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.
12. And he dreamed ] The vision, about to be described, is conveyed through the medium of a dream; cf. Gen 20:3.
a ladder ] It has been suggested, e.g. by Stanley ( Sinai and Palestine, p. 219) that the ledges of rock, one above the other, on the Bethel hill produced an impression on the faculties of Jacob, which took the shape, in his dream, of a flight of steps. By “a ladder,” LXX , Lat. scala, we must not understand a house ladder, with uprights and rung of wood; but, rather, a stairway, or ascent by successive terraces. Possibly, the “ladder” here mentioned resembled the ascent to Babylonian and Assyrian temples, in which the shrine or sanctuary, on the summit, was reached by steps leading through seven terraces, corresponding to the seven planets: see note on Gen 11:4.
on the earth to heaven ] The distinctive feature of the vision is the communication between earth and heaven.
For the impression produced upon the mind of a modern traveller by the scenery of this spot, see footnote 1 [24] .
[24] “One of the most singular stone formations west of the Jordan in Palestine is to be seen in the great stonefield a little to the north of the modern town of Beitin, the ancient Bethel. Huge stones seem to be piled one upon another to make columns nine or ten feet or more in height. In reality these columns are produced by erosion, and the different density of the strata has led to greater erosion in one part than in another, so that they taper and bulge in manifold and various shapes. So strong is the resemblance to construction made by men’s hands that I myself have gone to this spot, not once but several times, and examined every stone, to make sure that there could be no mistake in my impression, and I have found that others have done the same thing. It is only after such a careful examination of the site that one convinces one’s self that in reality these stone pillars are the work of nature, not of man. Surely it is a point at which heaven and earth meet. And there stand the pillars which the mighty heroes of antiquity erected. It was only the giant men of olden times who could set up as memorials of communion with God these mighty stones at this point where heaven and earth are so clearly united” (Peters, Early Hebrew Story, pp. 111, 112).
the angels of God ] For this unusual expression, cf. Gen 32:1-2. The expression “the angel of God” is common, but that of “the angels of God” is most rare. We are to suppose that to the sleeper’s eyes were revealed the heavenly hosts, the members and attendants of the heavenly court (see notes on Gen 1:26 and Gen 6:2).
ascending and descending ] See the use made of this vision in our Lord’s words to Nathanael, Joh 1:51. “Ascending” comes before “descending,” which reminds us that the process of Divine ministration to the sons of men has been going on before it is finally revealed to their spiritual faculties. “Ascending,” with tasks completed: “descending,” with fresh commissions from above.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 12. He dreamed, and behold a ladder] A multitude of fanciful things have been spoken of Jacob’s vision of the ladder, and its signification. It might have several designs, as God chooses to accomplish the greatest number of ends by the fewest and simplest means possible.
1. It is very likely that its primary design was to point out the providence of God, by which he watches over and regulates all terrestrial things; for nothing is left to merely natural causes; a heavenly agency pervades, actuates, and directs all. In his present circumstances it was highly necessary that Jacob should have a clear and distinct view of this subject, that he might be the better prepared to meet all occurrences with the conviction that all was working together for his good.
2. It might be intended also to point out the intercourse between heaven and earth, and the connection of both worlds by the means of angelic ministry. That this is fact we learn from many histories in the Old Testament; and it is a doctrine that is unequivocally taught in the New: Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
3. It was probably a type of CHRIST, in whom both worlds meet, and in whom the Divine and human nature are conjoined. The LADDER was set up on the EARTH, and the TOP of it reached to HEAVEN; for GOD was manifested in the FLESH, and in him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Nothing could be a more expressive emblem of the incarnation and its effects; Jesus Christ is the grand connecting medium between heaven and earth, and between God and man. By him God comes down to man; through him man ascends to God. It appears that our Lord applies the vision in this way himself,
1st, In that remarkable speech to Nathanael, Hereafter ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of man, Joh 1:51.
