We are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder

 A Series on Living by Faith
(Use the link below to read the verses.)
Genesis 28:10-22; Hebrews 11:21

 [Hebrews 11 is a recounting of the Heroes of the Faith. Even though they never saw what they had been promised, each person is commended for living “by faith”. At the end of these commendations, Hebrews 12 tells us, “Therefore, because you are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses… throw off sin; run with perseverance; fix your eyes on Jesus”. In other words, live “by faith”.]

  

As a teenager I remember singing the song, “We are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder”. It might have been at church camp; or youth group; or maybe both. It’s a repetitive song, but there are several levels of interpretation that make it quite interesting.

 

The first level has to do with its origin. It is a traditional spiritual, originally written and sung by slaves. Apparently slaves were not allowed to talk when they were working, but they could sing. This song was a means for them to express their desire and hope for freedom from a life of slavery.

 

“We are climbing Jacob's ladder… Every rung goes higher and higher… Rise, shine, give God the glory… Keep on climbing, we will make it… Do you want your freedom? Soldiers of the Cross.”

 

Secondly, the song is obviously about Jacob who was leaving home under the guise of going to his uncle Laban’s to find his future bride. In reality, he was running away from his brother Esau, whose blessing he stole by lying to their Father. Jacob was a scoundrel who couldn’t be trusted. As a result, he was “run out of Dodge”.

 

However, one night during his trip, he had a dream about stairs, not a ladder. Those stairs led him to Heaven; to the God of Abraham; the God of Isaac, his Father. Most important, they led him into the presence of the Living God.

 

For the first time, the promise of the Lord for land and descendants became much more than something for Jacob to steal; much more than his family heritage. There is reason to believe that this experience was a spiritual turning point in Jacob’s life.

 

¹⁶ Jacob woke up and said, “The Lord is here! He is in this place, and I didn't know it!” ¹⁷ He was afraid and said, “What a terrifying place this is! It must be the house of God; it must be the gate that opens into heaven.”… ¹⁹ He named the place Bethel.    GNT

 

Finally, the third level of interpretation lies in what it means to you and me? How do we apply it to our lives? Have we had an encounter with the Living God? Has He become real to us? Are we experiencing his presence in our life?

 

Jacob is one of the few mentioned as a Hero of the Faith because, by faith, he passed along the blessing of his father and grandfather. His dream about climbing “Jacob’s ladder”, was an important step of his faith journey.

 

What about you? Are you climbing Jacob’s ladder?