Daily Devotional · Genesis 28:10–19
Stairway to Heaven
Reflection
Jacob was running. He had deceived his father and stolen his brother's blessing, and now Esau wanted to kill him. He was alone in the wilderness, using a stone for a pillow. Not an auspicious moment for a divine encounter. He dreamed of a stairway — or ramp — reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. And above it stood the Lord. God introduced Himself by covenant: "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac." Then came four extraordinary promises: the land, the descendants, the presence, and the return. "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land." God did not say: when you clean up your act. He did not say: when you stop deceiving. He spoke unconditional covenant to a fugitive liar. When Jacob woke, he said: "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it." He was afraid and said: "How awesome is this place." He named it Bethel — house of God. The place of fear and stone became the house of God. Jesus later pointed to this story and said: "You will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man" (John 1:51). He is the ladder between heaven and earth.
Background
Bethel (literally "house of God") became one of the most significant sacred sites in Israelite history. Jacob would return there later (Genesis 35) for a renewal of the covenant. Later it became a site of controversy when Jeroboam set up golden calves there. But in this first encounter, it was a place of pure, undeserved grace given to a man on the run.
Truth
God does not wait for you to deserve His presence before showing up. He meets runaway liars in the desert and makes their stone pillows into altars. The place of your running can become the house of God.
Application
Where have you been running — from God, from consequences, from a relationship? Stop for a moment in whatever "desert" you are in right now and be still. Ask God if He might be in this very place, waiting to speak. You may not have been aware of it.