2dly, in his speech to Thomas, Joh 14:6: I am the WAY, and the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This ladder may be considered, either,
1. Literally, and so it represented to Jacob the providence of God, who, though he dwell in heaven, extends his care and government to the earth, and particularly makes use of the angels as ministering spirits for the good of his people. And these angels do not appear idle, or standing still, but always in motion, either ascending to God to receive his commands, or descending to earth for the execution of them. Which was a most seasonable vision for Jacob in his sad and sorrowful condition, that he might see that though he was forsaken and persecuted by men, and forced to flee away secretly for fear of his life, yet he neither was, nor should be, neglected or forsaken by God in this whole journey. Or,
2. Mystically, and so it represents Christ, by whom heaven and earth are united, who is called the way to heaven, which this ladder was, who, as the Head of angels, is perpetually sending them forth either to God or from God to minister to the heirs of salvation, Heb 1:14; and this explication or accommodation of this vision, is warranted by our Saviour himself, Joh 1:51.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12. he dreamed . . . and behold aladderSome writers are of opinion that it was not a literalladder that is meant, as it is impossible to conceive any imagerystranger and more unnatural than that of a ladder, whose base was onearth, while its top reached heaven, without having any thing onwhich to rest its upper extremity. They suppose that the little heapof stones, on which his head reclined for a pillow, being theminiature model of the object that appeared to his imagination, thelatter was a gigantic mountain pile, whose sides, indented in therock, gave it the appearance of a scaling ladder. There can be nodoubt that this use of the original term was common among the earlyHebrews; as JOSEPHUS,describing the town of Ptolemais (Acre), says it was bounded by amountain, which, from its projecting sides, was called “theladder,” and the stairs that led down to the city are, in theoriginal, termed a ladder (Ne 3:15)though they were only a flight of steps cut in the side of the rock.But whether the image presented to the mental eye of Jacob were acommon ladder, or such a mountain pile as has been described, thedesign of this vision was to afford comfort, encouragement, andconfidence to the lonely fugitive, both in his present circumstancesand as to his future prospects. His thoughts during the day must havebeen painfulhe would be his own self-accuser that he had broughtexile and privation upon himselfand above all, that though he hadobtained the forgiveness of his father, he had much reason to fearlest God might have forsaken him. Solitude affords time forreflection; and it was now that God began to bring Jacob under acourse of religious instruction and training. To dispel his fears andallay the inward tumult of his mind, nothing was better fitted thanthe vision of the gigantic ladder, which reached from himself toheaven, and on which the angels were continually ascending anddescending from God Himself on their benevolent errands (Joh1:51).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he dreamed,…. As he slept; not a common dream, but under divine direction and influence:
and, behold, a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: denoting either the providence of God, and the various steps of it, bringing about his own glory and the good of his people; and which is steady, firm, and sure, and reaches to all things here on earth; and in an especial manner is concerned about the people of God, their protection and safety; and is directed and governed according to the will, counsels, and purposes of God in heaven; a view of which must be very encouraging to Jacob in his present circumstances: or else the incarnation and mediation of Christ, who in his human nature was to be in the fulness of time on earth, there to live a while, obey, suffer, and die, and so was the ladder set on earth; and his divine nature was the top of it, which reached heaven; here he was in that nature before his incarnation, and from hence he came; and indeed here he was in that when on earth; and as man, he ascended on high when he had done his work, and is now higher than the heavens; he may be fitly represented hereby as the Mediator, who has reconciled things in heaven and things on earth, and has as it were joined and united heaven and earth together: and the various rungs in this ladder, so considered, are Christ’s interposition as a surety front eternity; his incarnation in time; his being under the law, and his obedience to it; his sufferings, the shedding of his blood, and the death of the cross; his resurrection from the dead, ascension to heaven, session at the right hand of God, and intercession there. Moreover this may point out to us Christ as the way to his Father, of access unto him, and acceptance with him, by which he communicates the blessings of his grace to men, and by which they ascend to God with their prayers and praises to him: as also as being the way to heaven and eternal happiness; the various steps to which are election in him, redemption by him, regeneration by his Spirit and grace, the several graces of his Spirit, faith, hope, and love, justification by his righteousness, pardon by his blood, adoption through him, and the resurrection of the dead:
and, behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it: which may be expressive of the employment of angels in the affairs of Providence, who receive their commission from heaven, and execute it on earth, in which they are diligent, faithful, and constant; and of the ministry of them, both to Christ personal, and to his church and people, even to every particular believer; see Joh 1:51.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
12. And he dreamed. Moses here teaches how opportunely, and (as we may say) in the critical moment, the Lord succoured his servant. For who would not have said that holy Jacob was neglected by God, since he was exposed to the incursion of wild beasts, and obnoxious to every kind of injury from earth and heaven, and found nowhere any help or solace? But when he was thus reduced to the last necessity, the Lord suddenly stretches out his hand to him, and wonderfully alleviates his trouble by a remarkable oracle. As, therefore, Jacob’s invincible perseverance had before shone forth, so now the Lord gives a memorable example of his paternal care towards the faithful. Three things are here to be noticed in their order; first, that the Lord appeared unto Jacob in a dream; secondly, the nature of the vision as described by Moses; thirdly, the words of the oracle. When mention is made of a dream, no doubt that mode of revelation is signified, which the Lord formerly was wont to adopt towards his servants. (Num 12:6.) Jacob, therefore, knew that this dream was divinely sent to him, as one differing from common dreams; and this is intimated in the words of Moses, when he says that God appeared to him in a dream. For Jacob could not see God, nor perceive him present, unless his majesty had been distinguishable by certain marks.
