Genesis 28: Stairway to Heaven

Best rock song ever.

Isaac passed on the blessing of God that was upon Abraham and him on to his son Jacob. Isaac asked God to give Jacob many children, to give birth to many nations, and to give Jacob the land of Canaan (v. 3-4). Yet Jacob had to flee from that land because of the anger he stirred in his brother, Esau. On that journey, God appeared to Jacob in a dream. He saw a stairway that reached to heaven with angels going up and down the stairway. God stood at the top of the stairway, confirming the blessing Isaac had spoken over Jacob. And God promised to be with Jacob wherever he went (v. 13-15). When he woke up, Abraham’s God and Isaac’s God became Jacob’s God. The dream of the stairway reminds us that God is with us and sends angels to do his bidding. He is with you. The story also shows us that each generation must have our own faith encounters with God. It’s not enough to affirm theological agreement. It’s critical for us to experience the living God for ourselves.