From Jacob to Israel

CONSIDER THIS

Remember in Sunday School, the teacher used the flannel board to tell the story of Jacob’s dream. She’d move those little felt angels up and down the ladder connecting heaven and earth. Such a classic!

Jacob is a man on the run, defined by his past, his deception and his name — one that means heel-grabber, cheater, liar, manipulator. He lies down, alone, a rock for his pillow and has the ladder-and-angel dream — and is given a promise. “Behold! I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land.”

Jacob rises and thinks it was all about the place. But it’s not. It’s about a Person. Jesus makes it clear, “I am the ladder. I’m the bridge from heaven to earth. I am the only way to the Father.”

Twenty years later, the promise from Jacob’s dream is fulfilled. God meets him in his loneliness wrestling all night long, and gives him a new name: Israel — which means God Rules! This powerful encounter transforms Jacob forever.

Jesus comes for the guilty, for the lonely, for those with stones for pillows and shame and regrets for blankets. He is the ladder so we can come to Him. He removes our old “names” and replaces them with new ones: Loved, Redeemed, Chosen, God Rules Me!