And behold a ladder. Here the form of the vision is related, which is very pertinent to the subject of it; namely, that God manifested himself as seated upon a ladder, the extreme parts of which touched heaven and earth, and which was the vehicle of angels, who descended from heaven upon earth. The interpretation of some of the Hebrews, that the ladder is a figure of the Divine Providence, cannot be admitted: for the Lord has given another sign more suitable. (57) But to us, who hold to this principle, that the covenant of God was founded in Christ, and that Christ himself was the eternal image of the Father, in which he manifested himself to the holy patriarchs, there is nothing in this vision intricate or ambiguous. For since men are alienated from God by sin, though he fills and sustains all things by his power; yet that communication by which he would draw us to himself is not perceived by us; but, on the other hand, so greatly are we at variance with him, that, regarding him as adverse to us, we, in our turn, flee from his presence. Moreover the angels, to whom is committed the guardianship of the human race, while strenuously applying themselves to their office, yet do not communicate with us in such a way that we become conscious of their presence. It is Christ alone, therefore, who connects heaven and earth: he is the only Mediator who reaches from heaven down to earth: he is the medium through which the fullness of all celestial blessings flows down to us, and through which we, in turn, ascend to God. He it is who, being the head over angels, causes them to minister to his earthly members. Therefore, (as we read in Joh 1:51,) he properly claims for himself this honor, that after he shall have been manifested in the world, angels shall ascend and descend. If, then, we say that the ladder is a figure of Christ, the exposition will not be forced. For the similitude of a ladder well suits the Mediator, through whom ministering angels, righteousness and life, with all the graces of the Holy Spirit, descend to us step by step. We also, who were not only fixed to the earth, but plunged into the depths of the curse, and into hell itself, ascend even unto God. Also, the God of hosts is seated on the ladder; because the fullness of the Deity dwells in Christ; and hence also it is, that it reaches unto heaven. For although all power is committed even to his human nature by the Father, he still would not truly sustain our faith, unless he were God manifested in the flesh. And the fact that the body of Christ is finite, does not prevent him from filling heaven and earth, because his grace and power are everywhere diffused. Whence also, Paul being witness, he ascended into heaven that he might fill all things. They who translate the particle על ( al) by the word “near,” entirely destroy the sense of the passage. For Moses wishes to state that the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in the person of the Mediator. Christ not only approached unto us, but clothed himself in our nature, that he might make us one with himself. That the ladder was a symbol of Christ, is also confirmed by this consideration, that nothing was more suitable than that God should ratify his covenant of eternal salvation in his Son to his servant Jacob. And hence we feel unspeakable joy, when we hear that Christ, who so far excels all creatures, is nevertheless joined with us. The majesty, indeed, of God, which here presents itself conspicuously to view, ought to inspire terror; so that every knee should bow to Christ, that all creatures should look up to him and adore him, and that all flesh should keep silence in his presence. But his friendly and lovely image is at the same time depicted; that we may know by his descent, that heaven is opened to us, and the angels of God are rendered familiar to us. For hence we have fraternal society with them, since the common Head both of them and us has his station on earth.
(57) Whatever force and truth, as well as beauty, there may be in the exposition of Calvin which follows, he appears to have dismissed too hastily the opinion of the Jews, that the vision was symbolical of Divine Providence. The circumstances of Jacob seemed to require some such intimations of Divine protection and care during his journey, as this interpretation of the vision presents. And in every way the passage thus understood is both useful and encouraging. There is, however, no need to question, that the higher mystical interpretation, on which Calvin exclusively insists, is the legitimately applicable, as conveying the ultimate and, in short, the most important meaning of the vision. The reader may consult the 123d Exercitation of Rivetus on this subject. — Rivetus in Gen., p. 602.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(12) Behold a ladder. . . . Isaac had confirmed Jacob in the possession of the blessing before he started on his long journey, but it was necessary that he should also have the Divine ratification of his appointment; for the chief privilege was the covenant with God previously confirmed to Isaac, his father (Gen. 17:19-21). Day after day, then, he travels forward, anxious and oppressed, feeling as he went farther from his home the responsibilities attendant upon that birthright which he had coveted so eagerly. His lot was now a repetition of that of Abraham; but he had travelled from Haran with a noble following, and by express command. Jacob had at most but a few attendants, and no voice from God had ever as yet reached him. But faith in Him was growing strong, and the Divine ratification to him of the Abrahamic covenant was at length vouchsafed. In his sleep he sees a ladder, or staircase, rising from the ground at his side, and reaching up to heaven. It tells him that heaven and earth are united, and that there is a way from one to the other. Upon these stairs messengers of Elohim are ascending and descending, carrying up to God mens prayers, and the tale of their wants and sorrows, of their faith and hope and trust; and bringing down to them help and comfort and blessing. At the head of the ladder Jehovah himself stands. The word is that used in Gen. 24:13, and signifies that the Deity was not there accidentally, but that He holds there His permanent station. Finally, Jehovah from His heavenly post confirms to Jacob all the promises made from the time when Abraham left Ur of the Chaldees, and assures him of His constant presence and protection.
