Jacob and the Stairway
Text: Genesis 28
Core Idea: This story reminds us that we can stop striving to climb our way to God and rest in the good news that He has already come down to us in Christ. When you feel unworthy, uncertain, or alone, remember that heaven is open not because of what you have done, but because of what Jesus has done for you.
INTRODUCTION
Well, we’re continuing our journey through the Book of Genesis – tracing how God’s plan of salvation began. And last week, we saw people grasping for blessing in all the wrong ways. Isaac trusted his senses. Rebekah reached for control. Jacob resorted to deception. And Esau clung to his rights. Everyone wanted the blessing. Everyone reached for it. And yet everyone failed. But our hope was not lost, because we were reminded of the One who didn’t grasp for blessing but willingly and joyfully gave it up. Unlike everyone in that passage, He didn’t cling to His rights. He didn’t manipulate outcomes. He didn’t deceive to receive. He didn’t respond with rage when He suffered loss. Instead, He humbled Himself, laid down His glory, and entrusted Himself fully to the Father – even when that obedience led Him to the cross. And through His death and resurrection, the blessing that we all so desperately strove for became freely available to all through faith. Here, we see a theme that has been woven throughout this book – that God’s promises move forward not because His people are faithful, but because He is faithful. And today, we’ll once again see that faithfulness on full display in the life of Jacob as he is running for his life. So, with that in mind, please turn your Bibles to Genesis 28 – and I will read this for us.
1 So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. Then he commanded him: “Do not marry a Canaanite woman. 2 Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother. 3 May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples. 4 May He give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now reside as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham.” 5 Then Isaac sent Jacob on his way, and he went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau. 6 Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and had sent him to Paddan Aram to take a wife from there, and that when he blessed him he commanded him, “Do not marry a Canaanite woman,” 7 and that Jacob had obeyed his father and mother and had gone to Paddan Aram. 8 Esau then realized how displeasing the Canaanite women were to his father Isaac; 9 so he went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Ishmael son of Abraham, in addition to the wives he already had. 10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it stood the LORD, and He said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 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.” 16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” 18 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. 19 He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD will be my God 22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will give You a tenth.”
Amen, this is the Word of God for you today.
Let’s look at this passage in three parts:
· JACOB BEFORE THE DREAM
· JACOB’S DREAM
· JACOB AFTER THE DREAM
1) JACOB BEFORE THE DREAM
If you remember, at the end of Chapter 27, we saw Rebekah expressing disgust over the Hittite women Esau married – convincing Isaac that Jacob must leave to find a wife from her family in Harran. On the surface, this looks spiritually responsible – and in one sense, it is. But underneath it all, it was driven by fear as Esau wanted to kill Jacob – Rebekah was just trying to protect her son. Either way, Isaac agreed. So, in verse 1, he called Jacob, blessed him, and sent him on his way. Now, what’s important to notice is that in Chapter 27, Isaac blessed Jacob unknowingly – deceived by his senses. But here, Isaac knew exactly who he was blessing. I point this out because he had every reason to curse Jacob or hand him over to Esau for what he did to him. But instead, he blessed him again – which shows us that Isaac had humbly submitted himself to God’s plan. In fact, look closely at the content of this blessing. In Chapter 27, the emphasis was more on material inheritance – grain, wine, and so on. But here, the blessing was explicitly covenantal. Verse 3: “May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples. May He give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land.” Isaac spoke of fruitfulness, descendants, and land – the very promises given to Abraham. In other words, Isaac was saying, “Jacob, this isn’t just about inheritance. This is about the covenant. God has chosen you to carry His promises forward. So, give yourself to the Lord, for He will make you great and prosperous, just as He did for my father and me.” Can you imagine how Jacob must have felt? The blessing he so desperately desired was now secure – and his father finally affirmed him. On paper, everything looked right. But look what happens next. Verse 10 tells us that he set out for Harran. Remember, he wasn’t just traveling – he was on the run. He was running away from Esau – but he was actually also running into the unknown because nothing was guaranteed. He didn’t know if he would reach his uncle safely. He didn’t know if he would be welcomed. He didn’t even know if he would find the right person to marry there. There was no more stability in his life – only uncertainty. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Jacob was completely alone. The one person who loved him most, his mother, was no longer with him. He had no friends, no servants, no army at his side. And add to that, he used a stone as a pillow. Now, if you had anything else, anything at all, you would put your head on that. Right? No one chooses a stone as a pillow unless they truly have nothing. Then, this was the author’s way of telling us that Jacob had hit bottom. He was empty, exposed, and vulnerable. All that to say, Jacob was blessed – but he didn’t feel blessed. He had the promise but not the peace. It felt like everything was falling apart. And yet, we don’t see him crying out to God. Isn’t that interesting? We don’t see him praying – he simply fell asleep. That detail matters because it could imply that even though Jacob grew up around the covenant, he may not have had a personal encounter with the God of the covenant. Abraham spoke with God many times. Isaac heard God speak directly. But so far, we haven’t seen Jacob speak once to God. In other words, he knew about God, but he didn’t yet know God. Then, I wonder what was going through his mind as he fell asleep. Maybe he was thinking, “Was it all worth it? I did everything I could to get the blessing – and now that I have it, I thought my life would get better. But it looks more cursed than blessed. How can God’s promise be true when my life looks like this?”
