Stairway to Heaven – Genesis 28:10-22

Of the imagery in this dream, Walton writes:

His dream presents a ladder or stairway that reaches to heaven. What Jacob is dreaming comes from the cultural world of the ancient Near East. In Mesopotamia the comparable word to the one used here describes the stairway used by a messenger of the gods moving from one realm to another. When Namtar delivers a message, for example, he takes the stairway from the gate of the gods to the earth or to the netherworld. It is this same stairway that is architecturally depicted in the famous ziggurats that adjoined temples in Mesopotamian cities, designed to offer a way for the gods to descend to the temple to be worshiped.  In Genesis 28 the messengers of God are likewise using this stairway to travel between realms. This is not a parade or procession as often depicted in art. It is a sacred portal between realms. Angels (messengers) descended to embark on their errands throughout the earth and ascended when returning with reports.

[10] Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. [11] And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. [12] And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! [13] And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. [14] Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. [15] Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” [16] Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” [17] And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

[18] So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. [19] He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. [20] Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, [21] so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God, [22] and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” (Genesis 28:10-22, ESV)

Jacob is on the first leg of his journey, perhaps about 2 or 3 days from Beersheba on the way to Haran (a 550-mile journey).  We can only imagine what his mind was occupied with while awake, but we know what he saw when he was asleep.  Yahweh is standing, not “above” (the term is never used that way), but beside a stairway or portal to heaven.  Like Satan (Job 1&2) who went to a fro about the earth and then returned to report in heaven, Jacob sees angels ascending and descending the stairway, either going to carry out their responsibilities on earth, or returning to the divine council to report.

Yahweh is standing, thus indicating that He appears in human form to Jacob in his dream.  He restates to Jacob the promise He made to Abraham and Isaac.  Jacob is the one through whom the seed of the woman will strike the serpent.  His offspring will bring about God’s kingdom purposes and they will be located in this land of Canaan.  Yahweh will be with and protect Jacob and return him to this place.

Upon awaking Jacob does two things.  First, in great shock and awe he acknowledges that this is the house of God by setting up a pillar.  This was a common practice.  As the ESV Study Bible notes:  “Jacob marks this special event at Bethel by setting up a pillar and consecrating it with oil, but he does not build an altar. This indicates that he has not yet fully accepted the Lord as his God.”  This is confirmed by the second thing Jacob does.

Jacob makes a vow to Yahweh that if Yahweh fulfills what He promised Jacob will make Him his God and tithe to Him.  Jacob is promising to worship Yahweh exclusively, something he does not do now despite his father’s example.  The way he will tithe is likely through sacrifices.

Does this thrill Yahweh?  One would think that after making such a startling and powerful appearance to Jacob, Jacob would be more believing.  But Yahweh knows what is going to happen.  Like us, Jacob will need more experience of God’s graciousness before he fully believes it.