It has been pointed out that each of the three stages in the dream has emphasis given to it by the word behold, and that this rises to a climax at the third repetition, when the covenant God is seen stationed at the head of this pathway between earth and heaven. But besides this, the value of Jacob in Jehovahs sight arises now from his being the appointed ancestor of the Mesciah, in whom all the families of the earth were to be blessed (Gen. 28:14). Christ, too, is the Way symbolised by this ladder (Joh. 14:6), and the bridge of union between the material and the spiritual world (1Ti. 2:5). Our Lord, accordingly, Himself claims that the angels of God ascend and descend upon Him (Joh. 1:51),
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. Behold a ladder Or, stairway . ( . ) The vision, manifestly, was that of a lofty passage-way, either a ladder with rounds, or a staircase with steps, or piles of mountains, one upon another, looking like a wondrous highway of passage to the skies . The great thing was an open passage-way between earth and heaven .
Angels of God What notion of angels Jacob may have had before we know not, but here was a sudden and glorious revelation of the numerous host of ministering spirits of the heirs of salvation. Heb 1:14. Strangely have certain Rationalistic critics supposed that the Israelites first derived their ideas of angels and spirits during their Babylonian exile .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
DISCOURSE: 43
JACOBS VISION A TYPE OF THE MINISTRATION OF ANGELS TO CHRIST
Gen 28:12-13. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the Lord stood above it.
NOW that God has given to the world a complete revelation of his mind and will, we are no longer to expect any extraordinary and personal communications with him: but, in former days, he frequently instructed his more favoured servants by dreams and visions. The particular vision recorded in the passage before us is almost universally considered as typical, though few, if any, have given any satisfactory account wherein the type consists. We shall endeavour therefore to put the subject in a just point of view; and for that purpose shall consider,
I.
The immediate end of the vision
When so remarkable a revelation is vouchsafed to man, we may conclude that some end, worthy of the divine interposition, is to be answered by it. The intent of the vision here given to Jacob, seems to be,
1.
To dispel his fears of merited evils
[Jacob could not but be conscious that he had acted a base and treacherous part: and that therefore he had incurred the divine displeasure, at the same time that he had excited a murderous rancour in the breast of his injured brother. He was now fleeing to avoid the effects of his brothers wrath, and had but too much reason to dread some righteous judgment from the hand of God. But God, who is altogether sovereign in the distribution of his favours, and frequently bestows them at seasons, when, according to our conceptions, they could be the least expected, appeared to him, with expressions of love and mercy. He assured the unhappy fugitive, that he was reconciled towards him, and would give his angels charge over him to keep him in all his way, to protect him from all danger, and to supply his every want [Note: 5.]. Thus were all his apprehensions at once removed, and his mind restored to perfect peace.]
2.
To confirm his hope of promised blessings
[He had received a promise of the birthright, while yet he lay in his mothers womb; and doubtless he had expected its accomplishment. But when he saw his father dying, and knew that the rights of primogeniture were about to be confirmed to his elder brother, his faith failed him; and, instead of waiting like David for the throne of Saul, he yielded to the solicitations of his mother, and sought to obtain by craft, what, if he had waited Gods time, he would have received in a fair and honourable way. And now he had good reason to doubt, whether he had not forfeited his interest in Gods promise, and entailed a curse upon himself instead of a blessing. But God, on this occasion, renewed his promise to him, almost in the very terms, in which, but a few hours before, it had been declared by his father [Note: Compare 3, 14 with, 4.] ; and thus assured to him, not only a numerous seed, and the inheritance of Canaan, but (which was infinitely the dearest right of primogeniture) the descent of Christ from his loins. From henceforth therefore we behold him walking steadfastly in the faith of Abraham, looking forward with joy to the day of Christ, and maintaining a conduct suitable to his profession.]
While the vision was replete with personal benefit to Jacob, it conveyed instruction also to the Church, by,
II.
Its typical reference
Instead of supposing, with all writers upon this subject, that the ladder was a type of Christ in his divine and human nature mediating between heaven and earth (which is fanciful, and without any warrant from Scripture), we rather think that the vision itself was the type (if it was indeed a type), and that it prefigured,
1.
