Verse for the Day, 7 April 2014.

Genesis 28:10-18  Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran.  (11)  And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep.  (12)  And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!  (13)  And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, "I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring.  (14)  Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.  (15)  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."  (16)  Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it."  (17)  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."  (18)  So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.

Genesis 28, like Genesis 14 with Melchizedek, is a somewhat mysterious passage as it speaks of a ladder between heaven and earth upon which angels descend and ascend. There have been many interesting theories put forward as to what this is all meant to symbolise, but the context and the words that God speaks to Jacob provide the meaning for us.

Jacob is instructed by his father Isaac to travel back to Haran in order to find a wife from his own kinsmen. This journey and what awaits Jacob in Haran is the beginning of a transition in Jacob’s life. Jacob has thus far not exactly covered himself in honour; he has been very under-handed and deceitful in his dealings. God is now about to deal with Jacob, Jacob will reap what he has sown in terms of deceitfulness and he will also have his character transformed by God. Jacob will return to Canaan a very different man. This transformation process starts on this night. God speaks to Jacob through a dream, in this dream God reaffirms His promises to Abraham and Isaac and then applies it to Jacob; Jacob is going to be a part of God’s fulfilment of this promise. One might wonder how this will happen, Jacob is now leaving the Promised Land and he leaves not knowing if he will ever be able to return due to the anger and murderous intentions of his brother. Jacob is going almost all the way back to where Abraham started. How then can God make such a promise to Jacob?

This is where we see the significance of the dream, in which Jacob sees this ladder between heaven and earth, with the angels descending and ascending upon it, with God standing at the top of the ladder. God has promised Jacob a land and a great nation of people, God is promising to prosper, provide for and protect Jacob. God is promising that Jacob will return to this land and when he returns, he will be prosperous. How is God going to accomplish this? God is going to accomplish this because God is a God of providence, a God who is at work in the world in which we live, at work in the lives around us and He is working all things according to His purposes and plans. God will work through Laban, through Leah and Rachel, even through Laban’s livestock so as to bring His purpose and plan for Jacob to pass. The vision of this ladder and the angels, speaks of God’s providence, God is at work directly and indirectly through His angels in the life of Jacob so as to bring His promise to pass. Jacob may be leaving the Promised Land, but that does not mean that he is leaving the presence of God. God will be with Jacob all the way back in Haran, God will continue to undertake in Jacob’s life. 

Psalm 104:4, which is also quoted in Hebrews 1:7, is made in reference to the works of the angels. They are God’s messengers and servants, to perform God will and works. Furthermore Psalm 91:11-12 teaches us that God at times charges His angels to protect us from harm, to keep watch over our lives. Jacob is being taught by God through this dream, that He is a God of providence, He has made a promise to Jacob, in His wisdom and sovereignty He will bring it pass, hence why God is standing at the top of the ladder, directing and controlling all things. Jacob will know the presence, hand and working of God in his life and will see how God is bringing His promise to pass.

This passage serves to be of great encouragement to us who are believers in Christ. God’s providence is upon us and God will work at times directly in our lives and at other times indirectly through His servants, His angels; all so that His wise and perfect will, will come to pass. It gives us the comfort of knowing that wherever we may be and whatever situation we may be enduring, we will never find ourselves outside of, or away from God’s presence; nor will we ever be in a situation in which God’s providence in unable to bring us through. Jacob endured many trials and tribulations whilst with Laban, yet through them all God’s purposes, presence, protection and providence was evident and all these trials and tribulations where used by God to accomplish His will. God does and will work to the same end in our lives and we will know Him to be a God of providence.

We worship You today for You are God of providence, who has given us the promise of Your presence, protection and provision in our lives. We thank You that You are at work in our lives, at times directly and at others times indirectly through Your angels. Thank You for the comfort, confidence and assurance that this brings us, especially in the times of trial and tribulation. Thank You, that You stand at the top of our lives, the top of our world, at the top of all things, controlling, directing and working all things according to Your good and gracious will. Amen.