Fear of God n Genesis 28: 16, 17 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. ”

Reverential Fear of God n Exodus 15: 11 (NKJV) Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Reverential Fear of God n Exodus 3: 5, 6 Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. ” He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. ” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Marking a Sacred Place n Genesis 28: 18 So Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on its top.

The House of God n Genesis 28: 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel; however, previously the name of the city had been Luz.

Jacob Believes God will do What He Promised n Genesis 28: 20, 21 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father's house in safety, then the Lord will be my God. ”

Jacob Pledges to Tithe Like Abraham Did n Genesis 28: 22 “This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You. ”

Application: Enter the True Gateway to Heaven n John 10: 9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ”

Application: God Will be With His Covenant People n Isaiah 57: 15 For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite. ”

Application: God Will be With His Covenant People n Isaiah 43: 1, 2 But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. ”

Application: God Will be With His Covenant People Matthew 28: 20 b “. . . lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. ” n Hebrews 13: 5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you, ” n

Application: God Will Keep Us n John 10: 27, 28 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.

Benediction n The Lord bless you, and keep you; n The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; n The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace. (Numbers 6: 24 -26)