The testimony which angels were to give to Christ
[Our Lord himself has cast the true light on this passage. In his conversation with Nathanael, he tells the young convert, that he should one day see that realized in him, which had been shadowed forth in Jacobs vision [Note: Joh 1:51.]. Accordingly we find that as, from the first conception of Christ in the womb to that very hour, the angels had deeply interested themselves in every thing that related to him, so they continued on all occasions to wait upon him, to soothe his sorrows, to animate his courage, to fulfil his will, and to bear testimony on his behalf [Note: Mat 4:11; Luk 22:43; Luk 24:4-7; Luk 24:23.]. More than twelve legions of them would have come to his succour if he had desired their aid [Note: Mat 26:53.]. Here then is a correspondence between the type and antitype: Jesus was a man of sorrows, and cast out by his brethren, who said, This is the heir, come let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours [Note: Luk 20:14.]. But God would not leave his beloved Son without witness, or without support; and therefore opened a communication between heaven and earth, that the angels might have continual access to him, whilst he himself stood, as it were, at the top of the ladder to direct their operations.]
2.
The confirmation which his peoples faith was to receive from that testimony
[The circumstances of Nathanael and his other disciples, to whom this ocular demonstration was to be given, were not unlike to those of Jacob, to whom the vision was vouchsafed. They had believed in Jesus; but their faith was to be sorely tried, so that they should be reduced almost to despair. There was however a seasonable support to be afforded them by the intervention and agency of angels. It was the repeated testimony of angels that first inspired them with hope [Note: Joh 20:12.], and that, afterwards, at the time of Christs ascension into heaven, filled them all with a pleasing expectation, that they should one day see him come again in power and great glory [Note: Act 1:11.]. In consequence of their declarations, no less than of the declarations of Christ himself, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and waited for the promised effusion of the Holy Ghost, knowing in whom they had believed, and assured, that he would keep that which they had committed to him. Thus in this respect also did the type receive a suitable accomplishment.]
For our further improvement of this history, we may observe,
1.
There is no person so guilty, but God is willing and desirous to shew mercy to him
[We cannot but admire the extent and freeness of that mercy with which God revealed himself to this guilty fugitive. We have a similar instance in the mercy shewn to Saul, at the very instant he was breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of Christ [Note: Act 9:1-6.]. And, has not the Apostle told us, that he was intended of God to be in this respect a monument of Gods long-suffering, and a pattern to those who should hereafter believe on him [Note: 1Ti 1:16.] ? Let none then despair; but, whatever evils they have brought upon themselves by their iniquities, and whatever reason they may have to dread the wrath, either of God or man, let them call to mind the example before us; and turn unto him, who has promised that he will in no wise cast them out.]
2.
There is no distress so great, but God is able and willing to deliver us from it
[God has thousands of angels at his command, and has appointed them to minister unto those who shall be heirs of salvation [Note: Heb 1:14.]. These he orders to encamp round about his people, and deliver them [Note: Psa 34:7.]. Let us then suppose ourselves as destitute as Jacob himself, having only the earth for our bed, a stone for our pillow, and no other canopy than the heavens; still, a vision of God, with the ministry of his angels, shall render our situation both comfortable and happy; yea, shall make it appear to us as the very house of God, the gate of heaven [Note: 7.]. And such a confirmation will these visions of the Almighty give to our faith and hope, that we shall be fitted for all future trials, and be enabled to testify on Gods behalf, that he will never leave his people, till he has fulfilled to them his promises in their utmost extent [Note: 5.].]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
In the early ages, a very usual method, in which the Lord communicated himself to his people, was by visions and dreams.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 28:12 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.
Ver. 12. Behold a ladder. ] Scala est, piorum in hoc mundo peregrinatio , saith Pareus, after Junius. But besides this interpretation, our Saviour offereth us another, Joh 1:51 applying it to himself, the true ladder of life, per quem solum in coelum ascendere possimus . He that will go up any other way must, as the emperor once said, erect a ladder and go up alone. He touched heaven, in respect of his Deity; earth, in respect of his humanity; and joined earth to heaven, by reconciling man to God. Gregory speaks elegantly of Christ, , that he joined heaven and earth together, as with a bridge; being the only true Pontifex , or bridge-maker . Heaven is now open and obvious, to them that acknowledge him their sole Mediator, and lay hold, by the hand of faith, on his merits, as the rungs of this heavenly ladder: these only ascend; that is, their consciences are drawn out of the depths of despair, and put into heaven, as it were, by pardon, and peace with God, rest sweetly in his bosom, calling him, Abba, Father, and have the holy angels ascending to report their needs, and descending, as messengers of mercies. We must also ascend, saith St Bernard, by those two feet, as it were, – meditation and prayer: yea, there must be continual ascensions in our hearts, as that martyr a said: and as Jacob saw the angels ascending, and descending, and none standing still; so must we be active, and abundant in God’s work, “as knowing that our labour is not in vain in the Lord”: 1Co 15:58 and that, non proficere est deficere , b not to go forward is to go backward.
a M. Philpot.
b Bern.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
ladder. Hebrew. sullam, from salal, to pile up like terraces; a way cast up, stairway. Occurs only here. Compare Isa 35:8-10; Isa 57:14; Isa 62:10.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Chapter 29
JACOBS LADDER
“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. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.”
