God’s Ladder That Jacob Saw
Genesis 28:11-22
How many have ever ran away from home? (Neal)
Text and review background.
a. Deceived Isaac.
b. Esau’s threat (27:41).
c. Rebekah’s concern and excuse.
d. Jacob’s journey to Haran.
e. This dream at Luz.
A familiar and interesting story, but like all Bible stories it has significance and meaning.
Observe that one may run away from home, but He can never run away from God (16).
A. He left home because of fear. Some leave home to marry, some for work, school, or vacation.
B. Some also leave home because of restrictions.
1. "On my own" and "Do as I please."
2. Some will do things away from home that they would never do at home. Away from family, friends and church.
C. But when Jacob got to Luz God was there.
1. Jere. 23:23
2. Psa. 139:7-12
D. God is at your work, on the school grounds and when you are out of town.
Consider too, that no matter how lonely the place, God’s people are never alone (15-16).
E. Promise in verse 15 is expressed in so many other places in the Bible. For example –
1. Psa. 23:4
2. Heb. 13:5
F. But I think we can identify with some of the loneliness Jacob must have felt. A loneliness of being –
1. Away from love ones.
a. Distance
b. Death
c. Christianity
2. Hated by a brother.
a. Literal brother or maybe a Christian brother.
b. Heb. 13:6
3. In a desolate place.
a. This was a barren desert.
b. Some would call it "A God forsaken place."
1) We are not always in church services with brothers and sisters.
2) Even your home may be a lonely place.
3) But what ever the place God is there.
4. Uncertain about the future (always the case, the future is always uncertain).
a. Jas. 4:14
b. Prov. 27:1
c. Psa. 23:4
G. The point is this; we are often in lonely situations even if other people are around (Atlanta airport was one of the loneliest place I have ever been).
1. But regardless of the place you are never alone.
2. Isa. 25:4
3. Isa. 32:2
The ladder also reminds us that God’s care is constant.
H. Point of whole dream - God and heaven may seem far away but this ladder indicates access.
I. The angels "ascending and descending" indicates unceasing activity.
J. Think about this, know it and put it in your heart of hearts, God’s care is not a one time event, or occasionally, but constant. It is always there.
1. I Pet. 3:12
2. Rom. 8:31-32, 38-39
K. This caused Jacob to realize that everything is a gift from God.
1. Verses 13-15, 20-22
2. Jas. 1:17
1. Jesus foresaw Himself as the ladder of Jacob’s dream (Jn. 1:51).
2. Ladders are situated to touch at the bottom and top – earth and heaven.
f. So Jesus descended and ascended.
g. Son of man, the Son of God
3. He is our only ladder of access to God (Jn. 14:6).
James Pharr
Lenoir, NC