And this is where the passage becomes personal because many of us live in that same gap – between God’s Word and our lives. We know what God says. We believe He is faithful. And yet our circumstances feel like a contradiction. God feels distant, life feels chaotic, and the future feels uncertain. And for some of us, that gap exists because of the consequences of our own sin. We damaged relationships, made wrong choices, gave in to temptations – and now it feels like we’re paying for our actions. We’re wondering, “Has my failure disqualified me from God’s blessing? Have I derailed myself from God’s plan?” Friends, if that’s you, you’re in the right place because that’s exactly where Jacob was as well – empty, alone, and convinced the path to God was closed. And yet the story didn’t end for him here. Let me read from Psalm 77:19 because I think it explains what was really going on in Jacob’s life: “Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen.” Jacob couldn’t see God’s footprints. He couldn’t feel God’s presence. But God was already moving. And in the very place Jacob thought was abandoned, God was about to break in. And if God did that for Jacob, He will certainly do it for you, too. So, let’s find out what God did.
2) JACOB’S DREAM
Verse 12 tells us that when Jacob lay down to sleep, he had a dream – and in it, he saw a stairway. Some translations translate this word as a “ladder.” And even though that’s not entirely wrong, it can be misleading because when we hear the word ladder, we picture something narrow – something only one person can climb at a time. But the image here is much larger in that the Hebrew word suggests something more like a stairway or ramp – a massive structure that stretched from earth to heaven. And on it, Jacob saw the angels of God ascending and descending. Now, when we think of angels, we often imagine these glorious and beautiful beings with wings on their backs that leave us in awe. But when angels appear in Scripture, their first words are almost always, “Don’t be afraid.” Why? Because their presence was overwhelming – often frightening. These are not cute, sentimental figures. They’re mighty servants of the living God – carrying out His will and executing His commands. In fact, the word “angel” in Hebrew literally means “one who is sent” – a messenger, an agent of God’s sovereign activity in the world. And because this stairway was massive, it wasn’t just a few angels going up and down – there must have been hundreds, perhaps thousands, of angels constantly ascending and descending. It was a breathtaking scene – a living picture of heaven actively engaged with the world below. And through this dream, God was showing Jacob something profound: He had not stopped working. Jacob may have felt like everything was falling apart, but God was revealing that while Jacob slept in the wilderness, heaven was busy. God’s purposes were moving forward. God’s plans were unfolding. Just because Jacob couldn’t see it didn’t mean that God was absent. God was actively working all along. But the most astonishing part comes in verse 13: “There above it stood the LORD.” Now, if you have your Bibles, you’ll notice that beside the word “it,” there’s a note explaining that this can also be translated, “There beside him stood the LORD.” Do you see that? Many scholars believe that this is actually the better translation because the point is not that God was standing at the top of the stairway but that He was standing beside Jacob – watching over him. Can you picture that scene in your mind? When Jacob was empty, scared, and lonely, when he thought God was absent and indifferent to his troubles, God walked down the stairway to be with Jacob. And for the very first time in Jacob’s life, God spoke directly to him. In verse 13, He began by identifying Himself – that He is the God of Abraham and Isaac as a way to say, “Hey, I’ve been faithful for generations – and I’m not about to give up on you now. I’ll remain faithful to you just as I have been to your fathers.” Then, He reaffirmed the very promises that Isaac blessed him with – land, descendants, and a blessing that would reach the nations. This is important because it shows that Jacob’s sin didn’t cancel God’s promise. It’s as if God was saying, “What I promised to Abraham, what I confirmed to Isaac, I now pass it unto you.” And if that wasn’t good enough, He began to speak words of unconditional love – everything that Jacob needed and wanted to hear. Verse 15. First, God said, “I am with you.” Remember, Jacob had no one. His family was behind him. His future was uncertain. But God said, “You’re not alone. I’m with you.” Second, God said, “[I] will watch over you wherever you go.” Remember, Jacob was heading into an unfamiliar land. There was no stability in his life. And yet God promised to be his Protector – his Shield. Third, God said, “I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Remember, Jacob didn’t know if he would ever return home. He didn’t know what his life would become. But God said, “Don’t worry. I’m going to bring you back. And I’m not going to leave you until I do just that. So, don’t be afraid. Your life is not ruined. Your story is not over. You’re safe in My hands.” Notice what God didn’t say. God didn’t say, “I’ll be with you if you behave.” Or “I’ll bless you if you prove yourself.” Or “Climb up to Me, and then I’ll accept you.” There was not one word of condemnation – only grace. Jacob didn’t deserve this. He didn’t earn this. He didn’t even pray for this. But that’s exactly the point: this is grace – receiving what you don’t deserve. Dane Ortlund said, “The Christian life is not a matter of our working our way into God’s favor, but of God’s favor working its way into us.”