Gen 28:12-13
The ladder Jacob saw in his dream was our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. We know that this is the true and proper interpretation of this text, because our Lord himself gave this interpretation of it (Joh 1:51). When the Lord God revealed his Son to Jacob, he revealed him as a ladder. What an instructive and helpful representation that is of our Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ is made of God unto us a ladder!
We all know what a ladder is and how it is used. When you need to get from a low place to a high place, or you need to move something from a high place to a low place, you need a ladder to do it. Nothing will serve your purpose so well as a ladder. Everyone knows how to use a ladder. In spiritual things, Christ is a ladder. Blessed are those who learn to use him as a ladder. Take careful notice of what the Book of God says about Christ our Ladder in Genesis 28.
1.This ladder stood upon the earth, but the top reached into heaven. So Christ, the Son of God, though he stood upon the earth in human flesh, is yet the most high God. Though he stood upon the earth as a man, he never ceased to be God. He never left the bosom of the Father (Joh 1:18; Joh 3:13).
2.The angels of God went up and down on the ladder which Jacob saw. Even so, we are able to ascend to God in heaven only by the Lord Jesus Christ (Joh 14:6); and it is by and through Christ that God comes down to us. God almighty meets with, deals with, and blesses sinners only in Christ.
3.The Lord God stood above the ladder and made all his promises of grace to Jacob. This shows us that all the promises of Gods grace come to sinners through Christ. All spiritual blessings, all the promises of eternal life, all the glory of heaven is in Christ. All things come to chosen sinners through Christ, the Mediator, our Ladder (Eph 1:3-14).
WHAT KIND OF LADDER IS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?
There are many kinds of ladders for many different uses: step ladders, long ladders, extension ladders, strong ladders, and shakey ladders; but Christ is in all respects an extra ordinary Ladder. There is none other like him. Phillip Henry[17] gave the following sixfold description of Christ as a ladder.
[17] Phillip Henry, Christ All in All, Reiner Publications, Swengel, PA p 308
1. Christ is a living Ladder. As he is called a new and living way (Heb 10:20), in the same sense, he is a new and living Ladder. Other ladders are dead things; but this Ladder lives. It is true, he once died, but he is alive again and lives for evermore (Rev 1:18). Because he lives, all who are in him live also.
2. Christ is a long Ladder. Here is a Ladder that reaches from earth to heaven. Jacob saw the foot of it upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven! This represents the two natures of our Redeemer. He is both God and man in one glorious Person, as fully God as though he were not man and as fully man as though he were not God.
As a man, he was set up on the earth (Gal 4:4-5). As God, he was always in heaven. He was always in heaven, the eternally begotten Son of God, infinite, eternal, incomprehensible, and unchangeable (Joh 1:14; Joh 3:13; Joh 1:18). The union of these two natures, God and man, in one Person is the mystery of all mysteries (1Ti 3:16). That the glory of Christs Godhead did not destroy the weakness of his manhood, nor the weakness of his manhood destroy the glory of his Godhead is incomprehensibly mysterious. The incarnation of Christ is like the bush Moses saw, burning with the glory of God, but not consumed with the fire.
Why was the foot of the Ladder upon the earth? Why was it necessary for the Son of God, our Redeemer to become a man? If Christ would redeem us, he had to have a body in which to bear our sins, to suffer and die as our Substitute. He had to have a body and nature like ours. A man he must be who would redeem man, because it was man who sinned. Because man sinned, man must suffer for sin. For this reason, God the Holy Spirit prepared a body for God the Son in the womb of the virgin (Heb 10:5).
Why was it necessary that the top of the ladder reach into heaven? Why must our Savior be God as well as man? It was our Saviors Godhood which gave infinite merit, virtue, and efficacy to the sufferings of his manhood. Someone said, Christ is both God and man, because God could not suffer and man could not satisfy; but the God-man both suffered the wrath of God and satisfied the justice of God when he bled and died as the sinners Substitute upon the cursed tree. Moreover, it was Christs Godhood which supported and sustained his manhood in all his sufferings. Manhood could never have born the agony of Gethsemane and the torments of Calvary had it not been that the man who suffered is also the eternal God.
In addition to these things, it was necessary that our Mediator be both God and man so that he might bring God and man together. He must be God that he might deal with God, which man, as man, is not fit to do. He must be man that he might deal with man, which God in his holiness could not do without consuming the sinful creature. Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift! This is the meaning of our Saviors incarnation. Immanuel is God with us, God in our nature. Were he not both God and man, he could not be Jesus our Savior (Mat 1:21-23).
