Genesis Types: 7. Jacob’s Ladder, A Type of Christ as the Way to Heaven
(Genesis 28:10-22)
Jesus claimed to be Jacob’s 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" (Genesis 28:12). Jesus made His claim in
relation to this incident in John
1:51: "And he saith unto him [i.e., Nathanael], Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye
shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and
descending upon the Son of
man." Jesus was saying: "I am Jacob’s ladder; I am the link
between heaven and earth."
On another occasion He said: "I am the way, the truth, and
the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
Jacob’s ladder was a ladder of grace, and thus is an
appropriate type of Christ and His
salvation. Jacob’s ladder reached all the way to Heaven from
where an unworthy man was lying
asleep. He was fleeing from his brother Esau after having
received the blessing from Isaac by
deception. Jacob might well have said: "I do not deserve
such a vision."
In a similar way every truly saved person feels like saying:
"I deserve to go to Hell, but I am
going to Heaven because Jesus died for me. I am only a
sinner saved by grace." "Being justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus" (Romans 3:24).
Jacob’s ladder reached down to a needy person, even as
Christ today has opened the way of help
for needy souls. The angels ascending the ladder represent
the taking up to Heaven requests for
things needed. The angels descending the ladder represent
the bringing down of Heaven’s help in
time of need to the one praying. Jesus is the ladder upon
which the angels ascend and descend.
All true prayer is in Jesus’ name. "Let us therefore come
boldly unto the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need"
(Hebrews 4:16).
Jacob’s ladder was like Christ because it brought down to
earth the promise of Heavens
blessings. A fitting climax to the vision was God’s voice
speaking to Jacob from the top of the
ladder, promising many blessings. This message ended thus:
"Behold, I am with thee, and will
keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring
thee again into this land; for I will
not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken
to thee of" (Genesis 28:15). God’s
promise included just what Jacob needed. And that is like
God’s promise to Christians in
Philippians 4:19: "My God shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory by
Christ Jesus." [Old Testament Types - FHW]
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