Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 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. 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.
Genesis 28:10-12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
John 1:51
Have you ever made Jacob’s Ladder? I learned from my godmother, Big Mommy, when I was seven. She tied a piece of string into a loop, worked her fingers and hands with precision, and in seconds held up Jacob’s Ladder. It was magic!
It took me a while to master that final turn of the hands, my ladder was sometimes skinny and my string tangled. But then, there it finally was, and perfect too. I ran to her holding up my ladder exclaiming, “Big Mommy, I did it. I made Jacob’s Ladder!”
If my godmother were alive today, I could imagine she would say: “Do you remember when I showed you how to make Jacob’s ladder? I wanted to let you know that God is always by your side. Angels surround you, lifting you up in good times and bad. If something doesn’t go quite right, don’t worry. Just hang on to God’s love. When His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross, he bore all your imperfections and opened up God’s eternal heaven to you. Each time you make Jacob’s Ladder, remember Jesus is your earthly anchor, the foothold at the Ladder’s base. You study the Bible, because Jesus has so much he wants to teach you about life and His Father’s grace and mercy. He will show you the way to God. To God be the glory.”
I love how John 1:51 completes the story of Jacob’s Ladder. Angels proceed from God in heaven and Jesus on earth, letting us know that earth and heaven are joined; that Father and Son are One. Just think, we are called into this heavenly Union.
I invite you to close your eyes and imagine God’s love carried by the Holy Spirit, descending and flowing through Jesus Christ to penetrate your heart and soul. Then, imagine the Holy Spirit drawing your life to the path of Jesus Christ, who embraces you at the foot of Jacob’s Ladder as the Holy Spirit lifts you up to God.
God bless you!
Cynthia