3. Christ is a lasting Ladder. Other ladders wear out with use; but here is a Ladder which lasts forever. Christ himself is immutable (Heb 13:8), the immutable God (Mal 3:6). The righteousness he brought in, by his obedience to God as our Representative and covenant Surety, is everlasting righteousness (Dan 9:24). The redemption he accomplished, by his sin-atoning death at Calvary as our Substitute, is eternal redemption (Heb 9:12). Sinners, from the beginning of time, have made use of this Ladder. It has never failed one who used it, and never shall. He is able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by him (Heb 7:25); and the salvation he gives is eternal salvation (Heb 5:9).
4. Christ is a free Ladder. That is to say, he is open to all who come to him; and whosoever will may come to this Ladder and make use of it. All who come are welcome. The promise of the gospel is proclaimed in broad, general terms (Isa 55:1; Mat 11:28; Joh 7:37; Rev 22:17). Christ is the Fountain opened, not the Fountain shut (Zec 13:1). He the Door is open, not the Door closed (Rev 4:1). If you do not exclude yourself by unbelief, God has not excluded you. Predestination does not shut sinners out of heaven. Predestination threw open the door for sinners and built a Ladder for sinners, by which men and women who could never come to God may now come to him. The Door is Christ. The Ladder is Christ.
5. Christ is a firm Ladder. Steady and strong, Jacobs ladder was seen standing upon the earth, unshaken, unmoved, immovable. That is a good picture of our great Savior. Christ Jesus is God almighty to save. He is that God who saves his people from their sins. He saves all his people from all their sins, completely. He saves from the guilt of sin, the dominion of sin, the penalty of sin, the consequence of sin, and ultimately the very being of sin.
6. Christ is a fitted Ladder. He is a Savior suited to every purpose for which he is intended and for every need his people have. Christ is the only Ladder there is which reaches from earth to heaven. There is no other way to God. Papists vainly imagine that there are many ladders, many mediators, many ways to God. Arminians, free-willers, will worshippers convince themselves that they need no ladder. Work mongers, like old Nimrod, foolishly imagine that they can build a ladder for themselves. God declares, Christ is the Ladder! (2Ti 2:5).
HOW ARE WE TO USE CHRIST AS A LADDER?
Christ is a Ladder suited to every purpose for which he is intended. Let us ever use him as such. All the blessings of God descend from heaven to poor, needy sinners upon Christ the Ladder (Eph 1:3-7; 2Ti 1:9). It is written, God shall supply all your needs, according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus (Php 4:19). All grace comes (Joh 1:16), all pardon (1Jn 1:7), all providence (Joh 17:2), and all the answers to our prayer come down this Ladder (Joh 16:23).
It is by Christ the Ladder, only by Christ the Ladder, that believing sinners ascend to heaven and find acceptance with the holy Lord God (Joh 14:6). The distance between earth and heaven is infinite; and it is an uphill climb. How can we possibly get there? Behold, a Ladder! How am I to climb such a Ladder? By faith. Faith is the hand by which we take hold of the Ladder and the foot by which we climb. Reach hither thy hand and climb (Heb 11:6). The only way we can come to God is Christ. No man cometh to the Father but by him. We cannot come to Gods kingdom, Gods presence, Gods glory, but by Christ. His blood purchased salvation for his elect, and obtained it (Eph 1:11; Heb 9:12). His Spirit makes chosen, redeemed sinners fit for glory in sanctification. And his intercession brings us there at last (1Jn 2:1-2). The only way any of our performances can ascend to God is upon Christ the Ladder (1Pe 2:5; Mat 17:5). God bathes our prayers, our praises and our works in the blood of Christ, and accepts both us and what we do for him for Christs sake.
WHY DID JACOB SEE THE ANGELS OF GOD ASCENDING AND DESCENDING UPON HIM?
The angels of God are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be the heirs of salvation (Heb 1:14). The purpose of this vision was to comfort Jacob and all Gods elect, (the sons of Jacob), in the face of danger. The angels of God ascend up to heaven by Christ to get fresh orders from him (Zec 1:10-17), to give account of what they have done (Job 1:6), and to carry the departed souls of Gods saints into Abrahams bosom (Luk 16:22). Those angels descend upon Christ the Ladder, too, to surround and protect, to provide for and preserve, and watch over Gods Jacobs and bring them safely home.
WHAT ARE THE RUNGS OF THE LADDER?
