GENESIS 28:1-22 TEXT: v12 [THE LADDER TO HEAVEN]
And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven:
and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
There is something immediately
touching about this particular incident. The young man fleeing home
because he is in danger of being murdered by his vengeful brother whom
he has grievously deceived. Saying goodbye to a mother whom he will
never see again (although this reality was graciously hid from his
eyes) Going alone to a land where he had never been to meet with
relatives he has never met & of whom he knew very little. His first
night away from home - for he was a home bird (25:27) - and no bed for
the night. He lights upon a certain place and he can only take a few
stones to make a pillow for his head. Tired and wearied from the
stress, the journey and fear of the uncertainty of the future, he
quickly falls into a sleep. But in his sleep he has a dream and things
which were as black as the midnight round about him, suddenly get
better. FB Meyer:- Sad as Jacob was at the inevitable separation, the
star of hope shone in the sky beckoning him onward. CHS:- Jacob had a
hard bed and a cold bolster, but he had as sweet sleep and a sweeter
dream. In this dream (vs 12-15) he saw a ladder with angels ascending
and descending and the Lord Himself standing at its top. He
received gracious promises from God both for him and for all his seed
and it is no wonder when Jacob awoke out of the dream that he could
say: v16-17 We want to concentrate our thoughts on this ladder which
Jacob saw. Very instructive/illustrative of the gospel. 4 main
points/consider:
1/ A GREAT GULF SEPARATES EARTH FROM HEAVEN:
So much so: a ladder was needed to bridge the gap.
Alluded to: For as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and
my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)
Gap is not only physical (measured/light years) but spiritual.
A/ Denotes that God is infinite and we are mere creatures/time
Something lost/our days.
Men have reduced God to manageable proportions.
Boxed Him in and tied Him down and only think about Him in ways which they can handle. Not good.
If this is what we have done…we are not interacting God/Bible but the concocted God of our own sinful imagination.
A subtle form/idolatry.
The folk/Bible and ever since have perceived God as One worthy of worship.
Nehemiah: Now therefore, our God, the
great, the mighty, and the terrible [awesome] God, who keepest covenant
and mercy (9:32) Passage itself gives us an idea (v17)
Nothing sinister about these words. Denote the absolute reverence which God's Person and revealed Purposes invoke. What a gap!
B/ Another reason/wide gulf: Sin has separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2)
Moment man fell: fellowship/God was smashed (1 John 1:6-7)
Much more a rift.
Sometimes among men, differences are more perceived than real.
A little bit/talking can clear up a lot of misperceptions. Sometimes we
are only disagreeing over terms etc., With a little bit of give/take we
can have a working relationship.
BUT NOT SO IN OUR DIFFERENCES WITH GOD:
God is a God of absolute holiness.
No compromise whatsoever with sin in any shape/form.
Cannot be countenanced.
Such would incriminate/impugn the very character/God.
And so there is a great distance established.
C/ Such a distance helps establish the doctrine of man's total depravity.
T/D does not mean that every deed of man is murderous or every thought vilest blasphemy.
T/D does not ignore the restraining hand/God:
Psalm 76:10 but again: it is a gap that man by his own efforts can never close.
Did you ever stand in a place (physical) and feel overwhelmed by its vastness?
Perhaps at high rising cliffs.
All/sudden you felt so small and insignificant and overwhelmed and helpless.
This is where we stand spiritually.
Once the sinner has been convicted of his own personal guilt ridden
sin…he immediately feels the great distance between him and His
God. Represented: ladder (text)
2/ THIS GULF CAN ONLY BE BRIDGED BY A MEDIATOR:
Fact: the ladder appeared and did reach from earth - Heaven shows that the great gulf can be bridged.
Not all despair!
A/ Remind ourselves again: man cannot do it.
Indeed Jacob wasn't even trying to do it!
Fast asleep/cold ground of sin cursed earth!
Awful feelings of guilt.
