Jacob's Ladder
Fleeing from Esau, Jacob dreams of a stairway to heaven with angels ascending and descending, and God renews the covenant.
Genesis 28:10-22
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The Story
Jacob was running for his life. After deceiving his father and stealing Esau's blessing, his brother wanted to kill him. His mother sent him away to her brother Laban in Haran, far to the north.
As the sun set, Jacob reached a certain place and stopped for the night. He took a stone, put it under his head, and lay down to sleep—alone, afraid, far from home.
Then he dreamed. A stairway rested on the earth with its top reaching to heaven. Angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And there above it stood the Lord.
'I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac,' God declared. 'I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.'
But the promise went further: 'I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.'
Jacob woke from his sleep. 'Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it,' he said in awe. He was afraid and added, 'How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.'
Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar, pouring oil on it. He named the place Bethel, meaning 'house of God.'
Then Jacob made a vow: 'If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and give me food to eat and clothes to wear, and bring me back safely to my father's household, then the Lord will be my God.'
The deceiver was beginning to encounter the God who could transform him.
Jacob's Dream
Kids Version
Jacob was in big trouble. His brother Esau was so angry about what Jacob did that he wanted to hurt him. Jacob had to run away!
Jacob walked and walked until the sun went down. He was tired, scared, and all alone. He found a rock to use as a pillow and lay down to sleep under the stars.
Then Jacob had an amazing dream!
He saw a stairway going all the way from the ground up, up, up into heaven! Angels were walking up and down the stairway. And at the very top stood God!
God spoke to Jacob. 'I am the God of Abraham and Isaac. I'm giving you and your family this land. Your family will be HUGE—like dust that covers the earth! And through your family, the whole world will be blessed.'
Then God made a special promise. 'I am WITH you, Jacob. I will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back home. I will never leave you.'
Jacob woke up. 'WOW!' he said. 'God is HERE! This is an amazing place—like heaven's front door!'
Jacob took his rock pillow and stood it up like a monument. He named the place Bethel, which means 'God's house.'
Jacob promised, 'If God takes care of me and brings me home safe, He will be MY God forever.'
Even when Jacob was scared and alone, God was right there with him. And God is with YOU too, wherever you go!
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Scripture — Genesis 28:10-22 (KJV)
10And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. Haran: Gr. Charran
11And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
12And 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.
13And, 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;
14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. spread: Heb. break forth
15And, 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.
16And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
17And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
18And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
19And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. Bethel: that is, The house of God
20And 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 raiment to put on,
21So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
22And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
Memory Verse
“And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. Haran: Gr. Charran”
— Genesis 28:10 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Jacob's Ladder” in the Bible?
Fleeing from Esau, Jacob dreams of a stairway to heaven with angels ascending and descending, and God renews the covenant. This story is found in Genesis 28:10-22.
Where is “Jacob's Ladder” found in the Bible?
“Jacob's Ladder” is found in Genesis 28:10-22, in the book of Genesis.
What can children learn from “Jacob's Ladder”?
This story teaches children about God's presence, Covenant, Heaven and earth connected. Jacob had an amazing dream! He saw a stairway reaching to heaven with angels going up and down. God spoke to Jacob and promised to be with him wherever he went.