Then, what does this mean for us? It reminds us that God is often working in ways we cannot see. Just because you can’t see what He’s doing doesn’t mean that He’s not doing anything. We see this same reality in 2 Kings 6. In it, Elisha’s servant was terrified because their city was besieged by the enemy army. But he realized Elisha remained calm. So, he asked, “How can you be so calm?” And Elisha prayed, “Lord, open his eyes so that he may see.” And when the servant’s eyes were opened, he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire – ready to strike the army. In other words, God was there all along – the servant just couldn’t see it. Brothers and sisters, have you ever felt like you’ve messed up your life beyond repair? Have you ever felt unworthy of His presence because of your past? Have you ever felt alone in the darkness – like the sun has set on you? If so, let this passage remind you that there’s more going on than you can see right now. Just because you can’t see doesn’t mean that God is not working. Tim Keller said, “If we judge God’s love by our circumstances, we will always be confused.” Isn’t this so true? Friends, God is closer than you think, and His grace is stronger than you can imagine. So, stop believing the lies that say God has abandoned you. Believe the truth of His Word. And pray like Elisha: “Lord, open my eyes so I can see. But if You choose not to open my eyes at this moment, give me faith so I can trust You.” If your heart is hard, ask God to soften it. If your faith is weak, ask Him to strengthen it. If your mind is distracted, ask Him to reorient it because as you meditate on God’s faithful love, you’ll begin to see what Jacob saw – that He is with you, He is watching over you, and He is speaking words of unconditional love for your soul. Friends, you are loved. He cares for you. And He has not stopped working.
3) JACOB AFTER THE DREAM
Verse 16: “When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.’” This tells us that Jacob’s eyes were opened – both physically and spiritually. And he realized that God had been near all along. In fact, verse 17 says that he was afraid. For the first time, Jacob truly feared God – not the fear that drives you away, but the fear that awakens you to who God really is. He came to see that God was far bigger, holier, and more powerful than he had ever imagined. And this God had come close to him – no wonder he was afraid. Then, Jacob said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Now, that phrase, “the gate of heaven,” should sound familiar if you’ve been with us in this series. In Genesis 11:4, we saw a group of people who said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” They were trying to reach heaven by human effort – they wanted to be where the gods were, so that they could be like the gods themselves. But God came down, confused their language, and scattered them – exposing the futility of human pride. And yet, historically, Babel didn’t disappear. That same city continued to grow and develop until it became known as Babylon. And in the Akkadian language, Babylon literally means “gate of god.” So, from their perspective, this city was sacred – a meeting point between heaven and earth. But do you see the irony here? Babylon said, “This is where heaven opens.” But God said, “This is where human pride collapses.” The very place that claimed to give access to God became the lasting symbol of humanity trying to reach heaven on its own terms and failing. Babel, later Babylon, claimed to be the gate of God because humans tried to climb up. But Jacob called this place the gate of heaven for a completely different reason – not because he climbed up, but because God came down. In fact, he named it Bethel – which means “the house of God.” Jacob saw that God had made His dwelling with His people. Think about how radical that is. At Babel, people said, “Let’s build our way up.” But at Bethel, God said, “I will come down to you.” It’s as if He was saying, “Stop trying to come up. You’ll never make it – which is why I’ll come down to meet you, bless you, and love you.” This is what makes Christianity unique. Every other religion, at its core, says, “Climb up. Fulfill your duties. Improve yourself. And if you do enough, maybe you’ll be accepted.” But in Christianity, we see God saying, “I will come down. I will do what you cannot do. I will save you by grace.”
