Torah
Haftarah
Gospel
: Genesis 28:10-32:3
: Hosea 12:12-14:10
: Matthew 3:13-4:11
Vayyetze - “And he went out”
“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.”
Most of us can look at a time in our lives when we ‘went out’ so to speak; in one way
or another. Jacob had left his situation at home for fear of his life. Deception had
lead to running and running to being very alone with limited options. After having
made a serious blunder it is not that uncommon for any of us to want to run from
the situation, when alone however, one may quickly realize the sinking feeling of
being in over one’s heads. Feelings of loneliness and hopelessness often follow.
How can I get back to where I was? What do I do? What next?
Hazlitt refered to the dream of Jacob as one of, ‘the most beautiful in literature’. I
think his reasons for saying this are more apparent when look at the dream at face
value.
Volumes have been written about the meaning of this dream. The mere mention
of the term ‘Jacob ‘s Ladder’ brings multiple images to mind. However, I find that
The straight forward reading of the text is the most powerful…(and useful especially
if your on the run like Jacob). Let’s look at the beauty of this picture filled with a
message of hope and encouragement for children of God through out the ages.
Fear can quickly cloud our vision, like driving into a fog bank at 50 mph. Fear and
uncertainty sweep into the mind and overwhelm. Jacob’s, father and grandfather,
would most certainly have desired him to know that he is not alone and his
problems are not insurmountable. Sometimes a man needs to have his own
revelation.
While most of us have not had the privilege to have a dream like Jacob’s, it is still
possible to learn a thing or two from this patriarch. Exhausted, Jacob finds himself
lying on a rock pillow with apparently only the clothes on his back in the dry
and arid terrain north of Beersheba. The powerful symbolism of the subsequent
dream of the ladder and angels revealed to Jacob speaks to each one of us uniquely
depending upon where we are on our journey. The message is to all men in all ages,
simply put,
“the whole earth is full of the glory of God,” and He is not far off in His heavenly
abode and heedless of what men do on earth.”1
Wherever a man or woman is, in any moment and at any place there also exists a
potential place where heaven and earth can meet.
The ladder while unseen to the naked eye, is the reminder that God watches over his
children and sends his holy angles to guide and watch over us for His purposes.
Quickly, our minds might accuse us, ‘but this is my fault, my decisions, I have to
work it out’. Yes, but His word reminds us that, “all things work together for good,
for them that love God and are called according to His purposes.”
Even those that love God, make mistakes take things into our own hands. What
comfort to have our eyes opened and to see behind the visible scene that God and
His angels are working busily where I cannot see for my good and His kingdom.
Jacob build an alter and worshipped God when he realized that is just what was
happening and the God of his father Abraham had reached down in a dream
to give him hope. May we also worship the Lord as we are reminded that our
Redeemer and Creator are also working faithfully for us even as we are unaware
and undeserving! What a loving and faithful God we serve!
Shalom!
The Penatuch and Haftorah – J.H. Hertz
