Once upon a time there was a young man named Jacob. Jacob was on a long journey, because he wanted to visit his family. He was tired from his long walk and needed to rest for a while.
One night, as the stars sparkled above him in the sky, Jacob found a nice place to sleep. He laid his head on a large, smooth stone and fell asleep. While he slept, Jacob had a very special dream.
In his dream, he saw a ladder that reached up to heaven! Angels climbed up and down the ladder. It was an incredibly beautiful sight. At the top of the ladder stood the Lord God himself. God spoke to Jacob and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.”
God promised Jacob that his family would be very large. It would spread throughout the world, and all people would be blessed by it. God also said to Jacob, “I am with you and I will keep you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, and I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you.”
When Jacob woke up, he was amazed at what he had seen and heard. “Verily, the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it!” he cried. He had recognized that God was with him, even if he hadn’t noticed it at first.
Jacob took the stone on which he had slept, set it up and poured oil over it. He gave the place a special name: Bethel, which means “House of God”. Jacob thanked God for the wonderful message and promise He had made to him.
Message of history
God is always with us, no matter where we are. He cares about us and keeps His promises. If we trust Him, He will guide and protect us safely.
Bible passage
The story of Jacob and the ladder to heaven can be found in Genesis 28:10-19.
“And Jacob went out from Beersheba and went to Haran, 11 and he came to a place where he spent the night; for the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place, laid it on his head, and slept in that place. 12 And he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set on the ground, which touched the sky with its top; and behold, angels of God ascended and descended upon it. 13 And behold, the Lord stood on top of it, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac.” The land on which you lie, I will give it to you and your seed. 14 And your seed shall become like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread to the west and the east, to the north and to the south. and in you and in your seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And behold, I am with you, and I will keep you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid, and said, “How terrible is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven! 18 And Jacob got up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had laid on his head, and set it up as a monument, and poured oil on the top of it. 19 And he gave this place the name Bethel; but before that the city was called Lus.”
