Countless nights of restless sleep have been my lot in life lately. I wake up feeling like I need a nap. That ain’t good! My mind has been scattered like weeds across the lawn. You know… like the dandelions that blow in the wind. That’s exactly how my mind feels right now. So, in an attempt to figure my spiritual health out, being that my physical health seems to have gone awry as well, I finally, after four dry days turn back to the well for a drink in hopes of renewing my mind, body and soul. I look for another time of dreams, when someone else struggled to sleep. Jacob. In the book of Genesis 28, his father Isaac has sent him away, partly to keep him from getting his head cracked open by his brother Esau, but also in search of a wife from the “right” people. So along the way he lays down for the night, making a stone his pillow. I can’t imagine! My bones are so achy right now and even my nice soft bed isn’t pillowy enough… but a stone! Owch!
He obviously sleeps, because in that time sleep he dreams:
Genesis 28:11-22 KJV
[11] And 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. [12] 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.
The Lesson in the Ladder
Jacob’s dream is not a common dream, (like the one I’ll tell you of later) but rather a dream under divine direction, else it wouldn’t have made it into scripture. The dream has spiritual denotation: the ladder denotes the providence of God, being that He is at the top, perhaps the rungs of the ladder denotes the steps of life that God orchestrates to complete His purposes, like the steps in Israel’s history. It’s all apart of the plan!
I have to wonder what part of the plan we’re in right now with the COVID19 pandemic. I don’t think it’s without reason, but I don’t think man knows the reason yet either. I think I needed these hard nights sleep to bring me into this study. Again… nothing without purpose.
The angels ascending and descending showing that God and His divine powers reaches down to earth in ways we cannot comprehend. I have to wonder if there is an angel looking over my shoulder right now as I write? I love thinking about the spirit world, but I’m not going to overthink it… I’m just going to leave it to God. The primary thought that comes from the ladder is the connection it makes between Heaven and earth, and the fact that the ultimate source of connection between us and the Heavenly Father came when the Lord Jesus connected us together through the cross. We’re not in Old Testament times, God doesn’t (at least not to me) speak through dreams and visions like He did to Jacob. But it’s not to say He can’t use those dreams of today to bring some thoughts along that will cause us to take steps to getting things in order.
The Leading of the Ladder
[13] And, 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; [14] And 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. [15] And, 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.
God had made promises to Abraham, and those promises continued to unfold through his descendants, for which Jacob was key.
Just like Jacob, there is still a work to do here on earth, which my restless nights have eluded to. In 2010 God spoke to my heart to put “The Jesus Chick” ministries into play. And so I did… half hearted. And then God literally took half my heart through a heart attack that He allowed to happen to get my attention.
Let me be clear: it was my poor diet that created the heart attack, God just used it to get my attention. And lately I’ve not been paying attention… again. I’m a slow learner for sure!
But last night in a series of nutty dreams, I had one that really struck at my core. I was on a mission trip to India, with David and Gloria. Two of my favorite people. We were in danger of being discovered, they didn’t appreciate the gospel in their country. I woke up with a sense of urgency and the realization that regardless of the risks, the gospel must go forth and I am a vessel for which God will use. Ironically there was lots of food in my dream… and I know that my diet is again an issue. And then I awoke. Just like Jacob… only I didn’t have a rock to pour oil on, and I didn’t really feel the need to go get my Wessons’ vegetable oil and pour it on my pillow. No, the effect of the dream was duly noted and I need to listen. Perhaps you do as well.
This is not a prophetic dream, it’s a “hey Shari, straighten up”dream.
The Labor From the Ladder
[16] And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. [17] And 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. [18] And 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. [19] And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. [20] And 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, [21] So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: [22] And 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.
After the dream comes the purpose. Jacob knew that God had been in that place. It changed Jacob’s mindset. For all his uncertainty of the past, and how he must have felt having been known as “the deceiver”, he now knew that his purpose was far greater and his commitment was going to have to be as well. God would no doubt take care of the steps, but Jacob had to do his part. I don’t think it’s happenstance that the “tenth” is mentioned to him. It’s our job to take care of the church, the work of God!
During this pandemic, churches are sitting empty, but the work must go on, the finances must continue and God’s people must stay focused on the mission. I’m not sure where India played a role in my dream, but I know where the remainder of those thoughts did. Four days in too long to be out of God’s word, and throughout this pandemic I’ve been scattered. Trying to keep up with this, that and the other and losing my focus on the mission work.
I’m grateful for the restless nights…