Jacob and Nathaniel Who Dream

 This was the sermon I wrote for 9/25.  This was not the sermon I preached.  God's voice moved me to go off script.  We are climbing Jacob's Ladder! 

The stories from Genesis continue this week!  Baby Isaac has grown up and gotten married to Rebecca.  They had two sons, who were twins.  From conception these two boys couldn’t have been more different!  They fought in Rebecca’s womb and when they were born – Esau, whose name means “first” was they outdoorsy type of boy – rugged and hairy and one who loved to hunt.  Jacob, whose name means “ankle grabber” or “supplanter” because when he had a hold of Esau’s ankle when he was born.  Jacob liked to stay around the tents and help out.  He did some farming and tending of sheep. 

More importantly, Jacob took two things that belonged to his brother, Esau.  He traded Esau’s birthright for a pot of lentil stew.  The birthright was usually given to the oldest son in the family. The one who received the birthright was honored with a double share of his father’s inheritance. This was a special honor, for the birthright also included certain rights and privileges as well as responsibilities.  Esau’s comment was something like, “What good’s a birthright if I’m going to starve to death?”  I wonder if either of them could ever look at lentil stew the same way from that fateful day. 

That story happened years before our story today.  In today’s story, Isaac old and getting ready to die.  Since he’s not sure when his death is coming, he does want to be sure to give Esau his blessing – which is sort of like a last will and testament – giving property, and perhaps some prediction to the future.

With his mother Rebecca’s help, Jacob takes the blessing from Isaac’s hands that was intended for his brother, Esau.  It was a sad state of affairs at the Isaac and Rebecca house when Esau returns to receive a secondary blessing from his father. 

Esau threatens Jacob’s life – so he takes off.  After all, Esau is a big and burly man and Jacob is neither of these things.  He has lived up to his name – and now this ankle grabber…this supplanter is getting his just desserts.  He’s scared, and rightly so!  So, he runs to his mother’s family, and while on his say in the desert, he stops for the night and has this dream of angels going up and down from earth to God’s throne. 

What does this mean for Jacob?  He wakes up and realizes that he is in a “thin place” as the Celtic people put it – a place where God and humans draw close to each other.  He names the place Beth-el, “House of God.” 

Have any of you dreamed dreams with ladders and angels in them?  What did you take it to mean? 

♫  We are climbing Jacob’s ladder
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder
Soldier of the Cross

Ev’ry round goes higher ‘n’ higher
Ev’ry round goes higher ‘n’ higher
Ev’ry round goes higher ‘n’ higher
Soldier of the Cross ♫

Jesus’ allusion to Jacob’s ladder from our gospel text today is interesting.  Did you notice that quick reference to Genesis as Jesus was talking to Nathaniel?  You have to know the Old Testament to get a deeper understanding of the New Testament!  Nathaniel would have gotten the allusion, and perhaps he began to wonder just who Jesus really is! 

Greater than Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?  Greater things than covenants, and miracle babies, and the 12 tribes?  What kind of things did Nathaniel see?

Crowds fed, bodies healed, demons exorcised, the dead raised, and hope implanted…countless people were introduced to God who is love and grace and hope and healing as Jesus walked through Palestine bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. 

Nathaniel saw Jesus nailed down and raised up on Calvary…the ladder of Jacob’s dream turned into the cross of Jesus’ reality…as Jesus, suspended between earth and heaven became the last and final bridge for God and humans to be united again. 

Love…amazing love is what Nathaniel witnessed.  And, like the other disciples, he ran away when Jesus was being tried and killed.  Yet, he came back.  As he watched Jesus go into heaven after his resurrection, he went on his way telling people about God and Jesus. 

♫ Brother do you love my Jesus
Brother do you love my Jesus
Brother do you love my Jesus
Soldier of the Cross

If you love him why not serve him
If you love him why not serve him
If you love him why not serve him
Soldier of the Cross ♫

Jacob’s dream led him to much success and to be the one to carry on the blessing that God began with his grandfather, Abraham.  His sons are the foundations of the 12 tribes of Israel.  Blessed to be a blessing to the nations. 

The power of these stories – Jacob’s and Nathaniel’s and ours – is that God uses us…even with all of our foibles and imperfections.  Even when we are deceitful, or run away in fear, God’s love is there for us.  And when we ask for forgiveness, forgiveness is always given – freely and without strings.  For that is how grace works – thanks be to God! 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen