Genesis 28: A Mystical Experience: Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven Genesis 28

A most unusual route

Using Homesickness and disaster.

Did Jacob want to obey or was he forced to obey?

We see by a contrast with Esau’s determination to despise spiritual things that Jacob in the end did choose to obey even though somewhat under pressure to do it. Esau, on the hand, revealed his utterly rebellious heart.

What about election and faith?

Jacob didn’t seem like he was a chosen one, but God intervened. He was born from above. His life of faith, though small, began. Election in eternity will be confirmed in time through a spiritual birth, even a life of faith.

A Bethel Experience

A pillow for a rock?

Did he dream about whether the promises Isaac mentioned were real or not?

A rock for a pillow did not bring any comfort, but perhaps his desperate situation made him realize that unless the Lord worked on his behalf, he would be a runaway forever.

Maybe he thought about his own parents’ experience and thought about God’s intervention. This is what he needed.
A rock for an altar?

Anyway, he did dream of a ladder reaching into heaven. Yahweh revealed Himself to Jacob. It confirmed what Jacob needed to know, especially about returning to the land of Canaan.


It is from this experience that He promises allegiance to the Lord if he returns. Jacob upon his return came back here to his religious roots (Gen 35:6-7).

Application

Have you been born from above?

Do you have faith in the God that saves?



Genesis Link Index (Overview)

Genesis Introduction  Introduction to Genesis   Outline and Genealogies    Genesis' Chronologies (5 & 11)    Unified Themes of Genesis
Genesis 1-2.3   The Worship of the Creator   The Meaning of Creatio    Creation Lessons on God.    God and the World's Religions
Genesis 2:4-17    Preparation for Man (Genesis 2:4-6)   Creation of Man (Gen. 2:7, 1:26-27)   Purpose for Man (Genesis 2:8-17)
Genesis 2:18-25 The Foundations of Marriage
Genesis 3:1-13 The Fall of Man: Understanding Sin
Genesis 5-9 Genesis Flood Genesis 05 Genealogical Chart
Genesis 10-11 Unity & Diversity & A. Geneaologies B. Tower of Babel C. Destruction of Cultures
Genesis 12-22   A.) The Call: Genesis 12.1   B.) The Promises: Genesis 12.2-3    C.) The Means: Genesis 15   D.) The Testing: Genesis 22
Genesis 12-16 Introduction   A.) Place Detour: Genesis 12:10-20; 20   B.) Person Detour: Genesis 12.13-14   C.) Procedure Detour: Genesis 16-17
Gemesos 18-19 Cultural Woes of Sodom Appearing to Abraham Visit to Sodom Debate of Homosexuality and Sodom
Genesis 21-26 Isaac's Model for Godly Marriages
Genesis 27-36 Genesis 27-36 Jacob's Life of Fait
Genesis 25-37 A) Influence of Sin B) God and Man's Sin C) Understanding Man's Sin Nature D) Understanding Jacob's Sins



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Biblical Foundations for Freedom

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