The Ladder of God

And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 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 spoken to you.” (Genesis 28:13-15 NKJV)

Today at FBC Winslow we heard from God on two different topics. In the morning service God revealed to us the story of Jacob. Jacob was the son of Isaac who was the son of Abraham. The Bible tells us that Jacob was a deceitful man who would later steal his brother, Esau's birthright. Even further in his life he would deceive his dim-sighted father into giving him the blessing that was intended for Esau. Jacob had stolen everything that meant anything to Esau.

Esau resolved in his rage to kill his brother Jacob. However, before that could happen, Rebekah the Mother of Jacob heard Esau's threat and vow to kill Jacob and she advised Jacob to leave. As Jacob went down the road, he was to be a man who was "blessed" but, he felt anything but blessed. He had lied, cheated, and stolen from his very own family. Now, he walked as a stranger in a foreign land.

As Jacob began to get tired he looked and found a place to lay for the night. Using nothing but a rock as a pillow he began to sleep. In that slumber he began to dream. In that dream he saw Angels, they were ascending and descending from the throne room of Heaven. Then, the Bible tells us that God spoke to Jacob from the top of the ladder. God reminded Jacob of the promises that He had made to Abraham and Isaac. God reminded Jacob that even though Jacob felt alone, He really had a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

God had told Abraham that "anyone that blesses him would be blessed." He also said. " anyone that curses you, I will curse."-------that is a big promise from God!!! Isaac received the same promise when God told him that his name would be great and the father of many nations he shall be!!

God makes each one of us promises. The great thing about God's promises is that He always makes them happen. God is gracious and merciful. All we need do is confess our sin and then turn from it.

God repeated the same promise to 3 different men during 3 different circumstances. And the end result was the same. GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES!!


During our evening service we spoke of how the Bible stresses certain things by repetition. When something in the Bible is repeated it is because it is important. In the story of Jacob, Esau , Isaac, and Abraham we see that very fact. Repetition means significance! God made the same promise to different men because they were to be partakers in what we now know as grace. That promise is repeated so often because ALL the nations of the world will be blessed through the Jewish people in the Messiah, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

In John 1:51 Jesus told the disciples that he is the ladder that Jacob dreamed about. He is the bridge that closes the gap between sinful mankind and a glorious God.

Today I challenge you to seek the ladder of God. I challenge you to listen for the repeated promises of God. You have access to eternal life in Jesus Christ. You have access to hope in this life with Jesus Christ. Today seek the ladder that leads to the kingdom of Heaven and at the top of it, God Himself will meet you coming.

Be blessed,

G