Today’s Scripture

Psalm 126        Genesis 28:10-22        Mark 9:2-10

 

This week in Genesis:

            Jacob and Esau, Jacob deceives his father and brother

            Jacob’s dream at Bethel and God’s promise to Jacob

            Jacob with Uncle Laban, Leah and Rachel

            Jacob returns to his home with his family and wealth

            Rachel dies, her burial place later is Bethlehem

            The episodes of Joseph from being sold into slavery to 1^st in command in Egypt

            There is famine throughout the world, Joseph is in charge

 

Throughout this week’s readings, we are reminded of the difficulties Jacob brought on himself, were placed on him, and with his own children including the heartache his sons caused as they sold off their brother and deceived their father.  As all of these things progress, we look ahead to Paul as he writes to us in Romans 8:28,  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

 

            Jacob’s dream at Bethel is the first account of God appearing to one of his chosen people in a dream.  (Earlier he had appeared to King Abimelech in a dream in regards to Abraham and Sarah).  Up until now God speaks directly with those whom he calls.  With Jacob, God begins speaking by dream.  We see how this carries out with Joseph.  Note that Jacob recognizes this dream is from God to him.  Joseph later gives all credit to God who sends and interprets the dreams of his fellow-prisoners and then Pharaoh.  In all of this we are taken to Hebrews 1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways.  Today it is through a dream that God speaks to our forefather, Jacob. 

 

            Jacob is an interesting name in itself.  His name means “he grasps the heel,” which figuratively means, “one who deceives.”  Esau in his anger at Jacob later refers to Jacob’s living up to that meaning when he is deceived out of Isaac’s blessing. 

 

            Today we have God’s word and what he has told us about heaven and hell.  To Jacob, God revealed a lot in this dream.

 

            In this dream Jacob sees a stairway between heaven and earth.  (we have a song and many times think of this account as Jacob’s ladder – but it is a stairway).  Angels are ascending and descending this stairway, between heaven and Jacob.  At the top of this stairway is the Lord who announces himself.  The angels ascending and descending show Jacob and to us today that angels are dispatched by God to serve us.  Later Jesus describes himself as the disciple would see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man [John 1:51].  Jesus is the bridge between heaven and earth.  He is the only mediator between God and men.  [John 14:6, 1 Timothy 2:5]. 

 

            God announces the purpose of all of this to Jacob.  He makes his covenant with Jacob.  This is the continuation of the covenant God made with Abraham and Isaac.  All the peoples of the earth will be blessed through Jacob.  His descendants will be like the dust of the earth, spread out everywhere.  All peoples on earth will be blessed through Jacob.  God concludes this promise as he states, “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,” [v. 15].  Jacob responds calling this place Bethel which means, “House of God.”  Jacob calls it the “gate to heaven.”  He recognized the one true God his grandfather and father had called upon, who had led his father and grandfather, and who was now with him.

 

            Jacob experiences God’s promise in his years with Uncle Laban.  He returns to this land given his father and grandfather.  He sees God’s hand in all things to the end of his years when he is rejoined with his lost son, Joseph in Egypt.  When he dies, his remains are brought back to this promised land and buried there.  He does not live to see how his twelve sons and their offspring become the great nation Israel.  He does not see how you and I today are his descendants, those who have received God’s calling to be his children, to be his servants in our earthly callings, and to be his eternal kingdom as all saints, all believers in Christ are brought back to our heavenly home at this life’s end.

 

            You and I are Jacob’s today.  We have deceived many as well as ourselves.  Through John God tells us, “If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”  That stern message is followed with God’s greater message of his grace, ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” [1 John 1:8-9].

 

            God promised Jacob he would always be with him.  God promises us the same that he will never leave or deceive us [4 times in Deut, Josh, and Hebrews].  He put our punishment for our sins on his own son, Jesus, our brother, Lord and Savior.  He turned his face away from his son, forsaking him on the cross in our place.  God never turned his face away from Jacob, and he never turns his face away from you.  That stairway to heaven is active today with angels tending to you and all believers in the name of Jesus, with our heavenly father at the top.              Amen.