7/24/22 - Stairway To (and from) Heaven - Genesis 28 - Pastor Jason Fritz

When Jacob deceived his father by bringing him some food in the way of Esau, Isaac asked, “How did you kill and prepare the game so quickly?” Jacob, acting as Esau said, “Your God gave me favor,” He doesn’t say “our God” or “my God.” Why? Because at this point Isaac’s God is not Jacob’s God. Jacob didn’t know God personally. You see, Jacob was a religious man, but he didn’t have a relationship with God. He knew about God because of his father’s faith but he didn’t know God himself. However, all this is about to change while on the run from his angry brother. Jacob is alone and isolated; a victim of his own deceit. Eventually, he gets tired, lays his head on a rock and begins to dream...

He sees a stairway bridging heaven to earth. Angels are traveling back and forth. God himself is orchestrating their movement. This is a sign to Jacob that God will be with him wherever he goes in spite of his failures. Jacob names the place Bethel, “The House of God."

We are all Jacobs in our own way. We find ourselves in flight because of our sins. But in our solitary places God ministers to us. There is a stairway that extends between heaven and earth for us today. God controls every step of it and the gate of heaven opens from the inside. Jesus entered first which means he allows entrance to those who believe in Him. This is the ultimate expression of God’s grace.

Are you at a place where you are guilty over your past, confused in the present, or anxious and uncertain about your future? Then maybe you’re at a place where God can break through and into your life. He won’t give you magical, instant solutions, but He will begin to work when you come to the end of yourself and admit, “God, I have a need or a circumstance I can’t deal with on my own. I need You!” That’s the place where grace—God’s unmerited favor—can take effect. The fact is, the house of God is anywhere his people need him to be.