There are two ways to count the rungs of a ladder, from the top down, or from the bottom up. First, we must count the rungs of the Ladder from the top down, as we think of Christ coming down to us. The rungs of the Ladder are our Lords covenant engagements from eternity, the prophecies and promises, types and pictures of the Old Testament, his incarnation, his obedience in life, and his sin-atoning death. Then, we must count the rungs of the Ladder from the bottom up as we find them in experience. First we are given faith in Christ. Believing on Christ, we know that we are born of God and have been effectually called by his Spirit. We make our calling and election sure by believing on the Son of God. All who are born again and have faith in Christ, have been called. All who have been called have been redeemed and justified by the blood of Christ. And these shall be glorified by his grace, according to the purpose of God (Rom 8:28-30). It is no fanaticism to carry the type a little further. Every ladder has two side pieces to which the rounds are connected, giving it strength and stability. So does this one. On one side there is Gods eternal purpose of grace. On the other side there is Gods immutable, preserving grace.
WHY IS THE WORD BEHOLD USED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS LADDER?
It is common, in both the Old Testament and the New, when Christ is spoken of, to use the word behold (Isa 7:14; Isa 42:1; Joh 1:29). This word, behold, suggests that which we are responsible to do. We are to admire and wonder as we think of him whose very name is Wonderful (Isa 9:6). Behold the Ladder and bless God for it (2Co 9:15). To behold Christ is to believe him (Isa 65:1; Isa 45:22). That is what we must do. We must believe on the Son of God. As the Israelites bitten by the fiery serpents were bidden to look to the serpent of brass upheld upon the pole, so we are bidden to look to Christ crucified. Life begins with looking to Christ (Joh 12:32). We persevere in life looking to him (Heb 12:2). And our spiritual, eternal life shall consummate in looking upon the Son of God (1Jn 3:2). Blessed, blessed day that shall be when we see him face to face!
Here are four special times when we are to behold Christ our Ladder: (1.) When we attempt to do anything for God, behold the Ladder. Christ is our strength, our guide, and our acceptance. (2.) When we have done anything against our God, let us still behold the Ladder (1Jn 2:1-2). When guilt stares us in the face, when we need pardon, cleansing, and reviving, let us ever look to Christ – Behold, a Ladder! (3.) When distress, trouble and danger are before us, behold the Ladder. When the Esaus of the world surround us and we have no earthly comfort, when we need peace for our hearts and a pillow for our aching heads, lay down upon Gods promises, look up to heaven, and Behold, a Ladder, and see the angels ascending and descending. (4.) When death is near, when the cold sweat of death is on our brows and the rattle is in our throats, Behold, a Ladder! (Act 7:56).
Fuente: Discovering Christ In Selected Books of the Bible
angels
(See Scofield “Heb 1:4”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
he dreamed: Gen 15:1, Gen 15:12, Gen 20:3, Gen 20:6, Gen 20:7, Gen 37:5-11, Gen 40:1 – Gen 41:57, Num 12:6, Job 4:12-21, Job 33:15, Job 33:16, Dan 2:1-49, Dan 4:1-37, Dan 7:1, Mat 1:20, Mat 2:12, Mat 2:13, Mat 2:19, Heb 1:1
ladder: Gen 32:1, Gen 32:2, 2Ch 16:9, Isa 41:10, Joh 1:51, 2Ti 4:16, 2Ti 4:17, Heb 1:14
Reciprocal: Gen 31:10 – a dream Gen 31:13 – the God Gen 35:3 – who answered Gen 37:19 – dreamer Gen 48:3 – appeared Exo 2:24 – remembered Exo 25:20 – toward Exo 37:9 – cherubims spread 1Sa 28:6 – by dreams 1Ki 3:5 – in a dream Job 4:13 – thoughts Dan 4:22 – thy greatness Luk 2:13 – a multitude
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 28:12. Behold a ladder set up on the earth This might represent, 1st, The providence of God, by which there is a constant correspondence kept up between heaven and earth. The counsels of heaven are executed on earth, and the affairs of this earth are all known in heaven. Providence doth his work gradually and by steps; angels are employed as ministering spirits to serve all the designs of Providence, and the wisdom of God is at the upper end of the ladder, directing all the motions of second causes to his glory. The angels are active spirits, continually ascending and descending; they rest not day nor night. They ascend to give account of what they have done, and to receive orders; and descend to execute the orders they have received. This vision gave seasonable comfort to Jacob, letting him know that he had both a good guide and good guard; that though he was to wander from his fathers house, yet he was the care of Providence, and the charge of the holy angels. 2d, The mediation of Christ. He is this ladder: the foot on earth in his human nature, the top in heaven in his divine nature; or, the former is his humiliation, the latter is his exaltation. All the intercourse between heaven and earth since the fall is by this ladder. Christ is the way: all Gods favours come to us, and all our services come to him, by Christ. If God dwell with us, and we with him, it is by Christ: we have no way of getting to heaven but by this ladder; for the kind offices the angels do us, are all owing to Christ, who hath reconciled things on earth and things in heaven, Col 1:20.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a {d} 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.
(d) Christ is the ladder by which God and man are joined together, and by whom the angels minister to us: all graces are given to us by him, and we ascend to heaven by him.