Learning horrendous truth: Way/transgressors is hard. Totally/utterly helpless.
B/ But if we can't do it…God can.
God himself has provided a mediator - represented by this ladder.
What is a mediator?
A go between.
One who is accepted by Heaven and yet can identify and be accepted of earth.
B/ Man has always felt his need/Mediator.
Ever since Adam sought to hide (Genesis 3:10) he has yearned for One who can effectively reconcile him/God.
Best articulated by Job: Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. (9:33)
He was seeking a mediator who could bring him to God.
3/ HOW JESUS CHRIST QUALIFIES AS MEDIATOR:
This ladder is a type of Christ. Affirmed in an incident early in the ministry/Christ Himself.
Turn to John 1:45-51 (Read)
Who were the angels ascending/descending (Cp: text) upon?
Ans:- The Son/Man i.e. Christ Himself.
Type cannot be doubted. If, then, we say that the ladder is a figure of Christ, the exposition will not be forced. (Calvin)
A very strong picture. Very apt.
A/ The Deity/Christ qualifies Him as a Mediator.
This particularly which appeal/Heaven: One with the offended Father.
Crimes against God are crimes against Jesus Christ.
What is sin? Transgression/law (1 John 3:4)
What law? Law which is contained in the Bible.
Bible called in Colossians 3:16 Word/Christ.
Because Christ is God.
This has a 2 fold advantage to us:
[i] If the Offended One is offering to be our Mediator then there is no chance of a refusal.
How many have employed a go between in some earthly dispute only to have these overtures rejected.
But God cannot turn away His own Son.
[ii] What power Christ has to deliver.
What atoning power lies in His blood which He was willing as our mediator to shed.
Distinctly referred to as the blood of God (Acts 20:28)
B/ Humanity/Christ qualifies Him as our Mediator.
Eternal God became flesh/blood like unto us: For
we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of
our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
That the Offended Deity should come to earth can only fill me with fear.
Is He coming to track me down and execute the fierceness of His unquenchable wrath upon my guilty head?
But if I hear of Him becoming man and being subject to my infirmities,
I may yet hope that I can be reconciled to my offended God.
C/ This is indeed what happened when the Lord Jesus died on Calvary.
The Godman dies for me the sinner.
He can take the wrath of God which was my due.
Every last drop/wrath of God fell upon Him.
Can he bear it? Yes…He is both God/Man.
The long hours pass as the great business of reconciling a guilty world is transacted at Calvary until at last Jesus cries: It is finished and the last rung/ladder of redemption is complete.
4/ AVOID USING FALSE LADDERS:
A number of points to consider here:
A/ Jacob only saw one ladder because there is only one etc., Bible could not be clearer: 1 Timothy 2:5/John 10:9/14:6/Acts 4:12
Man in his arrogance/folly is busy seeking other ways/God.
Top of this ladder reached unto Heaven (text)
It was to this end the crowd/Babel built their tower (Genesis 11:4) and they met with failure…indeed absolute judgement.
Nothing's changed.
Do not to judge God by the changing (falling) standards/world.
All other professed ladders do not take you upward/God but downward to hell.
B/ Please note: Ladder was between earth/heaven.
Did not reach down into the "nether regions"
This is no argument from silence either: Specific reference: Luke 16:26
No ladder can span this gulf: Hebrews 2:3 No escape! Those who teach otherwise are liars!
There is no "larger" or "eternal hope" for: impenitent.
Again: Bible puts a "time limit" on it all.
The foolish virgins ran out of time and the "door was shut" (or in our
parlance) the ladder of mercy/grace/gospel opportunity removed.
Forever.
C/ With the gospel ladder in front of you…all you need to do is
exercise faith that it will bear your weight and take you upward to
God.
Trust the Saviour! Hebrews 7:25 Faith/Bible is always coupled with repentance.
Forsaking of all earthbound ties.
Remember the cause of the gulf/first place? Sin.
Must be forsaken: Isaiah 55:6-7
Appeal.
THE END