But this raises a question: “How can a holy God come near to someone like Jacob? How can God stand beside a deceiver? How can God promise blessings to someone who has manipulated and harmed others? And more personally, how can a holy God come near to sinners like us?” Listen to what Jesus said in John 1:51, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.” Jesus was basically saying, “Jacob saw a stairway – but I am the stairway. I’m the true connection between heaven and earth. I’m the bridge between God and sinners. So, come to Me. Get to know Me, for you will find life in Me.” In other words, the gate of heaven is not something we build – it’s Someone God gives. This is why God was able to come near to Jacob – because one day the true Heir would take the place of the sinner, because one day Christ would be treated as the deceiver, because one day Jesus would be forsaken so that we could be forgiven. And because Jesus was cast out, we were brought in. Because Jesus entered the darkness, we now walk in the light. So, if you’re not yet a Christian, please know that you will never be able to climb your way to God. No matter how sincere you are, how disciplined you are, how committed you are, your effort will never be enough because He is holy and perfect. You’ll never measure up. But here’s the good news: You don’t have to climb the stairway because God has come down for you and me in Christ. So, stop trying to prove your worth. Stop trying to pay God back. That’s what Esau was trying to do in verse 9. When he realized his parents were displeased, he tried to fix things by marrying into Ishmael’s family – hoping that his obedience could lead to blessings. But this passage reminds us that you cannot earn what only grace can give. No matter how hard we try, we will never reach heaven on our own. So, turn to Christ. He is the stairway we need. And if you are a Christian, look at Jacob’s response in verse 20: “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will give You a tenth.” At first, it can sound like Jacob was bargaining: “If God will be with me, then the Lord will be my God.” But look at the footnote beside the word “the LORD” in verse 21. It’ll say this can also be translated, “Since God.” In other words, Jacob wasn’t negotiating – he was just responding to grace. He was saying, “God, since You’ve promised to be my God, I’ll do this in honor of Your name: I will build Your house – and whatever You give me, I’ll give it back to You as an expression of my worship.” Do you realize how radical this is? Jacob had always been a taker. But when he encountered the holiness and grace of God, he became a worshiper and a giver. Grace doesn’t just forgive – it transforms. So, let me ask you: “Have you experienced this amazing grace?” I don’t mean just knowing about it. Do you truly know it? Have you tasted it? If so, is that grace transforming you today? Is it producing awe? Is it producing generosity? Is it producing holiness? My prayer for you is that your fear of God, your love for God, and your response to God’s grace would shape your life so that you’ll become more like Christ – pursuing holiness and loving others with generosity.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, Genesis 28 is not a story about Jacob finding God – it’s a story about God finding Jacob. Knowing this, let’s stop striving to climb our way to God and rest in the good news that He has already come down to us in Christ. When you feel unworthy, uncertain, or alone, remember that heaven is open not because of what you have done, but because of what Jesus has done for you.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) On paper, Jacob had finally received the blessing he wanted. Yet in reality, his life must have felt like it was falling apart. Why do you think God often allows seasons where His promises feel disconnected from our circumstances? Have you ever experienced a season where you believed God’s Word was true, but your life felt like a contradiction to it? If you feel the “gap” between God’s promises and your reality right now, what lies are you most tempted to believe about God, yourself, or your future? Reflect on Psalm 77:19 together.
2) What stands out to you most about the image of the stairway and the angels ascending and descending? Why do you think God chose to show Jacob a picture of heaven actively working instead of immediately changing his circumstances?
3) The Lord is described as standing beside Jacob rather than far above him. What does this reveal about God’s heart toward His people in their weakness and fear? Why is it hard for us to believe that God can still be working when everything feels broken or out of control? Which of God’s promises in verse 15 speaks most directly to areas of fear or uncertainty in your life right now?
4) In what ways do people today still try to “climb” their way to God through performance, success, or self-improvement? Why is it freeing to know that our relationship with God is based on what Christ has done rather than what we do? Reflect on John 1:51 together.
