A Dream of Hope: Jacob’s Ladder (Genesis 28:10-22)
Have you ever felt alone or unsure about what would happen next? Maybe you were starting something new or facing a big challenge. In Genesis 28:10–22, we meet Jacob in a moment just like that. He was running away, scared and unsure of his future. But in that lonely place, God showed up in a powerful way to give him hope.
Let’s take a closer look at Jacob’s story.
Jacob’s Journey
After tricking his brother Esau and stealing his blessing, Jacob had to leave home quickly. Esau was furious and wanted to hurt him. So Jacob began a long journey to his relatives’ home in Haran.
One night, Jacob stopped to rest. He didn’t have a real bed or even a pillow—he used a stone to rest his head. Jacob was alone, tired, and probably afraid of what was ahead.
Jacob’s Dream
That night, Jacob had a special dream. In his dream, he saw a stairway (or ladder) reaching all the way from the earth to heaven. Angels were going up and down the stairway, showing that there was a connection between God’s world and Jacob’s world.
At the top of the stairway stood God Himself. God spoke to Jacob and made some amazing promises:
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God would give Jacob and his descendants the land he was lying on.
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Jacob’s descendants would be as many as the dust of the earth.
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All people on earth would be blessed through Jacob’s family.
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God would be with Jacob wherever he went and would bring him safely back home.
This was incredible news! Even though Jacob had made mistakes, God still had a big plan for his life.
Jacob’s Response
When Jacob woke up, he was amazed. He realized that God had been with him even though he hadn’t known it. He said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I didn’t know it!”
Jacob took the stone he had used as a pillow and set it up as a pillar—a kind of monument to remember what had happened. He poured oil on it as a way of honoring God. Then Jacob made a promise: if God would be with him, protect him, and provide for him, Jacob would worship God and give back a tenth of everything he received.
What We Can Learn
Jacob’s story teaches us some important lessons:
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God meets us where we are: Even when we feel alone, scared, or uncertain, God is with us.
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God’s promises are unchanging: Jacob had made mistakes, but God’s plan for him didn’t change.
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Our response matters: When we see God at work in our lives, we can respond with trust, worship, and gratitude.
Final Thoughts
Genesis 28:10–22 shows us that no matter where we are—whether on top of a mountain or sleeping in the dirt with a stone for a pillow—God can meet us there. He reminds us that He has a good plan for our lives, even when things feel uncertain.
Think about this: Where do you need to remember today that God is with you?
Wherever you are, know that God sees you, loves you, and is working out a good future for you. Just like He did for Jacob, He’s building a bridge between heaven and earth in your life too.
Genesis 28:10-22 (WEB)
28:10 Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 He dreamed and saw a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 Behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. I will give the land you lie on to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring will be as the dust of the earth, and you will spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. In you and in your offspring, all the families of the earth will be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you until I have done that which I have spoken of to you.”16 Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I didn’t know it.” 17 He was afraid, and said, “How awesome this place is! This is none other than God’s house, and this is the gate of heaven.”18 Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on its top. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 20 Jacob vowed 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 put on, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and the LORD will be my God, 22 then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God’s house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give a tenth to you.”